Ancaster CPA student makes National Honour Roll

Six Hamilton students also pass challenging professional entry exam

TORONTO, Nov. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA Ontario) is proud to announce that Leanne Kamstra Bosscher, an Ancaster CPA student working in Hamilton, was one of just 16 Ontario students to make the prestigious Honour Roll for top marks on this year's Canada-wide Uniform Evaluation (UFE).

The UFE, written in September, is a national three-day evaluation that assesses competencies including essential knowledge, professional judgment, ethics and the ability to communicate. The UFE has been an important component of the CPA qualification program, which includes prescribed education, practical experience and examination requirements. As a result of unification of the accounting profession, the traditional Uniform Evaluation will be replaced by a new, equally challenging, Common Final Evaluation (CFE) which will be offered nation-wide starting in 2015.

Only those who complete this entire CPA program successfully are entitled to use the internationally recognized designation of Chartered Professional Accountant, a profession known for financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight and leadership.

An Ancaster resident working at KPMG LLP in Hamilton, Leanne has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University. On why she chose a career in the accounting profession, Leanne said: "I know that great opportunity comes with achieving the CPA, CA designation. You get a chance to work with some really brilliant colleagues, which allows for a challenging and rewarding career regardless of what area you work in. I also see the CPA, CA designation as a strong means to achieving a great work/life balance."

In total, Ontario had a record 1,389 of the country's 3,576 successful UFE writers and Mississauga's Akash Kapoor captured the Canada Gold Medal as the top UFE writer in the country. This is the fifth year in a row that the top Canadian UFE writer has come from Ontario. This is the largest crop of successful Ontario UFE writers in history.

CPA Ontario also admitted 1,976 additional new Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) into membership during two convocation ceremonies that took place on October 25 and November 8, 2014. This marks a milestone for these CPAs, acknowledging years of hard work, dedicated study, steadfast work-life balance and a true commitment to the accounting profession and their careers.

The following Hamilton CPA students also successfully wrote the exam and, upon completion of their 30-month experience requirement, have earned the right to use the CPA designation:

• Stefanie Angelini                 
• Emma Gray                        
• Tianyun Mu                        
• Diana Smiarowski
• Hassan Valiji                      
• Justin Wei

"Congratulations to all of the successful Ontario candidates," said Carol Wilding, FCPA, FCA, President and CEO of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. "Qualifying to become a CPA is a very challenging process and the resulting career is rich in rewards and opportunities. CPAs play important leadership roles in organizations of all types and sizes, from Bay Street to Main Street. The skills and knowledge that CPAs bring to Ontario's workplaces are crucial to our province's future success."

Interviews with Honour Roll students and/or photographs are available on request.

Media experts - Consider a CPA the next time you're looking for a subject matter expert to answer critical financial or business questions or when you need a panel expert to offer insight in a group discussion or debate.

About the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
CPA Ontario protects the public interest by ensuring its members meet the highest standards for integrity and expertise. CPA Ontario serves and supports its more than 80,000 members and approximately 20,000 students in their qualification and professional development in a wide range of senior positions in public accounting, business, finance, government, not-for-profits and academe. Certified General Accountants (CGAs), Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) and Chartered Accountants (CAs) are now unified under the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. Chartered Professional Accountants are valued by organizations of all types and sizes for their financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, management skills and leadership. For information on the profession, visit cpaontario.ca. To become a CPA in Ontario, visit gocpaontario.ca.

SOURCE: The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

Perry Jensen, Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, 416-969-4271 or 1-800-387-0735, ext. 271, [email protected]; Amy Mulhern, Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, 416-322-6520 or 1-800-668-1454 ext. 8311, [email protected]