“CPA Ontario continues to focus intently on our traditional role as a protector of the public trust and a steward of the profession. But today, playing our traditional role requires us to play a new one: acting as an insightful, responsive resource to CPAs as they navigate unprecedented change.”
“CPA Ontario has a strong tradition of connecting members with opportunities to contribute, both within and beyond their professional roles. This tradition has been powered by a commitment to helping members thrive, and also by an understanding of how much communities and society stand to benefit from CPAs’ insights and leadership.”
Progress Update
As the regulator of Ontario’s more than 89,000 CPAs, our primary mission is to protect the public interest. To fulfil that mission, we not only uphold high standards as a regulator, we also work to attract and develop outstanding new candidates to the designation, and deliver services and supports that help our members advance their careers.
This report summarizes our progress over the past year on four strategic priorities that are vital to the strength of our profession and to the health of our organization.
Strategic Priorities
Attract
Build
Maintain
Create
Attract a robust pipeline of new entrants to the profession.
As the demand for highly skilled business leaders continues to grow, training and accreditation options for talented people are proliferating. One goal of our unification process was to build a designation with the size and scope to compete for top talent — and CPA Ontario is working energetically to fulfil that objective.
We’re expanding the range of outreach and recruitment activities we undertake to attract outstanding candidates — from top graduates in business, accounting, and finance programs to internationally educated professionals (IEPs) seeking to adapt their skills and credentials to the Canadian market. From our extensive web of post-secondary relationships across Ontario to our partnerships in important economies around the world, we’re drawing strong new candidates to pursue our designation.
Special Update: Legislation
In May 2017, the Ontario government passed the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario Act, 2017, legislation that officially recognizes CPA Ontario as regulator of the province’s more than 89,000 accounting professionals. This milestone is the capstone of our unification process; it marks the formal conclusion of a complex and ambitious collective effort, and inaugurates a new chapter for our profession.
Explore the progress we’ve made this year across all areas of our organization and see how that progress has helped advance our four strategic objectives.
CPA Ontario Council and Executive Management Team
The CPA Ontario Council is made up of 16 elected members of CPA Ontario and four public representatives appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor. The President & CEO, supported by an executive management team, is responsible for strategy and the day-to-day operations, including the roles of educator, regulator, advocate, thought leader, and provider of benefits and services to our stakeholders.
Key duties of a Council member include:
- Protect, and be seen to protect, the public interest.
- Protect the interests of the profession and members.
- Ensure the integrity and independence of CPA Ontario’s self-regulatory processes.
- Act consistently in accordance with the values and ethics of the profession.
- Set the strategic direction.
- Approve the annual business plan and performance targets.
CPA Ontario Council Members Officers
- Johanne Charbonneau
FCPA, FCGA
Chair - Alan T. Mak
FCPA, FCA
Vice-Chair - Nigel White
FCPA, FCMA
Secretary - Anita K. Ferrari
FCPA, FCA
Treasurer
Council Members-At-Large
- Chris Boland
CPA, CA, CMA - Roseline Brennan
CPA, CGA - Georgina M. Daniels
FCPA, FCA - Ronald Harvey
FCPA, FCGA - John Hsu
FCPA, FCMA - Ian Jeffreys
CPA, CA - Michel Lavigne
FCPA, FCA - Delna Madon
CPA, CA - Stephen McCaughey
CPA, CMA - Catherine L. Russell
CPA, CA - Debra J. Taylor
FCPA, FCGA - Dave Vert
CPA, CA
Young CPA Representative - Non-Voting
- Jennifer D. Lee
CPA, CA
Public Representatives
- Ginny Dybenko
- Tim Kennish
LL.B - Graham T. Parsons
B.A. (Econ) - Robert C. Wong
B.Sc., MBA
Executive Management Team
- Carol Wilding
FCPA, FCA
President & Chief Executive Officer - Julie Lam
CPA, CA
Executive Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer - Elizabeth Cowie
Vice-President, General Counsel - Kelly Gorman
CPA, CA
Vice-President, Regulatory & Standards - Richard Piticco
CPA, CA
Vice-President, Student Services - Nilpa Srivastava
Vice-President, Marketing & Communications - Vacant
Vice-President, Member Services
Standing Committees of Council
- Anita K. Ferrari
FCPA, FCA
Finance & Audit Committee, Chair
- Nigel White
FCPA, FCMA
Governance & Nominating Committee, Chair
- Cathy Russell
CPA, CA
Human Resources Committee, Chair
Regulatory Committees
Appeal Committee
Chair:
- Stephen R. Meek, FCPA, FCA
Deputy Chair
- Larry P. Bookman, CPA, CA
- John Love, CPA, CMA
- Allan E. Mackay, CPA, CMA
- Darroch A. Robertson, FCPA, FCA
Professional Conduct Committee
Chair:
- Robert G. Simon, CPA, CA
Deputy Chair
- Daniel J. Cremasco, FCPA, FCA
- Peter P. Farkas, CPA, CA
- Elena D. M. Hufton, CPA, CA
Discipline Committee
Chair:
- Joan A. Cullemore, FCPA, FCA
Deputy Chair
- Randal J. Adamkowski, CPA, CA
- David Debenham, CPA, CMA
- Stephen F. Dineley, FCPA, FCA
- Stuart M. Douglas, FCPA, FCA
- Anne C. Mackenzie, CPA, CMA
- A. Douglas Nichols, FCPA, FCA
Public Accounting Licensing Board
Chair:
- John Beech, FCPA, FCA
Membership Committee
Chair:
- Elaine Sequeira, FCPA, FCA
Deputy Chair
- Jordan Beallor, CPA, CA
- A. Ross Mitchell, FCPA, FCA
Practice Inspection Committee
Chair:
- Jean Prichard, CPA, CA
Advisory Committees
Small Practices Advisory Committee
Chair:
- Edward Fink, CPA, CA
Volunteer Leadership
The generous efforts of CPA Ontario’s many volunteers benefit all members and students in the CPA program, the profession and the public. We extend our sincere thanks to the many committee volunteers who gave their time and expertise during fiscal 2017.
About CPA Ontario
Our primary purpose is to protect the public interest. We attract people who share our values and believe in our purpose — those of exceptional ethical character who do the right thing not just because it’s paramount but because it’s also in their nature. Above all, we are trusted to ensure students and members meet our profession’s standards and embrace our code of conduct.
