CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS OF MANITOBA
“Using data to really guide the decision-making of organizations makes CPAs true partners in business, helping drive economic success.”
– Geeta Tucker, FCPA, FCMA, president and CEO of Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba
accountants to come forward to fill all the job opportunities that are coming up.” Tucker says that the employment gap is quite eye-opening. “Right now, we’re seeing the need for another 185 to 221 CPAs in the province — that, alongside a workforce that’s contracting at 1.5 per cent points to a real need for more CPAs. Our goal is to see these roles filled by university degree holders and internationally educated professionals who are pursuing the designation." Which is to say, opportunity knocks. More than ever, the industry is not only offering good remuneration but positions that provide challenging, fulfilling work in a setting that individuals can tailor to their exact needs to foster good work-life balance. “The demand for the services that CPAs offer is not going to go away. If anything, demand is going to continue to increase,” Tucker says. “Anyone with a skill set in data analytics is going to be in high demand.” That data provides the information that businesses need to drive good ESG choices while also enabling investors to make informed decisions when investing in a business. “It will give confidence to investors regardless of their level of sophistication,” she adds. “With quality data at their fingertips, they can pick up a report and make a sound investment decision.” As CPA Manitoba moves forward with technology, they will also be making a concerted effort to foster the development of CPAs with an Indigenous heritage.
“One area we’re really focusing our efforts to build growth in is in getting more Indigenous individuals into the profession,” Tucker says. “A recent study talked about barriers to entering the profession, such as unstable internet in communities and mentorship. We plan to set up students with Indigenous CPA mentors to help guide them to a successful career in accounting.” Both Lane and Tucker say that CPA is the profession of the future. “More positions are opening up, and the demand for analytics and reporting is going to continue to increase among companies,” Lane says, adding that advances in artificial intelligence and robotics are going to free up CPAs to do more analytics. “Job descriptions are continually changing, calling for more insight, critical thinking and problem solving. The job is no longer about just crunching numbers.” Tucker agrees. “CPAs like to make order out of chaos and, with the help of technology, they can adapt to an ever-changing world to provide businesses with the data they need. It’s a flexible and stimulating career that will allow you to have the lifestyle you want and allow you to make a difference in the world. It’s a great career path for anyone who’s looking for a challenging, fulfilling career.” ■
41 WINTER 2022
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