News in brief: CPA Canada seeks participants for its Foresight initiative
As a CPA, you can help CPA Canada by offering your insights into value creation through the Foresight: Reimagining the Profession initiative (Getty Images/Thomas Barwick)
CPA CANADA SEEKS CPAs TO BE PART OF FORESIGHT INITIATIVE
CPA Canada is looking for 15 to 20 participants for its Proof-of-Concept Initiative (POCI), as part of its ambitious Foresight: Reimagining the profession project. The POCI will test various value-creation approaches that relate to decisions organizations face and support efforts to enhance the evolving roles and competencies of CPAs.
Exploring concepts, including innovation, data, sustainability, stakeholder impact and COVID-19 implications, participants will learn about value-creation concepts, methodologies and solutions over 30 to 60 hours. Their feedback and insights will help shape CPA Canada’s efforts, as a thought leader, to transform the profession.
Find out more about how you can contribute to this initiative.
CPA CANADA OFFERING FREE AI AND AUTOMATION RESOURCES
From big data to algorithms, ethics to audit, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the accounting industry and the CPA’s role.
CPA Canada offers a diverse collection of resources providing guidance and insight to help accountants embrace and integrate this technology into their organizations and individual roles. Challenges and opportunities discussed help CPAs navigate the AI and automation world, while identifying future possibilities.
Key takeaways include considerations for AI-enabled audit, best processes for robotic process automation (RPA), how AI and automation will boost productivity and reduce human error as well as the proficiencies CPAs need moving forward.
CPA CANADA’S FORESIGHT FORUMS INVITE CPAs TO PARTICIPATE
If COVID-19 and working remotely has you seeking connection, tap into CPA Canada’s Foresight: Reimagining the Profession forums. The platform gives CPAs an opportunity to collaborate and discuss issues impacting the accounting profession.
In response to COVID-19, two new questions have been posted, including the importance of understanding data and the role CPAs play in business resilience. CPAs can share their insights by participating in related polls, which are moderated by CPA Michael Massoud, principal, research, guidance and support at CPA Canada.
CPA APPOINTED AS FIRST BLACK FEMALE TO LEAD TDSB
CPA Carlene Jackson, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the public sector, took post as interim director of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) as of July 15.
Appointed by trustees in June, Jackson is the first Black female to serve as head of the TDSB. Prior to this role, she served as the TDSB’s associate director, business operations, and service excellence and CFO with the Toronto Catholic District School Board. She has also occupied senior roles in all three levels of government, including the Ontario Ministry of Finance and the federal Treasury Board Secretariat.
Jackson replaced John Malfoy, who retired from the role he took on in January 2016. The TDSB said Jackson will serve as head until a permanent director is installed.
CPA CANADA HOSTS FIRST PAN-REGIONAL WEBINAR IN THE CARIBBEAN
Helping CPAs across the Caribbean navigate COVID-19, CPA Canada held its first pan-regional webinar on July 9 focusing on the pandemic’s financial impacts on the region and the reform required to emerge on the other side.
More than 170 CPAs attended the free event, led by leading Caribbean economist Marla Dukharan, in affiliation with CPA Canada’s chapter advisory councils in the
Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. Amongst strategies for business survival, Dukharan highlighted the importance of reinvigorating old sectors in new ways and diversifying into new sectors, including climate-adaptive construction and renewable energy.
“As business professionals, we all have a role to play in helping the Caribbean achieve a more prosperous and sustainable future,” says Dukharan. “It is important that we look to shape proposals, create opportunities, innovate and diversify, so we can put the region on a more sustainable socioeconomic trajectory.”
CPA CANADA PARTNERS WITH HAINAN UNIVERSITY FOR SEMINAR IN MAINLAND CHINA
On July 18, CPA Canada and Hainan University hosted a seminar for students and CPA Canada members to discuss the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port in mainland China.
The purpose of the half-day event held in Haikou on Hainan Island was to introduce CPA Canada to Hainan University. The seminar also explored how Hainan’s economic growth, as a burgeoning destination for tourism and e-commerce, is linked to the need for highly trained finance professionals.
CPA Canada’s director of international programs, Anna-Marie Christian, FCPA, FCMA, was one of the key speakers who led discussion around educating international accounting professionals in the new era. “This was a great opportunity for CPA Canada to showcase our work on Foresight and how enabling competencies are developed in the pre-certification programs” she says.
In total, 110 CPA Canada members and 250 students from Hainan University School of Management attended the event.
Click here to find out more about the Hainan Free Trade Port.