plenty of reasons why ethnically diverse accounting groups make sense. Not only do these associations attract folks in ethnic groups to the profession, they “provide a go-to familiar, trustworthy ethnic group for advice and guidance, especially when faced with fears or disappointments in the workplace,” says the group controller at Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd. in Scarborough, Ont. An association specifically for black accoun- tants, he says, could help members “focus on your passion, high professional standards, goals and doing the ‘right thing’ the ‘right way’” when “dealing with perceived or real discrimina- tion on the job and in the profession as a black CPA.” “An ethnic association would’ve helped me understand the


CPA program and designation process earlier in my career, the importance of CPA networking and knowledge sharing to iden- tify and pursue job opportunities, to learn the importance of mentors and how to conduct myself as an ethnic minority during interviews and on the job,” he says. It would have also helped a younger Parkins figure out “how


to achieve respect based on performance, values and behav- iour instead of attention based on some ethnic quota or ethnic hiring requirements,” he says, adding that he is grate- ful for the support and recognition his Canadian employers have given him. Helping young Indigenous accountants get into the business


is a focus for Terry Goodtrack, the president of AFOA Canada (formerly the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada), which boasts more than 1,500 members. One of the association’s key mandates is to encourage Aboriginal youth to enter the finance and management professions. “With unifica- tion, AFOA Canada has ensured that its Certified Aboriginal Financial Management program aligns with and creates a pathway to CPA Canada’s Advanced Certificate in Accounting and Finance and, subsequently, the CPA designation,” says Goodtrack. He adds that AFOA Canada, which started nearly 20 years ago, believes the key pillars of its financial manage- ment strategy are “the relationships built with organizations such as CPA Canada, and our other corporate member partners in the accounting industry such as MNP LLP, BDO Canada and Deloitte. The health and success of our Indigenous communi- ties can be linked to financial wellness and its management capacity. CPAs are critical in the journey toward economic pros- perity,” he says. “Our relationship with CPA Canada continues


THE CPA PROFESSION RECOGNIZES THE CHALLENGES FACED BY IMMIGRANTS TO CANADA, so, to support them, CPA Canada has developed an interactive online course titled Guide to Accounting Business Culture: Adapting to the Canadian Accounting Workplace. CPA Canada also supports members who work outside Canada through its international chapters, which help members remain engaged with the Canadian profession.


to strengthen our ability to produce the top Indigenous ac- counting and financial professionals.” Goodtrack adds AFOA Canada ensures its members are on the “cutting edge of finan- cial management practices.” Keeping members up to date with the latest practices is something that each of the ethnically diverse accounting as- sociations mentions as a priority. But what’s arguably more important is giving back to their respective communities, and acting as a bridge between professionals in Canada and their home countries. “I came to Canada in 2001 from China,” says Judy Lin, a partner in the China Services Group of Grant Thornton and cofounder of the Canadian-Chinese Professional Accountants Association (CCPAA). “After settling down and establishing myself in Toronto, I felt strongly that it was time for me to give back to the community and to my home country. I was heartbroken when I heard terrible stories originating in China. I knew I could not change the world overnight, but I did want to find a way to help.” Ten years ago Lin and two friends in the Chinese accounting community started CCPAA. “Pro- fessionals with a Chinese background are known to have solid knowledge and experience, but we are also known as shy and we don’t speak up for ourselves,” says Mavis Mu, an accountant at Kanish & Partners LLP in Toronto and the CCPAA Ontario chapter president. “We are building a platform to unite Chinese professionals — we want all communities to hear our accoun- tants’ voices.” The Korean Canadian Professional Accountants Society of


BC (KCPA BC) was also seen as a shy bunch by some members — that is, until the social aspect of the group took off. Jai Namgung, KCPA BC’s secretary, who has his own firm in Coquitlam, BC, says the group’s first meeting included 13 CPAs who “did not know each other. My first impression was that we were too shy to become familiar and it would take a long time to be friends.” As one of the smaller associations, with 33 members, what it lacks in membership it makes up for in being one of the most social groups around. Little did Namgung know that in addition to holding professional development seminars, the association would soon host a year-end party, plan hiking trips and picnics and put on golf tournaments. “As time [went] on, more CPAs started participating in our meetings and we were too friendly to become competitors in a much shorter time than I expected,” he says. Meanwhile, cookies and coffee are served during the break at


the BFAN meeting; the ladies schmooze before the next speaker is introduced. “We have an honest, encouraging, open forum that feels like a sisterhood, a family,” says Radcliffe, who adds she’s hopeful for the future of BFAN. “It’s like a great recipe — with the right ingredients the results are amazing and you want to share it with others. That’s what I’ve been doing since I joined the network — spreading the word.”


LISA VAN DE GEYN is a Toronto-based writer and contributing editor to CPA Magazine


SEPTEMBER 2017 | CPA MAGAZINE | 49


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