About Us

A Practice Built on Careful Work

Caribou Counts was founded in Vancouver to serve the small business owners who keep BC's commercial fabric intact — and who deserve accounting support that's genuinely organized and clearly explained.

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Our Story

Where We Started and Where We Stand

Caribou Counts was established in Vancouver in 2012 by Sarah Mitchell, a Chartered Professional Accountant who had spent nearly a decade in corporate finance before deciding to redirect her skills toward businesses that often have the most to gain from good financial support — but the least access to it.

The practice grew steadily through word of mouth among Vancouver's small business community. Tradespeople, independent retailers, professional service providers, and technology startups came on as clients — each with different needs, but a common preference for accounting work that was thorough, straightforward, and respectful of their time.

Today, Caribou Counts works with incorporated businesses across British Columbia, offering three core service areas: monthly bookkeeping, corporate tax filing, and year-round financial advisory. The practice remains deliberately sized — we take on a manageable number of clients so that each one receives genuine attention, not a standardized product.

Our Mission

To give small business owners in British Columbia the kind of financial clarity and tax support that larger organizations take for granted — delivered with care, communicated plainly, and sustained year-round.

Our Values

Accuracy first. We'd rather take longer than submit something uncertain.
Plain language. Every report and recommendation is written to be understood.
Proportionate advice. We suggest what fits your situation, not what sounds impressive.
Strict discretion. Your finances are handled with the same care you'd expect from a trusted colleague.

The People Behind Your Books

Our Team

A small, experienced group of accounting professionals who genuinely care about the businesses they support.

Sarah Mitchell

Principal Accountant & Founder

Sarah holds a CPA designation and founded Caribou Counts after more than a decade in corporate finance. She leads all tax advisory engagements and oversees quality across the practice.

David Okafor

Senior Bookkeeper

David manages bookkeeping engagements with a particular focus on accuracy and thoughtful categorization. He has worked with service and trades businesses across BC for eight years.

Priya Nair

Tax Compliance Lead

Priya brings deep knowledge of CRA compliance requirements and provincial tax obligations, having previously worked in a regional accounting firm focused on incorporated small businesses.

How We Work

Standards We Hold Ourselves To

These aren't marketing statements — they're the practical standards that shape how we handle your work every day.

CPA-Supervised Engagements

All client work is reviewed by a designated Chartered Professional Accountant. No filing goes out and no advisory document is delivered without a qualified review.

CRA Compliance Standards

We follow the Canada Revenue Agency's current guidelines across all categories, schedules, and filings. Our checklists are updated each tax year to reflect any regulatory changes.

BC Provincial Filing Knowledge

Beyond federal obligations, we maintain working knowledge of British Columbia's specific corporate tax rates, PST requirements, and provincial credits relevant to small businesses.

Secure Cloud Practices

Client records are maintained in encrypted, industry-standard cloud platforms. We do not store sensitive documents locally and use role-based access controls across all software.

Strict Client Confidentiality

We follow professional confidentiality obligations that extend beyond legal minimums. No client financial information is shared, discussed, or referenced outside of the direct engagement scope.

Annual Knowledge Updating

Tax law and CRA guidance evolve each year. Our team participates in ongoing professional development to ensure our advice and filings reflect current rules — not last year's ones.

Our Expertise

Accounting for the Way Small Businesses Actually Work

Small incorporated businesses in British Columbia operate in a tax environment with meaningful complexity — federal corporate tax, BC's provincial rate, HST/GST obligations, payroll remittances, and personal tax considerations that intertwine with business structure choices. Most business owners didn't start their companies to become tax experts, and they shouldn't have to.

The accounting work we do at Caribou Counts is organized around one practical goal: give you a clear, current view of your financial position and meet your compliance obligations accurately and on time. That sounds straightforward, but it requires sustained attention, good documentation habits, and an understanding of where CRA draws lines that aren't always obvious.

Small businesses in service industries, professional practices, construction and trades, and retail each carry slightly different accounting and tax considerations. The way revenue is recognized, what qualifies as a deductible business expense, how inventory is accounted for, and which home office or vehicle deductions apply — these vary based on how your business is structured and what it does. We don't use a single template for all clients; we take time at the start of each engagement to understand how your business operates.

For business owners thinking further ahead — about salary and dividend decisions, the use of a holding company, or how retained earnings interact with personal registered accounts — thoughtful planning makes a meaningful difference over time. We approach these conversations with care, presenting options clearly and without pressure toward any particular path.

Would You Like to Talk Through Your Situation?

We're happy to have a straightforward conversation about your business and what kind of support might fit — with no commitment required.

Get in Touch