INTRODUCTION NAME POSITION EMPLOYER

AGENDA  MISSION OF THE ORDER  PERCEPTION vs REALITY  A WINNING DESIGNATION  WHERE DO CPAs WORK?  HOW MUCH DO CPAs EARN?  PATH  QUESTIONS

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE CPA ORDER IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC:  THIS MEANS THAT THE ORDER MUST ENSURE THAT ITS 36,000 MEMBERS ACROSS QUEBEC ARE COMPETENT. HOW DOES IT DO THIS?  BY DEVELOPING A RIGOROUS EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR FUTURE CPAs;  BY REQUIRING ITS MEMBERS TO DEVELOP THEIR COMPETENCIES THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREERS;  BY INSPECTING THE WORK OF CERTAIN MEMBERS WHO OFFER SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC;  BY ENSURING THAT ALL MEMBERS COMPLY WITH RULES OF ETHICS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR FIELD. MISSION OF THE ORDER

 WHAT PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THE CPA PROFESSION?  DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A “BOOKKEEPER” AND A “CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT?”  WHAT TYPE OF PERSONALITY IS NEEDED TO BE A CPA?  DO YOU NEED TO BE GOOD IN MATH? PERCEPTION vs REALITY

 A PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS  JOB OPPORTUNITIES ABROAD  JOB SECURITY  A CAREER TAILORED TO YOUR INTERESTS A WINNING DESIGNATION

SOME EXAMPLES

CAROLINE MAILLOUX, CPA AUDITOR, CGA AUDITOR – MALLETTE (AND OWNER OF A MICROBREWERY!) DOLBEAU-MISTASSINI

MARTIN DESCHÊNES, CPA, CMA VICE-PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, MONDOU (PREVIOUSLY FOR BCBG) MONTREAL

NICOLAS BLAIS, CPA, CA PROFESSOR – UQTR (PREVIOUSLY AT QUÉBÉCOMM AND SPECTRA) TROIS-RIVIÈRES

 FINANCIAL ANALYST AND CONTROLLER  EXTERNAL AUDITOR  MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT  TAX SPECIALIST  FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT  INTERNAL AUDITOR  CONSULTANT  FINANCIER  PROFESSOR  SPECIALIST IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ONE DESIGNATION MANY AREAS OF EXPERTISE

WHERE DO CPAS WORK?

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK A CPA EARNS ON AVERAGE, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR WORKPLACE? COMPENSATION

A CPA EARNS ON AVERAGE… $141,000 PER YEAR AVERAGE SALARY BY AGE $143,000$171,000$192,000$191,000$97,000 COMPENSATION Under and over

RECOGNIZED UNDERGRADUATE DIPLOMA + PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM + COMMON FINAL EXAMINATION HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA COLLEGE DIPLOMA (DEC) PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE 24 MONTHS CPA DESIGNATION CPA PATH

WORK IN A REAL-LIFE MANAGEMENT AND DECISION-MAKING CONTEXT  24 MONTHS  CHALLENGING WORK AND COMPETITIVE SALARIES  NUMEROUS JOB OFFERS ACROSS QUEBEC (AND CANADA!)  REAL WORK EXPERIENCE THAT OFTEN LEADS TO LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT  RECRUITMENT BEFORE THE END OF YOUR STUDIES PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

WHAT ARE THEY?  WHAT DOES A CPA HAVE TO DO WITH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS?  WHAT IS AN ACCOUNTING STANDARD?  WHO USES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS? FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ASSETS (WHAT YOU OWN) MONEY IN THE BANK MERCHANDISE BUILDING LAND EQUIPMENT LIABILITIES (WHAT YOU OWE) BANK DEBT INVOICES PAYABLE INCOME SALES -COSTS MANUFACTURING COSTS EQUIPMENT PURCHASES EMPLOYEE SALARIES ELECTRICITY RENT = PROFIT (OR LOSS)

EXAMPLE COMMUNITY CENTRE THAT OFFERS SWIMMING AND SOCCER LESSONS:  IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CENTRE’S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS?  WHAT ARE ITS ASSETS (WHAT IT OWNS)?  WHAT ARE ITS SALES?  AND ITS COSTS?

COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSETS (WHAT IT OWNS) MONEY IN THE BANK POOL COMMUNITY CENTRE BUILDING BALLS SOCCER GOAL NETS POOL EQUIPMENT LIABILITIES (WHAT IT OWES) BANK DEBT HYDRO QUÉBEC INVOICE PAYABLE INCOME SALES SOCCER LESSONS SOLD SWIMMING LESSONS SOLD - COSTS PURCHASE OF NEW BALLS PURCHASE OF LIFE JACKETS SALARIES – INSTRUCTORS SALARY – DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE = PROFIT (OR LOSS)

QUIZ! WOULD YOU MAKE A GOOD CPA?

1) I register for a soccer lesson and pay in September WHEN CLASSES BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER, I PAY $200 FOR LESSONS TO BE HELD FROM OCTOBER 1 TO MARCH 31  WHAT AMOUNT DID THE COMMUNITY CENTRE RECOGNIZE AS A SALE ON DECEMBER 31? (A) $0 (B) $100 (C) $200

1) I register for a soccer lesson and pay in September WHEN CLASSES BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER, I PAY $200 FOR LESSONS TO BE HELD FROM OCTOBER 1 TO MARCH 31 ANSWER: $100 IN SALES  WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS TO KNOW WHETHER THE CENTRE ACTUALLY GAVE THE LESSONS. THE MONEY RECEIVED HAS NO IMPORTANCE! SURPRISING, NO?

2) I register for a soccer lesson and pay in March WHEN CLASSES BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER, I PAY $200 FOR LESSONS TO BE HELD FROM OCTOBER 1 TO MARCH 31. I PAY $200 ONLY WHEN THE LESSONS END (IN MARCH).  WHAT AMOUNT DID THE COMMUNITY CENTRE RECOGNIZE AS A SALE ON DECEMBER 31? (A) $0 (B) $100 (C) $200

2) I register for a soccer lesson and pay in March WHEN CLASSES BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER, I PAY $200 FOR LESSONS TO BE HELD FROM OCTOBER 1 TO MARCH 31. I PAY $200 ONLY WHEN THE LESSONS END (IN MARCH). ANSWER: $100 IN SALES  WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS TO KNOW WHETHER THE CENTRE ACTUALLY GAVE THE LESSONS. EVEN IF THE MONEY HASN’T BEEN RECEIVED YET!

3) How much profit does the Community Centre make?  10 STUDENTS REGISTER FOR SOCCER LESSONS THIS YEAR AND PAY $200 EACH  THE CENTRE MUST PAY THE FOLLOWING EXPENSES:  $500 FOR NEW BALLS  $1,000 FOR THE COACH’S SALARY  $500 FOR 2 GOAL NETS ($250 EACH)  $500 TO RENT THE FIELD  HOW MUCH PROFIT DOES THE CENTRE MAKE WITH ITS SOCCER LESSONS?

3) How much profit does the Community Centre make?  SALES  $200 X 10 STUDENTS = $2,000  - COSTS  BALLS: 500  INSTRUCTOR: 1,000  2 NETS X $250: 500  FIELD:500 TOTAL COSTS =$2,500

3) How much profit does the Community Centre make? ANSWER:  PROFIT = SALES – COSTS $2,000 - $2,500 = LOSS OF $500

4) What should the Community Centre do? THE CENTRE IS NOT MAKING ANY PROFIT WITH ITS SOCCER LESSONS, IT’S LOSING MONEY!  WHAT DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD DO?

4) What should the Community Centre do? THE CENTRE IS NOT MAKING ANY PROFIT WITH ITS SOCCER LESSONS, IT’S LOSING MONEY! ANSWER:  RAISE THE PRICE OF ITS LESSONS TO INCREASE SALES  FIND A FIELD THAT COSTS LESS  REDUCE THE COACH’S SALARY (HE MAY NOT THANK YOU FOR IT!)  BUY USED EQUIPMENT

4) What should the Community Centre do?  A GOOD CPA DOESN’T SIMPLY MAKE CALCULATIONS. HE MUST BE ABLE TO GIVE ADVICE AND FIND SOLUTIONS!

T HE CPA F OUNDATION CAN HELP YOU

100 % PLACEMENT RATE.

JOB SECURITY  CLOSE TO 100% PLACEMENT RATE:  BECOMING A CPA MEANS YOU WILL BE SURE TO FIND A JOB THAT MATCHES YOUR AMBITIONS, EVEN BEFORE YOU FINISH YOUR STUDIES! % EMPLOYMENT TO BE EXTREMELY EXACT.

cpaquebec.ca AND MORE  “LIKE” OUR “DEVENIR CPA” FACEBOOK PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROFESSION, ASK QUESTIONS AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR CONTESTS!

 ARE YOU UP FOR VIGOROUS AND FLEXIBLE TRAINING?  ARE YOU READY TO ACQUIRE THE COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO ENJOY A FIRST-RATE CAREER HERE OR ABROAD?  DO YOU WANT TO BE CREDIBLE ON THE JOB MARKET?  DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A PLACEMENT RATE OF CLOSE TO 100%? TO SUMMARIZE