Repetitive work, endless numbers, a man's profession, a future darkened by artificial intelligence… Everything we hear about Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) does not correspond to reality. When it comes to drawing up the balance sheet, those most affected have taken it upon themselves to deconstruct old clichés and restore some truths.
The president and CEO of the Order of Chartered Professional Accountants of Quebec is the first to recognize this. “There are certain myths that still surround the profession,” explains Geneviève Mottard, who has made it her mission to “debunk” these clichés. An accounting graduate of Concordia University, the president has led several campaigns aimed at shattering preconceived notions since taking office at the helm of the CPA Order in 2016.
Getting things back in order is a major challenge for the future of the profession. At the same time, we must ensure the succession of a generation of baby boomers who are ready to pass the torch. And there are old stereotypes that die out harder than others among younger people. “All professions face a purely demographic challenge,” analyzes Ms. Mottard. “But we also have specific challenges for the CPA profession. Because young people still see us as a boring and boring profession. »
A privileged position
Contrary to popular belief, CPAs don't just have endless columns of numbers as their horizon. Her skills, as well as her area of activity, go beyond pure compliance and financial reporting. “The CPA is one of the few people in a company with a 360-degree vision. He must understand operations, finances, strategy and communication. This means that the CPA has influence on all types of activities,” emphasizes Ms. Mottard.
“The training to become a CPA is very transversal. Accounting is important, but we also take courses to develop our thinking skills and make recommendations to CEOs,” says Pier-Alexandre Corriveau-Larochelle, CPA and vice president of finance and operations at Duvernois Esprits. creative. “This training makes us managers and not simple accountants, true right hands and business people involved in the company's strategy. »
Social questions
The CPA profession often involves tedious shadow work and is much more valuable than you think. And not just within companies. We may not know it, but CPAs play an important role in protecting the public on such important issues as the fight against elder financial abuse. “We have made it our duty to sit down with the government and work on a bill,” admits Ms. Mottard.
“The Order has held consultations with several partners in the financial sector to establish mechanisms to allow CPAs to raise the alarm if they become aware of cases of financial mistreatment. Because of our role, CPAs are often on the front lines of these situations. And we must make our voice heard on social issues,” continues the President of the Order, who has also advocated for the creation of a legal framework to better regulate credit agencies.
“I work with several companies throughout the year and it is a great opportunity to learn from different backgrounds. My days are never the same, and neither are my weeks. » — Ariane Villemure, auditor
The choice of diversity
In recent years, the Order has also worked to highlight private practice work, which is somewhat of an “unloved” profession in the industry. It is a fact that young accountants at the end of their training prefer a career in business, which is generally considered more rewarding. But pursuing a practice can be just as fulfilling and rewarding.
“Working in a company allows you to be surrounded by a large team at all levels, whose employees have very different experiences. So we learn very quickly and it is very instructive,” confirms auditor Ariane Villemure.
After passing the professional exam in 2020, the 26-year-old CPA found her place at MNP, one of the leading professional services firms in Canada, where she works as an auditor and certification manager. And Ms. Villemure doesn't regret her choice.
“I chose to work in a company because it offers me diversity. I work with several companies throughout the year and it is a great opportunity to learn from different backgrounds. My days are never the same, and neither are my weeks,” she says.
A profession in full development
As Ariane Villemure has experienced, the CPA profession is attracting more and more women. The days when accounting was considered primarily a man's job are long gone. “We have almost reached parity today,” emphasizes Geneviève Mottard. “We even assume that something will change in the coming years, as we have a majority of female students in our faculties. We are one of the most diverse but also equal professions in Quebec. »
When we talk about the future of the profession, another question arises from the debates. Isn't it risky to learn a profession that is likely to result in death? The rapid development of artificial intelligence has brought with it some dark omens, and some do not hesitate to predict the more or less long-term end of CPAs. But as with the introduction of the first computers at the beginning of the 1980s, accounting professions in particular are likely to continue to develop with technological innovations and not disappear completely.
“150 years ago we worked with manual registers. Today we work with technological tools such as AI. “It is a profession that adapts,” concludes Ms. Mottard. “AI makes it possible to focus more on an accountant’s other areas of expertise, namely professional judgment and business development, rather than accounting and tax returns. Artificial intelligence is merely a tool and can never replace professional judgment. »
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