Meet the three CFE writers who landed regional honours
From left to right: Mark Joseph Skinner, Ariane Villemure and Omar Dhanani (Images provided)
Writing the three-day CFE exam can be an intense experience at the best of times but, this year, writers were presented with a new challenge: how to prepare for it during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CPA Canada found creative solutions to hosting the event, including having candidates write the exam independently in hotel rooms. In total, 6,371 candidates passed the September 2020 CFE.
Aside from the top overall writer receiving the Governor General’s Gold Medal, CPA Canada awards regional Gold Medals (and cash prizes of $2,500 each) to those who achieved the highest standing in their region.
In 2020, the winners are: Mark Joseph Skinner, R.C. Squire & Associates Professional Corporation for Atlantic Canada; Ariane Villemure, KPMG s.r.l./S.E.N.C.R.L for Quebec; and Omar Dhanani, Ernst & Young LLP for Western Canada.
We spoke to the top writers about how they prepared for the rigorous exam, what it was like writing it during a pandemic and what their plans for the future are.
CPA CANADA: WHAT DOES BEING NAMED AS THE REGIONAL WINNER MEAN TO YOU?
Mark Joseph Skinner: In the lead-up to the release of the results, I was wondering if I was even going to pass. So, it was a pretty big surprise when I got the call to find out I was the top writer in the Atlantic region. It’s a great honour and something that I’m very proud of.
Ariane Villemure: I was already delighted to see my name on the honour roll, but I hadn’t heard anything else. When I got the call and found out I had won the Gold Medal, I was speechless, a little moved, even. It felt unreal.
Omar Dhanani: It’s honestly surreal. Leaving day three of the exam gave me a lot of confidence that I had passed and made up for the difficult day I knew I had on day two. But, to find out that I was named the regional winner in Western Canada still hasn’t set in and I don’t think it ever will.
CPA CANADA: WERE YOU WORRIED ABOUT WRITING THE EXAM IN PERSON, GIVEN THE ONGOING PANDEMIC?
MJS: No, I wasn’t too worried. I could probably count on two hands how many cases we had in Newfoundland over the summer, so I didn’t really have too many concerns about it. I actually thought that the conditions were pretty great writing in the hotel rooms. It was my first time writing the CFE, so I wouldn’t be able to compare it to previous exam conditions for the CFE, but I thought it was pretty easy to focus on the task at hand, being isolated in a hotel room.
AV: I had complete faith in the CPA Order’s ability to organize the exam and the proposed solution of assigning each candidate their own hotel room was perfect under the circumstances. In fact, being alone made it easier to concentrate without being distracted by the others.
OD: I thought CPA Canada planned the CFE extremely well in 2020. Each candidate getting their own hotel room was great in that there was little doubt that you would [not] come into contact with a lot of other writers and that you would have your own space to write the exam. Having a bed in each room was definitely an added bonus as I was able to relax for the hour or so leading up to the exam each morning and that put me in the right state of mind to tackle each day.
CPA CANDA: DID YOU TAKE ANY SPECIAL APPROACHES TO STUDYING FOR THE EXAM BECAUSE OF COVID-19?
MJS: My approach wasn’t actually impacted overall by COVID. For the most part I just stuck to the schedule that they provided. I made sure I was writing all my cases under exam constraints so that I would be used to the pressure of writing with that time crunch. And I made sure I took my weekends off to relax so that I wouldn’t be overworked.
AV: Since I was always at home, be it for school or for my internship at KPMG, finding the right balance was tricky. I could have easily spent even more time studying. But, COVID-19 or not, I wasn’t going to study 24/7. Beyond that, I adapted and got used to this new reality. I adjusted how I learn and collaborate, in particular with my classmates.
OD: COVID-19 made it a lot more difficult to study for the exam in a larger group of three to four people, so my study partner and I decided to shrink our group to just the two of us. The small group size helped us meet in person at least once a week in the last few weeks leading up to the exam, so we could go through challenging concepts together and, also ,so we could relax and enjoy the beautiful weather on the patio after long days of studying to keep a good balance throughout the summer.
CPA CANADA: WHAT ARE YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS AS A CPA?
MJS: Thankfully I found this career path and it ended up being a pretty good fit. To be honest, I didn't even really allow myself to think about things too far ahead until I passed the CFE. And as of today, I’m still kind of unsure what the future holds.
AV: I don’t want to close any doors, but I’m starting out at an accounting firm and I like it. That being said, in 2019, I participated in an international co-operation mission with CPAs Without Borders and I would like to repeat the experience as soon as possible. I love the work and want to remain involved. Actually, I’m now in the MBA program at UQTR (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières) and my project is about an international co-operation organization. The best part of being a future CPA is you discover new worlds all the time.
OD: My goal is to continue striving to work in a challenging and rewarding environment where I can reach my full potential. I still have so much to learn and I’m looking forward to becoming a CPA and unlocking all of the amazing opportunities that come with the designation.
READ MORE ABOUT THE 2020 CFE HONOUR ROLL
Hear from the overall CFE Gold Medallist about how she landed the top spot and view the complete list of candidates who made the honour roll list.