Executive Director

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are proud of our Foundation and its mission: Attracting and funding high potential, diverse students who may not have the financial means to become a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

The inaugural Executive Director for the newly expanded CPA Ontario Foundation will run the day-to-day operations leading the development of the newly established Scholarship Program, in collaboration with the CPA Ontario team. Accountable to the Foundation Board of Directors, the Executive Director will drive innovation, build solutions and partnerships, and implement programming to support our focus on student diversity and inclusion within the CPA profession.

The Executive Director position is envisioned as a full-time role in its initial year of set up, with flexibility to become a part time role as the Foundation matures. This role is planned as a hybrid position, with a combination of working remotely, and working from the CPA Ontario offices at 130 King Street West in Toronto. 

 

ABOUT CPA ONTARIO

We are an educator, thought leader, regulator, advocate and provider. CPA Ontario protects the public interest by ensuring our members meet the highest standards of integrity and expertise.

We serve and support 97,000 members and 21,000 students in their qualification and professional development in a wide range of senior positions in public accounting, business, finance, government, not-for-profits, and academia. And, as the governing provincial body of a self-regulating profession, we play multiple roles.

We also provide pathways to the profession for aspiring accountants from around the world. And we engage in our community as a responsible corporate citizen.

CPA Ontario Annual Report 2021

 

CPA ONTARIO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Amidst the economic uncertainty and volatility of the past two years, the pandemic cast a glaring light on societal inequities for Black, Indigenous, and other racialized individuals. These include discrimination in the workplace and slow progress on diversity and inclusion in corporate leadership roles. The accounting profession is not exempt from these issues and recognizes that we are stronger when we have a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

CPA Ontario has also made a public declaration of our intent to address anti-Black discrimination and systemic racism by signing the BlackNorth Initiative Pledge, led by The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism. A first step is examining structures within CPA Ontario.

CPA Ontario is recruiting an EDI leader to develop and implement proactive internal and external diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Understanding the make-up of members is equally important, and last year an optional, confidential member diversity survey was added as part of the CPA Ontario Annual Member Dues process.

One of the key strategic priorities of CPA Ontario is to attract a robust pipeline of new and diverse entrants to the accounting profession. As the demand for highly skilled business leaders continues to grow, education, and advanced development options for talented people are proliferating. Globally recognized and trusted, the CPA designation opens the doors to a diverse and nearly limitless set of opportunities.

To continue attracting talented people to our profession, we are taking many steps to ensure that the brightest and most strategic minds understand that becoming a CPA leads to a rewarding and diverse career. We’re expanding the range of outreach and recruitment activities we undertake to attract outstanding candidates — from top graduates in business, accounting and finance programs to internationally educated professionals seeking to adapt their skills and credentials to the Canadian market.

From our extensive network of post-secondary relationships across Ontario to our partnerships in important economies around the world, we’re drawing strong new candidates to pursue our designation. The CPA Ontario Foundation will play a key role in enabling us to achieve this goal.

 

CPA ONTARIO FOUNDATION

Foundation expansion, purpose and mandate

Though CPA Ontario has worked hard to improve diversity and inclusion within our organization, we know that lasting change can only happen if we continue to take action to improve representation within our organization and our profession. To that end, we have expanded the CPA Ontario Foundation, which will be governed by an independent Board.

This year, CPA Ontario gave $4 million to the CPA Ontario Foundation, with the goal of attracting high-potential, diverse students with financial need who may not otherwise pursue a CPA designation and support them throughout their education journey to obtain their designation. Through support from Foundation scholarships, students from historically underrepresented groups will be able to pursue the designation and ensure a more equitable future for the profession.   

 

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning, Leadership & Management:

  • Collaborate with the Board to create and implement the strategic plan, the Foundation scholarship program and drive the achievement of annual operational goals. 
  • Develop and support a culture that engages and collaborates with CPA Ontario support services.
  • Support an engaged Board of Directors.
  • Advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity ensuring the work of the Foundation is student-centric and maximizes opportunities for youth to become successful as CPA professionals.
  • Use quantitative and qualitative data to ensure that the Foundation is continually focused on the highest impact activities when executing its mission.
  • Establish a disciplined approach to set and measure tangible KPIs for all activities that support the Scholarship Program goals.
  • Drive the transformation and change needed to facilitate integration of diverse youth into the CPA profession.
  • Partner with CPA Ontario team on financial controls and reporting, and on legal, governance, and regulatory requirements.
  • Work closely with the Foundation Investment Committee.

Partnerships & Relationships

  • Foster a network of partners and relationships with post-secondary education institutions in Ontario to maintain a solid understanding of the current state and how to pivot for alignment of Foundation goals.
  • Cultivate strong relationships with community groups and other relevant partnerships to garner new opportunities by identifying and amplifying emerging best practices in equity, and inclusion support.
  • Partner with CPA Ontario Marketing & Communications to create content to promote the Foundation’s Scholarship Program and recipients (e.g., website, brochures, recruiting promotion materials, recipient spotlights).
  • Participate in a variety of external committees, partnerships, and councils acting as a trusted partner and expert to further the thought leadership, innovation, and collaboration across the province.

Student Scholarship Program

  • Create, develop, and evolve the Foundation Scholarship Program.
  • Establish the scholarship application process.
  • Oversee the review and selection process for scholarship applicants.
  • Inform candidates of application status and compile information on successful candidates.
  • Liaise with candidates to answer questions and provide support.
  • Work with scholarship recipients to support their success in pursuing the designation.

 

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

Candidates for the position of CPA Ontario Foundation’s Executive Director should possess the majority of the following qualifications and competencies:

  • Significant previous professional experience in the not-for-profit sector, ideally in Education and/or Social/Community Services. 
  • An unwavering commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and a passion for supporting youth in meeting their career potential.
  • Progressive senior management experience which includes program and budget management.
  • Proven success in developing and leveraging relationships with a not-for-profit Board of Directors.
  • A proven track record in developing and operationalizing strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth.
  • Experience in creating and implementing ethical, effective, high-quality student funding programs.
  • An understanding of impact measurement, and experience in data-driven program evaluation.
  • Mission-driven passion, idealism, integrity, and positive attitude.
  • An approach that is action-oriented, entrepreneurial, and adaptable, with an innovative approach to business planning.
  • An ability to build relationships and work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
  • Strong marketing, public relations, and influencing skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.
  • A persuasive and passionate communication style with exceptional interpersonal skills that include excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills.

Although a university degree is preferred, we also recognize that underrepresented groups face significant barriers to educational attainment. For this reason, appropriate experience in lieu of formal education will be considered. And while a CPA designation would be preferred, more important is experience in designing, initiating, and delivering relevant programming.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of the CPA Ontario Foundation. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Tara George, Partner / Lead, KCI Search + Talent by email at CPAOn@kcitalent.com

All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. Interested candidates should send their resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by February 7, 2022.

Please visit www.kcitalent.com to view the full Executive Brief.

The CPA Foundation is committed to an inclusive and equitable selection process. Applicants with a broad range of experiences, skills and knowledge are encouraged. We especially invite application from candidates with diverse abilities, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, and intersectionality. If you require a disability-related accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please inform KCI.