Quick info

• Graduating year: 2018
• Current job title: Staff Accountant II, Deloitte
• Previous education: Bachelor of Commerce, University of Toronto
• 2019 Common Foundation Examination (CFE) Honour Roll

Why did you decide to study the GDipPA  program?

Ever since the creation of the GDipPA program several years ago, I was fully aware of the benefits it comes with. The interactive face-to-face learning style is exactly what I needed in order to pressure myself to study every day and keep up with the pace. Also, it is much easier to just walk up to the professors to ask questions than asking questions online! In addition, this program would allow me to focus on work once I start working full-time as it fast tracks CPA process, thus reducing the need to handle both work and studying at the same time. Finally, the gap between the end of undergrad to the start of full-time work is more than 4 months, and there wouldn’t be a better time to develop myself professionally than utilizing this time.

Why did you choose Rotman?

Throughout my undergrad, Rotman never disappointed me. The academic-oriented atmosphere is the perfect motivation for me to work hard.

The top-tier professors taught me to think critically beyond academics, develop my professional judgement, as well as act with professional skepticism.

Due to my confidence in the quality of education Rotman provides as well as the irreplaceable student experience, I continued to choose Rotman for GDipPA.

What was the highlight of the Rotman experience? 

The highlight is definitely the people that I met through GDipPA. Not only did I get to learn more from the top-tier professors, but also I met many people across Canada who I later befriended. They are all bright individuals who are career-oriented and have a plan for the future, and it felt amazing to be surrounded with like-minded individuals that understand each other very well. This also created a competitive atmosphere that enticed me to study both harder and smarter in order to stand out.

Did Rotman and the GDipPA program meet your expectations?

Once I started studying for capstone 2, I immediately noticed that GDipPA had built a solid foundation for me as most of the technicals have already been ingrained in my memory through the many cases I wrote in the program, as well as the detailed debriefs that the professors go through for every single topic. Furthermore, GDipPA has also prepared me well for the Capstone 1 presentation as I have honed my presentation skills through the case competitions and the interactive classroom that GDipPA offers.

Did you find it beneficial to complete the GDipPA program prior to starting at Deloitte?

Yes. Through the case-oriented program, I was able to strengthen my understanding of accounting and audit concepts as well as their application in real-life scenarios.  This helped me to become more confident when I started my job as I was assured that I am technically competent for the role. Furthermore, the program taught us to rely on the CPA handbook and navigate it to utilize the resources effectively, which has helped me tremendously during work.

What would you say to someone considering choosing the GDipPA?

Choosing the GDipPA at Rotman is one of the best choices I’ve made. I highly recommend it as it streamlines the CPA process as it minimizes the need to complete the PEP courses while working, which could easily become stressful during busy season. Furthermore, it integrates the different courses so that I learned to approach issues from multiple perspectives as well as being more aware of the linkage between correlated issues.

What are your future plans?

My goal is to find a career that can combine my passion for accounting and interest in finance. Currently, I am happy to be learning a lot every day from auditing clients in financial services. The CPA designation that Rotman assisted with enables me to practice what I love to do.

Rotman helped me to better understand the endless opportunities that having CPA could lead to.

The Rotman Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting is an excellent way for you to gain advanced standing in the pursuit of a CPA. The 12-week program helps prepare you for the Common Final Examination (CFE) and allows you to advance straight to the Capstone 1 module in the CPA PEP.