National Bank and BDC are partnering with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton to offer Operio to their SME clients

The solution allows entrepreneurs to free themselves of daily administrative and accounting tasks by having access to cloud accounting and expert advice of numerous professionals

MONTREAL, Nov. 27, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - National Bank and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) are partnering with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton to offer to their clients Operio, an integrated accounting and advisory service for SMEs.

Launched in 2017, Operio allows entrepreneurs to free themselves of daily administrative and accounting tasks in order to focus on growing their business with innovative technology solutions and the expert advice of professionals.

This new association creates synergy between banking services, financing solutions, consulting services and cloud accounting to better support entrepreneurs. Clients and local businesses will now have access to a host of new services tailored specifically to their needs while benefiting from an integrated, secure, intuitive and mobile technology platform.

"Entrepreneurs are very important to National Bank. We are pleased to offer them a simple, fast and efficient solution that will allow them to devote more time to growing their business. We firmly believe that they will find Operio very beneficial. The platform includes several tools that will lighten their daily workloads and allow them to track their operational performance in real time," stated Stéphane Achard, Executive Vice-President, Commercial Banking and Insurance at National Bank.

"As a bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs, BDC is continually seeking innovative ways to improve timeliness, quality and user experience of its banking services," explains Pierre Dubreuil, Executive Vice-President, Financing. "Operio is well aligned with this approach. It also provides businesses with strong financial and accounting management that's essential for long-term success."

Operio is quickly becoming a platform of choice for Quebec entrepreneurs. The service connects businesses with personalized financial management assistance and greater access to financing in order to support their growth.

"By combining the strengths of our three organizations, we are able to develop a digital offer that meets entrepreneurs' needs. They will now have access to customized, specific and advanced expertise to support their growth every step of the way," says Pierre Garant, President of Operio and partner and national assurance leader for Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.

For more information: operio.ca

About National Bank of Canada
With $258 billion in assets as at July 31, 2018, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. It has more than 23,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About BDC
BDC is the only bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs. It promotes Canadian entrepreneurship with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses. With its 123 business centres from coast to coast, BDC provides businesses in all industries with financing and advisory services. Its investment arm, BDC Capital, offers equity, venture capital and flexible growth and transition capital solutions. BDC is also the first financial institution in Canada to receive B Corp certification. To find out more, visit bdc.ca.

About Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton
Founded in 1948, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton (rcgt.com) has become a Canadian leader in the areas of assurance, tax, advisory services and business recovery and reorganization, with more than 2,500 professionals, including approximately 200 partners. Together, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and Grant Thornton LLP, another Canadian member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, comprise more than 4,400 professionals and close to 170 offices across Canada to help Canadian organizations achieve their full growth potential both locally and globally. Grant Thornton International Ltd provides clients with the expertise of member and correspondent firms across more than 135 countries and more than 50,000 professionals.

About Operio
Created in 2017, Operio is a subsidiary of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton that provides an innovative, cloud accounting technology and consulting services for SEMs. Now an established player in the entrepreneurial market, Operio offers integrated services so entrepreneurs can dispose of their daily accounting and administrative tasks to focus on growing their businesses. Operio provides an integrated, secure, intuitive, collaborative, simplified and mobile technology platform, making it possible for entrepreneurs to track their results in real time.

SOURCE RAYMOND CHABOT GRANT THORNTON