Please see below for an update from CPABC on this year’s Spring Recruit (in italics):
In these very unusual times, the accounting profession is very concerned about the uncertainty and stress that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the public, including post-secondary students. Keeping the best interests of students at the forefront, the profession feels that students should be free to focus on their health, safety, families, and finishing off their academic year. In light of this, we wish to inform you that there is consensus amongst public practice firms to suspend Spring Recruitment activities, including the implementation of the CPABC Recruitment Framework Spring 2020 deadlines. The suspension of spring recruitment activities also acknowledges that many students attending post-secondary institutions in B.C. have been doing so away from their home cities and countries and have subsequently returned home to be with their families, limiting their ability to socialize with and understand the culture of the various accounting firms. Continuing with spring recruitment activities could leave students who have returned home at a disadvantage.
CPABC would like to emphasize the following about this year’s public practice recruit:
- While the Spring Recruit offer acceptance date has been suspended, the Fall Recruit aspect of the Recruitment Framework will still be in effect. This is a “one off” change to reflect our unique times. It is anticipated that normal recruit cycles will resume this fall and in 2021.
- Lower Mainland firms have agreed to reinstate an offer out date, which will now be September 25, 2020. This means that students that have not yet received an offer letter should expect to not receive one until September 25 or later. The offer acceptance deadline on such letters will be October 9, 2020.
- Any students currently holding offer letters with a June 26, 2020 acceptance dates will receive new offer letters, with a new acceptance deadline of October 9, 2020.
- As per the original 2020 framework, students currently completing a co-op work term with a firm MAY receive an offer letter from their current firm (with no prescribed acceptance deadline), but will not receive offer letters from other firms until September 25 or later.
A copy of the revised Lower Mainland Recruitment Framework has been attached to this message for your information and dissemination to students. As always, the framework can also be found on our website at https://www.bccpa.ca/become-a-cpa/become-a-cpa/post-secondary-students/cpabc-post-secondary-recruitment-framework/. On behalf of CPABC and the accounting profession we believe this student first position is consistent with the interests of our post-secondary partners and students, and recognizes the necessity to align practices that promote well-being and thereby an accelerated end to these unprecedented times.