Welcome back to Bridging Insights—our series of candid conversations with DMCL hiring managers, offering real insights into life at DMCL and what to expect when you join our team. For this edition, we sat down with Hikaru Hirabayashi, Senior Manager in our U.S. Tax group.
Hikaru joined DMCL at a pivotal time, when the U.S. Tax team was just beginning to take shape. Since then, she’s played a key role in helping build the group into the strong, collaborative practice it is today. We chatted with Hikaru about her journey into leadership, the team’s evolution, and what they’re looking for in their next Manager hire.
Hikaru, you joined DMCL early in the development of the U.S. Tax team. What drew you to the opportunity, and what was it like stepping into a team that was still in its early stages?
At the time, I was working at another firm as a Senior Accountant and was recruited by an agency who shared that DMCL was growing their U.S. Tax practice and looking for someone to specialize in U.S. corporate tax. When I joined, it was a very small team—just one other Manager, and Jay Park (our current Partner) hadn’t even joined yet. It was a bit challenging at first, with no set processes in place, but that also made it rewarding. I had the opportunity to help shape the team using what I’d learned in my past experience.
That must’ve been both exciting and a little daunting. How did things shift once Jay Park joined the team as Partner?
Jay joined about three months after I started, and we’d actually worked together before, so it was comforting to have a familiar face and experienced leader come in. His approach really helped move things forward. He took the time to listen to how I thought the team should be structured, what kind of procedures we needed, and how best to recruit and onboard people. That was a turning point—we started using STAR (our internal workflow tool), created proper control sheets, and began building out a clear structure for the team.
It sounds like you’ve helped build something really special. What’s the team dynamic like today?
We’ve grown into a very close-knit group. Everyone feels supported, not just professionally but personally too. If someone is feeling stressed, they know they can talk to me, and I think the staff feel the same level of openness and care across the team. It’s really rewarding to see how far we’ve come—and now we’re ready to grow even more.
You’re hiring a new Manager—what qualities are you looking for in the ideal teammate?
We support Partners and clients across all offices, so staying on top of deadlines and managing different year-ends is key. We’re looking for someone who’s detail-oriented and understands how to guide staff through that process: helping them see what needs to happen by when, and breaking that down into manageable steps.
When I think back to the great managers I had as a junior, the ones who stood out were clear about expectations and never left me to figure things out on my own. I want someone who can be that kind of guide for our team—someone who’s committed to developing staff and helping them grow to the next level.
And what’s it like working with Jay?
Jay’s a fantastic Partner. His expectations are clear, and he has a strong vision for the team—something he’s built up over years of experience. He recognizes great work and makes sure people know when they’re doing a good job. When Raj and I were promoted, there was no ambiguity; you always know where you stand with Jay.
Let’s talk a bit about lifestyle and flexibility. How do you balance everything as a working parent?
Public practice always comes with some longer hours during peak times like March, April, September, and October. But outside of those periods, Jay is very flexible. I have a young son, and many of us on the team are parents. Jay is incredibly understanding—he supports remote work and trusts us to manage our time, as long as we’re supporting the team and available when needed. That flexibility has made a huge difference, especially when things come up with our kids.
If someone’s reading this and considering a move to the DMCL U.S. Tax team, what would you want them to know?
You’d be joining a team that’s grown from the ground up—with a strong foundation, great structure, and a genuinely supportive culture. We work hard, but we also care deeply about each other. If you’re someone who wants to contribute to a high-performing, collaborative team and help us keep growing, we’d love to meet you.
If you’re interested in joining Hikaru and the U.S. Tax team as a Manager, head to our Current Opportunities page via the button below or reach out to our Talent Acquisition Lead at boconnor@dmcl.ca to learn more.
Article written by Bridget O’Connor, Talent Acquisition Lead
