First of all, why would this Blog post even interest YOU? Well…
- You may be a person who participated in the CPA recruiting but have a genuine interest in Industry – but to ‘hedge your bets’ you decided to give CPA campus recruiting a try but without success so far.
- You may be a person who decided to go through CPA recruiting with an intention to learn and leverage this experience to go through recruiting again in 2018 with a better understanding of the process, and a few networking contacts in the bag.
- You may be a person who did not understand the recruiting process extensively and were totally caught off guard when you found out about how important networking, academics and a quality application truly are.
- You may be an international student feeling like you were overlooked due to your resident status, language issues or limited local experience.
- You may have done everything right during this year’s CPA recruiting and are left completely surprised that even after meeting firm staff, having coffee meetings, showcasing strong academics and feeling pretty good about it all…you did not get an offer!
- You might be feeling like this was your only chance to be a CPA and now that the door has seemingly closed for this year, you are wondering what to do now and if you can EVER achieve your CPA through other avenues.
- You might be thinking your education is still not enough and now you are thinking about an MBA to give you the edge you need to start your career in a public firm.
Well, all of these and more are good reasons to keep reading!
It is important to understand that CPA recruiting is a fabulous opportunity to begin your career with a public accounting firm but it is not the only way to reach that goal. In addition, out of the hundreds of students participating in CPA recruiting each year, only a small percentage of students actually secure positions with the 16 or so firms that come to campus year by year.
So…what to do next you wonder?! Okay here we go…
1. There is always the opportunity to go through the CPA Recruiting a second time. If this interests you, then you will need to still be participating in the DAP program next summer to be eligible to participate in and to receive invitations to CPA Recruiting events. If you will still be in school and this option interests you then you should build on the relationships that you have developed this year and begin networking with them in January so you get a jump start on the upcoming recruiting activities and networking that officially starts again in May. What you have learned this year will go a long way to helping you have success the next time around.
2. Consider approaching other “approved path training offices” that did not participate in the campus recruiting this year. You can reach out to them proactively or simply apply to postings at will. These companies represent other excellent sources for meaningful career experiences, the experience verification hours needed and other support required to complete the CPA.
URL: http://www.bccpa.ca/become-a-cpa/cpa-careers/pre-approved-program-route-office-listing/
3. Consider working outside of the Lower Mainland in a rural community or even outside of BC? For example, there are opportunities in the Prairie Provinces that may be worth looking at. Go to the various firm websites and look for these postings. Some of these applications are due currently and will be filled following the CPA Campus recruiting activities here at UBC.
4. Does working close to home and/or in your community sound attractive to you? Consider locating medium and small firms that are not “approved training offices” but still offer an opportunity to get firm experience and provide the Experience Verification you need to complete your CPA designation requirements. Be sure to become familiar with the Practical Experience Requirements (PER) to better understand this process.
URL: http://www.bccpa.ca/become-a-cpa/programs/cpa-designation/practical-experience-requirement-(per)/
5. Consider pursuing Industry. Included in Industry are also other large companies, government agencies and crown corporations. There are a few “approved path training offices” in Industry that you will find on the link provided in point 1., but there is always the option of working in Industry with oversight from a mentor that can verify your work experience to meet the CPA requirements. Company directories like the Business in Vancouver – Book of Lists is a great place to look for companies in every sector, but there are many more resources you can use to locate the ones that interest you. The resource department of your local library or online resources are invaluable for this. Then you have to reach out to them proactively to add value with your new education, skills and experience, and present to them your desire/need to learn at the same time and provide documentation for the same. Understanding how the mentoring process works is very helpful.
URL: http://www.bccpa.ca/become-a-cpa/programs/cpa-designation/practical-experience-requirement-(per)/ (2. CPA Mentorship – How to find a Mentor)
6. If the CPA designation has never really been your focus, then there may be other options for you. The Advanced Certificate in Accounting and Finance (ACAF) is a certification that can also provide you with approved credentials to move your career ahead and to market to potential employers.
URL: http://www.bccpa.ca/become-a-cpa/programs/acaf-certification/is-the-cpa-acaf-right-for-you/
The ACAF also provides you with the option to continue with your CPA path later if you so choose.
7. For those looking for an alternative education pathway to complete your CPA, there is still another option worth considering – MPAcc. During summer months you can participate in a Graduate program which provides PEP module training and the 30 months of experience needed to proceed with completing final modules through CPA PEP and to prepare to write the CFE. Application date is November 30th for a May starting date.
URL: https://grad.usask.ca/programs/accounting.php#Program
8. If you are an international student and are looking to get work experience in your field and complete the requirements of extending your school and/or work Visa, then you have some options to consider:
a. You can secure a job using your new DAP education alone without pursuing your CPA designation right away and complete the one year of required experience to fulfill your desire to gain permanent residency in Canada. (Be sure to verify your specific path with an Immigration Consultant or Lawyer)
b. If language is still an issue for you, taking the components of English training that you require could really help you with future job searching and career progression. Sometimes it is simply business vocabulary that you need, accent reduction, intonation, business writing skills or simply more English conversation to help improve to have strong oral and written English skills to market language proficiency.
URL: http://www.listn.info/site/find-schools
URL: https://cstudies.ubc.ca/courses/power-pronunciation/wd112
Of course each student will have their own reasons for doing any of the above, so make the choices that reflect the best pathway for you. The sooner you act, the better!
To further discuss any or all of these options and/or to set some personal goals, meeting with a Career Consultant is worth the effort. There are additional things to consider and strategies worth using to support any of these directions.
Good Luck,
Russell
Russell Garrett is the Owner of Protocol Business Solutions, a Certified Career Consultant and your DAP Career Coach. He also collaborates with the Business Career Center to support BCom career initiatives from time to time. Russell will be delivering the Winter/ Spring Career Workshop Series from January – April to prepare DAP students for their overall job search training and to help those planning on CPA Recruiting in 2018.. Russell is also available to DAP students for online coaching appointments set up through email and will be on-campus from time to time for in-person coaching appointments.
Contact Russell at dapcareersupport@sauder.ubc.ca.