September 13, 2018 Overview Overview of CPA Professional Education - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

September 13, 2018

Overview

• Overview of CPA Professional Education

Programs

• Becoming a CPA
• CPA - PEP
• McGill’s Programs
• Desautels GCPA Program Requirements
• Desautels GCPA Application Process. uApply.

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Introductions - Useful Contacts

Julia Scott: Program Director, Desautels Amanda Abrams: 1st year Coordinator, Desautels Yulia Nikitina: Program Administrator, Desautels GCPA, room 315 Katlin Aarma : Admin. Student Affairs Coordinator,

(acting)

Desautels GCPA, room 315 ___________________________ Kirsty Rancier: School of Continuing Studies 688 Sherbrooke, 11th floor

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Becoming a CPA

• To receive a CPA designation, you must:

1.

Complete a recognized undergraduate degree

2.

Complete a PEP – Professional Education Program

• McGill’s Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (GCPA

Program) is a recognized PEP

3.

Successfully write & pass the CFE (Common Final Exam)

4.

Complete a 24 month recognized internship

• Broad ranges of acceptable work situations - public accounting,

taxation, valuation, industry, or government

• Outside of Quebec the internship period is 36 months

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Quebec CPA Order - Your Undergraduate Degree

• You must meet the course requirements
• utlined by the Order for the school where

you obtained your B Com. http://cpaquebec.ca/en/becoming-a- cpa/prerequisites/bachelors-degrees- recognized-in-quebec/

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PEP – Professional Education Programs

• 1. Desautels GCPA (full-time program)
• 2. School of Continuing Studies: Graduate

Certificate in CPA Professional Education

(part-time program)

• 3. National on-line program
• 4. Graduate programs at other Quebec

universities or other schools in Canada

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CPA Competencies

Technical Skills

• 1. Financial Acct
• 2. Mgmt Acct
• 3. Strategy & Governance
• 4. Audit & Assurance
• 5. Taxation
• 6. Finance

Enabling Skills

• 1. Professional & Ethical

Behaviour

• 2. Problem-solving &

Decision-making

• 3. Communication
• 4. Self-Management
• 5. Teamwork & Leadership

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CPA –PEP components

• Capstone

Integrative (Cap 1)

Leadership Skills, Integration of Competencies Team project, board presentation

Capstone Evaluation Preparation (Cap 2)

Exam preparation Development

• f enabling

competencies

Common Final Examination (CFE)

3 days of exams Candidates evaluated on Breadth in all core competencies & Depth in 2 core competencies

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Core 1

Financial Reporting, Taxation & Assurance

Core 2

Management Accounting, Strategy, Governance & Finance

Electives

Choose 2 of: Performance Management Finance Assurance Taxation To practice public accounting must take Assurance & Taxation

Starting in 202 CFE written in May & Sept.

Electives and affect on CFE

• On Day 2 of the CFE, students assume

different “roles” (auditor, tax advisor, finance,

performance measurement (controller))

• Which Electives you choose will determine

which role you will write

• At Desautels currently only the Auditor role
• For other roles need to look at other programs

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National On-Line Program

• Available across the country. In Montreal offered

through UQAM in English.

• Each module (Core 1, Core 2, etc.) is an 8 week

session done on-line with 1 weekend “face-to-face”.

• Will start at different times during the year (at least 2x).
• http://cpaquebec.ca/en/becoming-a-cpa/education/national-

program-delivered-by-the-order/

• Takes 2 years to complete
• Cost $10,336.26 (includes taxes). Plus administrative fees &

annual membership + CFE fee $1,776.36.

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National Program Prerequisites

• To enter the National Program directly from

McGill you need the same prerequisites as for our program (discussed later).

• If you are missing a few, CPA Canada offers CPA

PREP – on-line modules where you can make up for any missing prerequisites.

• They are NOT acceptable as prerequisites for

McGill’s GCPA.

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McGill SCS Program

• Offers all 4 electives
• Able to work throughout

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Graduate Certificate in CPA Professional Education 24 months Fall 1 Winter 1 Fall 2 Winter 2 Summer 2 CFE Core 1 Core 2 Electives Case Writing Capstones Available to work throughout. All classes at night or weekends

Out of Province Options

• Some Ontario universities offer graduate programs

that satisfy some parts of the PEP. Upon completion you transfer into the National Program.

• i.e. Queens & U of T have summer programs after

your undergraduate that allow you to enter at the Capstone 1 point.

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Transferring among PEPs

• It IS possible to start at McGill and then

transfer to the National Program depending

• n where in the program you are.
• i.e. move or get a job in another province
• It is NOT possible to start in the National

Program or another university’s PEP and then transfer into McGill.

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Objective: Desautels GCPA

• The goal of the GCPA is to provide you with the

necessary tools to become a CPA

• Provides professional training on the latest CPA

concepts and practice-related issues

• Focus on CFE case writing techniques and

integration of knowledge to the various scenarios.

• Develops & integrates CPA Technical & Enabling

Skills throughout the program

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Desautels GCPA (full time)

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Program Schedule - GCPA

• The program begins around May 1st and has a

duration of 16 months

• The two summers are full time:
• You won’t have time to work either summer
• 1st summer ends around July 20 in 2019
• Fall classes 2 nights/week
• Winter term - no classes

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Desautels GCPA Advantages

• Integrated approach to learning across the technical

competencies right from the start

• Development of enabling competencies &

presentation skills throughout the program

• Base Camp to develop key skills and maximize

learning in the program

• Small class/program size
• Quality instructors
• History of success (National Honour Roll)

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Our Classes

• Class size is limited to 60 students
• Smaller classrooms ensure
• Better relationship with the instructor
• Facilitates in-class participation
• Better tracking of the students’ progress
• More opportunities for individual debriefs and

feedback

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Our Instructors

• Very motivated and dedicated to the students
• Use a combination of full time academics & part-

time instructors who are working CPAs

• All selected because of their work experience,

knowledge of specific accounting topics and superior ability to solve CFE type cases

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Base Camp for Full Time Program

• Optional Base Camp in the 1st summer & fall

($250)

• A full day Case Skills Seminar & and a full day Presentation

Skills Seminar

• A hands-on instructional workshop on Examination Software
• Three individual coaching sessions over the course of the

summer & fall terms

• Helps students make the transition to Case Based Learning
• Strongly recommended!
• Scholarships available to the top applicants to cover the cost

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Capstone 1 (Integrative course)

• Includes a group project & presentation
• All students across Canada get the same large comprehensive

case at the same time.

• Get 8 weeks to do a strategic analysis and prepare a

presentation to be delivered to a “board” of the company.

• Purpose: to develop professional & team skills and to

integrate all competencies (see CPA Competency slide).

• At McGill we start doing comprehensive cases & group

presentations in the 1st courses. Develop & integrate enabling skills from the start.

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Cost of Desautels GCPA

• Average $1,938.60 regular tuition fees for Quebec residents (24

credit program; $79.70/credit – S18; $81.85/credit - F18 term, plus S19). Per credit fees changes every semester. Other fees & charges do apply.

• $250* Base Camp offered at start of the program to help you bridge

the gap from undergraduate to CPA style learning

• $2,000* CFE Prep course in final summer (*subject to change)
• $592.12 Registration with the Order. CPP annual dues $419.66.
• $1075.02 Examination software & educational material access fee
• $1,776.36 CFE Registration
• All fees are subject to change without notice
• Some of the fees may be reimbursed by your employer

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CFE Prep Seminar ($) (Capstone 2)

• Program in the 2nd summer leading to the exam in

September

• Focuses on case writing techniques and integration
• f knowledge acquired through the program
• Weekly one-on-one debriefs with graders (recent

writers) and group debriefs with other students

• Three day Mock CFE in July
• Passing grade for the seminar

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Past CFE & UFE Success

• 2017 CFE – Gold Medal in Quebec (shared)
• 2016 CFE – 1 Honour Roll student
• 2015 CFE – 3 Honour Roll students
• 2013 UFE – 2 Honour Roll students
• 2011 UFE – 3 Honour Roll students
• 2010 UFE – Gold Medalist in Quebec
• McGill is devoted to ensuring the success of

ALL of their students at the CFE.

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Other useful skills

• All exams in the GCPA program are written on

PC-based computers

• You need to be able to type well, and a good

knowledge of Excel will be an asset

• All exams are extremely time constrained
• You need to be able to read, comprehend & write

well (quickly) in English (now is not the time to be switching languages for studying)

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Desautels CGPA Requirements

• Minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum
• f B- in all prerequisite courses.
• Admission highly competitive! Meeting the

minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

• Although grades are a factor in the admission, other

extra curricular activities and accomplishments are considered

• It is impossible for us to predict the # of applicants

=> standards may differ from previous years

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Other Admissions Requirements

• 2 letters of reference – Not required for McGill

B Com students

• Personal Statement& C.V.
• Your chance to tell us about yourself and explain

your background

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Program Prerequisites

• A B Com degree including the following prerequisite courses

with a minimum of B-

• ACCT 351 Intermediate Financial Acct 1
• ACCT 352 Intermediate Financial Acct 2
• ACCT 361 Management Acct
• ACCT 362 Cost Acct
• ACCT 385 Principles of Taxation (cannot be taken abroad)
• ACCT 453 Advanced Financial Accounting
• ACCT 463 Management Control
• ACCT 475 Principles of Auditing (cannot be taken abroad)
• ACCT 486 Business Taxation 2 (cannot be taken abroad)
• FINE 342 Finance 2
• BUSA 364 Business Law (cannot be taken abroad)
• Equivalences from other schools available upon request. You

must meet the course requirements outlined from the Ordre for the school where you obtained your B Com.

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Other Considerations in your Undergrad

• You should take advantage of McGill and

select electives that will enhance your career

• ptions & skills.
• CPAs require diverse management skills:
• Oral presentations, case analysis, strategic

thinking

• Take courses that help you develop those skills

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Undergrad electives

• Suggestions: Courses that help you develop critical

thinking skills, writing skills, or presentations skills, or focus on strategy

• Less useful: The “unofficial”

science minor

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Desautels Application Process

• Deadline for application is Feb 1st, 2019
• International students Dec 15th
• McGill B Coms who graduate in Dec 2018 may apply by

Dec 15th for potential early admission decision

• Application info is available at:

http://www.mcgill.ca/desautels/programs/gcpa/admissions

• Complete on-line application form – uApply

system: www.mcgill.ca/uApply Opens Oct 1,

• Non-refundable application fee $110.29

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Documents to be uploaded

• Unofficial transcripts from all the university-level

institutions you have attended to date (including Exchange Programs) McGill transcripts are NOT required

• Two reference letters
• Not required for McGill B Com students – follow instructions given
• n GCPA website:

http://mcgill.ca/desautels/programs/gcpa/admissions/checklist

• Additional Questions (provide work experience info)
• Personal Statement and CV (for all applicants):

Tell us about yourself and explain your background.

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Graduate Admissions system - uApply

• www.mcgill.ca/uApply
• McGill students log in using their McGill username

and password

• Non-McGill students: create a new account

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Graduate Admissions system - uApply

• Complete your profile before you submit

your application.

• You can stop and save your progress at any

time.

• The application will only be processed once

you have submitted it. Non-refundable application fee is $110.29

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Education History

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• List all the university-level

institutions you have attended to date.

• Option of “No degree” for

exchange programs

Frequently Asked Questions

• Grades received on exchange are not included in your McGill

CGPA:

• But unofficial transcripts from Exchange Programs must be uploaded.
• Minimum grade of B- for any prerequisite course taken abroad.
• Letters of recommendation are uploaded by your referees.

McGill will contact the referees identified on your application form.

• Only documents listed on the checklist are required as part of

the admissions process.

• The ‘Upload New Version’ link is a feature offered to

applicants to submit revised or updated transcripts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Applicants must check their application status online
• n uApply.
• Final offers of admission will only be given in

February.

• Non-refundable registration deposit fee of $300

when accepting the offer. Applied towards tuition fees.

• General Program enquires and admission questions:

gcpa.mgmt@mcgill.ca

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Contact Information

Program Director:

Julia Scott, julia.scott@mcgill.ca 514.398.4000 x 04590

Program Administrator:

Yulia Nikitina yulia.nikitina@mcgill.ca 514.398.4130

General Program enquires:

gcpa.mgmt@mcgill.ca 514.398.4648

________________________________________

School of Continuing Studies:

General enquires cpa.scs@mcgill.ca 514.398.6200

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