Our Team
Meet our Exceleris team of experts that will assist you in finding the perfect candidate for your company or help you land the job you’ve always dreamed of.
Few accounting recruiters can approach the level of familiarity and understanding that Lina Colalillo brings to each Exceleris opportunity. With a resume that includes progressive career experience in a number of high-level positions, she’s uniquely qualified to understand the demands of virtually any financial and accounting opportunity.
After articling at Ernst & Young, Lina was a Senior Financial Analyst at Future Electronics, one of the largest private companies in Canada, followed by progressive roles leading to the VP Finance & Corporate Controller at SR Telecom, a multinational publicly listed company with operations all across the globe. Lina was also Director of Financial Reporting and Investor Relations at Teleglobe, a telecom carrier with over $1 billion in revenues, where she participated in its turnaround under hedge fund manager Cerberus Capital Management.
Lina has spearheaded the reporting and accounting aspects of many Canadian and U.S. public offerings and IPOs. In her career, Lina has worked on public offerings that raised over $500 million, and participated in several mergers and acquisitions, including all aspects of post M&A integration, in France, Philippines, Chile, Mexico, USA and the UK. Lina also had extensive dealings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”) on complex accounting issues.
She obtained her Chartered Accountancy designation, now known as CPA CA designation, at Concordia University. Lina graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and a Graduate Diploma in Accountancy from Concordia University. Subsequently, she was a professor at Concordia University CA program, teaching advanced topics in accounting.
As a partner since 2006, in addition to extensive industry experience, Lina really brings to Exceleris an unmatched skill when it comes to pairing talented candidates with the values of our clients. For her, a person’s energy, personality, values and expectations are just as essential as technical expertise.
Dejan started his career within the technology accounting and audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP, one of the big 4 professional service firms. His Ernst & Young experience consisted of extensive work with technology start-ups, entrepreneurial and public companies, and numerous high-profile consulting projects. He was also a team leader on many public offerings on the Toronto Stock Exchange, generating over $150M in funding for clients, primarily for biotechnology and new economy companies.
Departing Ernst & Young as a manager in the technology practice, Dejan joined Nexia Biotechnologies, an emerging life science company, as Corporate Controller, where he was instrumental in its Initial Public Offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange, which raised over $40 million. At Nexia, Dejan was responsible for all aspects of public company financial reporting, as well as internal reporting, budgeting, forecasting, audit, taxation, treasury, legal matters, IT and other. Later, Dejan was the CFO at Radical Horizon, a new telecom venture. At Radical, Dejan managed all financial aspects of the company, including financing, financial reporting, completion of business plan and financial forecasts.
In 2004, after the sale of Radical Horizon, Dejan founded Exceleris. In addition to managing all recruitment aspects of Exceleris, Dejan has consulted (as CFO or in similar roles) with a number of technology companies (both publicly traded and venture funded start-ups). Dejan is a CPA CA (formerly referred to as a Canadian Chartered Accountant). He obtained a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting & Entrepreneurship from McGill University and a Diploma in Accountancy from Concordia University.
While his accounting, financial and reporting experience is valuable, it’s his passion for understanding the complex fit between candidates and opportunities that truly sets him apart, as well as his patience and dedication in finding the right person for every opportunity.
Dejan’s specialties include completion of mandates where others have failed, including complex, highly technical or demanding positions, positions requiring a quick turnaround, CFO search, external reporting, treasury, controllership and entrepreneurial management roles.
Passionate about people and accounting, Ghizlane has combined her two passions with the Exceleris recruitment team. Ghizlane is CPA CMA and has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from HEC Montreal.
Ghizlane has worked as a performance management consultant for several years for public and private companies in Quebec and has extensive experience in the field of management accounting, financial accounting, as well as taxation. With her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, she has built excellent relationships with her clients and business partners. Her personalized approach and extensive market knowledge allow her to understand the needs of her clients and candidates, and deliver quickly to meet their needs.
Jessica brings a wealth of experience from her dynamic career in management and recruitment. She has held key leadership roles in the banking sector, excelling as a Branch Manager and, more recently, as Director of Talent Acquisition, where she thrived in recruiting and innovating within Quebec’s competitive market. At Axxel HR, she has refined her expertise in HR strategy and talent management, leveraging her skills to drive organizational success.
As a leader, Jessica is passionate about developing her teams, supporting their growth, and celebrating their achievements. Their success fuels her drive to innovate and pursue excellence in all that she does.
Outside of her professional life, Jessica enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time at the arena. Her dedication to philanthropy and community shines through in her volunteer work, reflecting her strong sense of compassion and willingness to help others.
With this knowledge of financial reporting, operational accounting and taxation skills, she brings substantial personal insight and understanding into every placement opportunity from both the client and candidate sides. Her specialties include internal audit, external reporting, taxation, financial analysis and controllership roles.
Rachèle is a CRHA and has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from ESG UQAM specialising in human resources.
Rachèle has an outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, as well as a caring and patient personality, which helps her maintain excellent relationships and build trust with her clients and candidates. At Exceleris since 2016, she brings a deep understanding of CPA and accounting recruitment and delivers effectively on both client and candidate requirements.
Ghizlane has worked as a performance management consultant for several years for public and private companies in Quebec and has extensive experience in the field of management accounting, financial accounting, as well as taxation. With her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, she has built excellent relationships with her clients and business partners. Her personalized approach and extensive market knowledge allow her to understand the needs of her clients and candidates, and deliver quickly to meet their needs.
With this knowledge of financial reporting, operational accounting and taxation skills, she brings substantial personal insight and understanding into every placement opportunity from both the client and candidate side. Her specialties include internal audit, external reporting, taxation, financial analysis and controllership roles.
Rachèle is a CRHA and has a bachelor’s degree of Business Administration from ESG UQAM specialising in human resources.
Rachèle has an outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, as well as a caring and patient personality, which help her maintain excellent relationships and build rust with her clients and candidates. At Exceleris since 2016, she brings a deep understanding of CPA and accounting recruitment and delivers effectively on both client and candidate requirements.
Ghizlane has worked as a performance management consultant for several years for public and private companies in Quebec and has extensive experience in the field of management accounting, financial accounting, as well as taxation. With her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, she has built excellent relationships with her clients and business partners. Her personalized approach and extensive market knowledge allow her to understand the needs of her clients and candidates, and deliver quickly to meet their needs.
With this knowledge of financial reporting, operational accounting and taxation skills, she brings substantial personal insight and understanding into every placement opportunity from both the client and candidate side. Her specialties include internal audit, external reporting, taxation, financial analysis and controllership roles.
Rachèle is a CRHA and has a bachelor’s degree of Business Administration from ESG UQAM specialising in human resources.
Rachèle has an outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, as well as a caring and patient personality, which help her maintain excellent relationships and build rust with her clients and candidates. At Exceleris since 2016, she brings a deep understanding of CPA and accounting recruitment and delivers effectively on both client and candidate requirements.
