Straight From the CPA's Mouth

Do you have a side hussle? Are you running a home-based business or working an extra job to make more money? Then you'll want to listen to this episode. Anna Lissa Jin CPA, CA shares her tips on how you can save money on your taxes – from income-splitting and write-offs, to keeping organized and knowing when to engage a CPA or tax professional.

The topic of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) has garnered much attention over the past few years. And while progress is being made, there is still much to be done. What needs to change in order for us to see results from all those commitments to prioritize DEIA initiatives? Rae Shungur, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Recruitment Partners, joins our host to discuss what DEIA progress can look like in the future.

Did you know that 50% of small businesses fail after five years? The reasons are varied: lack of cash flow, low demand, or unforeseen circumstances (e.g. a global pandemic). Josh Spurrell CPA, CA, and author of 100 Myths of Entrepreneurship VS. Chainsaw, and Founder of Spurrell & Associates Chartered Professional Accountants, shares common mistakes small business owners make and what they can do to maximize their chances of success.

Automation makes life and work easier. It allows us to forget about mundane tasks like paying bills and instead spend time on activities that add value to our lives. Rachel Lee CPA, CA, Manager, Consulting at PwC, joins our host for a look into the world of automation and digital transformation. They discuss the difference between automation and digital transformation, and the risks involved in implementing or not implementing automation initiatives.

Over the last few decades, investments in intangible assets have increased dramatically, with investments in Canada reaching more than $134 billion in 2016, and intangibles accounting for 40% of all investments in the US and 10 European economies. But what are they, really? In this episode, Mason Darabi, CPA and co-founder and Chief Commercialization Officer at Ovenue, discusses intangible assets, blockchain technology, and shares his thoughts on how technology will influence the role of CPAs.

What does it take to keep a family-run business going for more than 40 years? Can you avoid the drama of family dynamics? Video Tax News is a family business that was started over four decades ago by Tom and Linda Devaney, with the second generation taking the reins approximately 10 years ago. The next gen of VTN – siblings and co-owners Caitlin Butler CPA, CA, Joe Devaney CPA, CA, and Sheena Teshima – join us in the studio to talk about their experiences in taking over the family business and how they've managed to stay relevant and keep their clients and listeners engaged, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Signs of stress and distress are all around us – in our colleagues, our peers, our families, and even in the mirror. How can you provide support to your networks, either as an individual or as a corporation? Better yet, how can you help yourself? Lindsey Stephenson is a CPA, CGA, and Registered Provisional Psychologist who, after 15 years in accounting, switched careers to pursue his passion of helping people reach their full potential (https://stephensonpsychology.com/). He joins our podcast to share his thoughts on how we can learn to cope with mental health struggles, anxiety, and stress.

Desiree Bedard CPA, CGA, is Director of Finance at Ronald McDonald House Charities Alberta, one of 26,000 non-profit organizations and charities currently operating in Alberta. In this episode, we chat about her pathway to working at a non-profit and the importance of finding a powerful purpose in your work-life.

Continuous learning is a key component for success, and a requirement of the CPA profession in Canada. Recently, the profession expanded its requirements to include learning activities in the area of professional ethics. In this episode, Arun Mathur FCPA, FCA, LPA, Director and Lead Instructor at UltimQuest Knowledge Inc., shares his thoughts on ethics and the importance of continuous learning.

Change is a constant when it comes to the world of taxation. Every time there is a change to a tax law, or a new policy is announced for the benefit of taxpayers, CPAs are there to interpret and manage the implementation of those policies. All the recent changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic are an extreme example of how the rules and regulations evolve and impact how we interpret them in order to prepare our taxes. Joe Devaney CPA, CA and co-owner of Video Tax News (https://www.videotax.com), shares his views on the evolution of tax over the past few years.

In 2021, CPA Alberta created the Capitalize Campus Stars program to recognize amazing Alberta post-secondary students who are dreaming of one day becoming CPAs. In its inaugural year, six students from different institutions were chosen for their passion, leadership, volunteerism, and commitment to building a better campus and a better community. In this episode, we speak with Arvie Justine Isidro, a Campus Star from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) about their experience as a mentor in the post-secondary world.

In this episode, our host sits down with Betty Mah CPA, CMA for a conversation about the challenges and opportunities for women in finance, her experiences and advice for new CPAs. Betty is the Manager, Private Loan Servicing at the Alberta Investment Management Corporation and also a Committee Member of Edmonton Women in Finance, a non-profit organization that connects, coaches, and advocates for women within the finance industry.

The CPA Education Foundation is committed to supporting innovations in business and accounting education that advance the CPA profession in Alberta. In this episode, we learn about how one post-secondary institution is going beyond the traditional classroom experience to incorporate an "in-residence" style of experiential learning. Our guests are Ryan Young MBA, ICD.D, Associate Dean of Industry Engagement for the JR Shaw School of Business at NAIT, and Stephen Barkman CPA, CA, NAIT Alumnus, and the program's inaugural Accountant-In-Residence.

The Sawridge Inns and Conference Centres, have been operating in Alberta for more than four decades and have seen their fair share of ups and downs. In this episode, we speak with Eresha Fernando CPA and CFO of the Sawridge Group of Companies about her personal experiences, some of the challenges of navigating the pandemic, and the important role the organization plays in the community.

In part 2 of our Financial Literacy special, we continue our conversation with Robin Taub CPA, CA, and author of The Wisest Investment: Teaching Your Kids to Be Responsible, Independent and Money-Smart for Life. In this episode, Robin shares her thoughts on money management and how we can learn to build a budget that takes care of our needs while also making room for those things we want.

Straight From the CPA's Mouth presents a two-part Financial Literacy podcast featuring Robin Taub CPA, CA and author of The Wisest Investment: Teaching Your Kids to Be Responsible, Independent and Money-Smart for Life. In this episode, we talk about teaching children the basics of money management.

Season 3 returns with a new episode featuring 2021 CPA Alberta Early Achievement Award recipient, Christine Leung CPA. The Early Achievement Award recognizes early-career CPAs who have made significant achievements in their first 10 years. We sat down with Christine for a conversation about her work, her volunteer experience, and her advice for post-secondary students and CPA candidates.

We close out National Indigenous History Month and Season Two of Straight From the CPA's Mouth with the final episode of our three-part special exploring the topics of equity, representation, and racism in the CPA profession and in Canada. Here we continue the conversation with Robert Andrews CPA, CMA with an eye towards the future of what an equitable world might look like.

Conversations about equity, diversity, and inclusion belong at the forefront of progress. Part two of our three-part special in honour of National Indigenous History Month, continues our conversation with Robert Andrews CPA, CMA exploring the topics of equity, representation, and racism in the CPA profession and in Canada.

As the profession continues to grow, it's important that we continue having meaningful conversations about uncomfortable, or complicated, subjects. As part of National Indigenous History Month, we're proud to host this three-part special, where we'll explore the topic of equity, representation, and racism in the CPA profession and in Canada. In this episode, Robert Andrews CPA, CMA, Executive Director for the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Alberta, joins our guest host and member of CPA Alberta's Anti-Racism Working Group, Sharon Ruyter, to share his thoughts on racism with an eye towards the future of what an equitable world might look like.

Do you have a hobby, or something you’re passionate about, and wonder if it’d make a good business? Believe it or not, but you can turn your hobby – or your passion – into a business. In this episode, we speak with Conrad Ferrel CPA, CA, Founder and CEO of True Büch Kombucha about his motivation behind starting True Büch with his wife Louisa, the operational and social impact of the pandemic, and his advice for those interested in taking that next step.

While the search for intelligent life in the universe continues, human accomplishments in space research continue. For Albertans, there are exciting projects happening closer to home. In January 2021, the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus opened the Hesje Observatory, located at the Augustana Miquelon Lake Research Station. Funded through a generous gift from Alberta CPA and business leader, Brian Hesje FCPA, FCA, the observatory aims to “share the stars” with anyone interested in learning more about astronomy. In this episode, we speak with Brian about his motivation behind supporting this project, and we learn more about the observatory from Rae Metrunec, Hesje Observatory Technician and Augustana alumnus.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with psychologist, author and public speaker Dr. Jody Carrington. Last time, we discussed the challenges of living through periods of isolation, emotional dysregulation, and fatigue thanks to a very long, COVID year. Part 2 will focus on acknowledging those feelings, and we’ll explore how to work through emotions and continue to support one another.

Alberta has recently passed its one year anniversary of living and coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s definitely been a rollercoaster of a year and while “we are wired to do hard things,” hard things tend to take its toll. Psychologist, author and public speaker Dr. Jody Carrington joins us for a special two part series to take a health check on how Albertans are coping with the emotional impact of COVID fatigue and how we will get through this together.

Everyone can relate to new beginnings – your first post-secondary class, landing your first job, or buying your first home. For many of us, it's terrifying to step into something new; to step into the uncomfortable and be vulnerable in the moment. Sharif Ahmed CPA and Manager, Financial Reporting for the University Hospital Foundation, sees the power in connection by building strong partnerships in and outside of the office. He shares his unique perspective on fostering a sense of community and his take on vulnerability as a professional.

CPAs are more than number-crunnchers and spreadsheet wizards. They’re decision-makers, kombucha-brewers, board members of non-profits, controllers for global companies, and educators of the next generation. Whether their career paths have taken a non-conventional route or not, CPAs’ strong accounting acumen and managerial skills are highly respected and help drive the profession forward. Straight From the CPA’s Mouth checks in with Azfaar Dharani, CPA, an early career CPA, to get his thoughts on what exactly is a CPA, and what do they do.

2020 forced us all to make hard decisions—decisions that not only impacted how we lived, worked and socialized, but also came with tax implications. In this podcast, Cassandra Liberona CPA, CA at Yaremchuk & Annicchiarico LLP explains what you need to know this tax season about COVID-related government programs and benefits.

With the kinds of events that have happened in the last few years, many individuals and organizations have begun the necessary work of confronting their prejudices and beliefs about race and racism. In this episode, CPA Alberta’s CEO, Rachel Miller FCPA, FCA shares some of the work of CPA Alberta’s Anti-Racism Working Group and her thoughts the importance such initiatives play both in an organization and the profession.

Mental health is something that all Canadians will contend with in some degree over their lifetime. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, in any given year, one in five people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem, or illness. Joining Straight From the CPA’s Mouth for this episode is Danielle Aquin, a recent successful writer of the Common Final Examination (CFE) and CPA candidate. Danielle is here to talk about her experiences studying and working through a professional program during a global pandemic, and the importance of finding balance, seeking support, and talking about struggles. Resources • Canadian Mental Health Association – Fast Facts about Mental Illness https://cmha.ca/fast-facts-about-mental-illness • Bell Let’s Talk – Get Help https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/get-help • Link for CPA Assist https://www.cpaalberta.ca/Members/CPA-Assist

Owning a business has its challenges. But how are those challenges accentuated when your career intersects with your identity as Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour? And how can businesses continue or begin to push for more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces? Tope Roth CPA, CGA and Meagan Schroder CPA, CGA are the co-owners of “an accounting firm like no other” and have been navigating these questions as they break barriers in the profession. They join Straight From the CPA’s Mouth to talk about what they learned along the way.

New Year’s resolutions. We all make them, but how many of them actually stick? Statistics show that 80% of us will abandon our goals within the first month. How frustrating is that? According to Rakiya Randhawa CPA, CA and certified fitness instructor and online wellness coach, there is hope for us. Her philosophy: start right away and be kind to yourself in the process. She joins Straight From the CPA’s Mouth to discuss her philosophy on managing and crushing your goals.

What does it mean to “build resilience during times of adversity” and what impact does our ability to build resilience have on how we cope in our physical, mental, emotional and social lives? Straight From the CPA’s Mouth is joined by Deepa Maisuria, CPA, CA and Chartered Business Valuator for a discussion on strategies for overcoming adversity and the health benefits of resilience.

We’ve all heard the term “entrepreneurship” and have a basic understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur. But what about “solopreneurship?” In this episode of we speak with Carolyn Scissons CPA, CMA who will talk about her transition from the Energy sector into her own venture as the Founder of the Regulatory Learning Lab. We’ll get to the heart of what it truly takes to become an entrepreneur, and what it’s like to start a business – on your own – in the midst of a global pandemic.

With more than 25,000 charities and non-profit organizations, Alberta’s voluntary sector touches virtually every aspect of life in our communities. To share their thoughts about the value of volunteerism, Straight From the CPA’s Mouth is joined by the CPA Education Foundation’s Chair, Dave Bodnarchuk, FCPA, FCA, and Vice Chair, Joe Gagliardi FCPA, FCMA. Both are active philanthropists in Alberta and will speak about their experiences and why both post-secondary students and industry professionals should get involved in volunteering and charitable organizations. They’ll also discuss how getting out of your comfort zone can help you develop new skills and become a more well-rounded contributing member of your community.

In this episode of Straight From the CPA’s Mouth, our guest, Adam Devenny, Senior Manager with KPMG in Calgary joins us as we take a deep dive into data analytics. Data is all around us. We interact with it every day whether we know it or not – every time you Google a recipe, examine a utility bill or review your latest ROI and sales reports. It can be both overwhelming and powerful. Adam will take us through the basics of why it’s important to understand data analytics and how they can be applied to our daily lives.

Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and the up-and-coming Generation Z all have different economic and historical circumstances that they’ve had to deal with, or are dealing with now. Kari Speaker Smith CPA, CA and Ryan Gubic CPA, CGA join Straight From the CPA’s Mouth to explain finances from each generation’s perspective. This episode continues the conversation started in episode 203: Generations Part 1.

Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and the up-and-coming Generation Z all have different economic and historical circumstances that they’ve had to deal with, or are dealing with now. Kari Speaker Smith CPA, CA and Ryan Gubic CPA, CGA join Straight From the CPA’s Mouth to explain finances from each generation’s perspective.

The conversation that started with Kat Giyasova in the season 2 premier of Straight From the CPA's Mouth continues. Successful CFE writer Kat Giyasova grew up in Uzbekistan and Thailand, and then found herself as a newcomer to Alberta. She describes what it's like to finally have a place to belong, how people supported her as a newcomer to Alberta, and why she considered the CPA designation as worth pursuing.

In the season 2 premier of Straight From the CPA's Mouth, successful CFE writer Kat Giyasova shares her story of growing up in Uzbekistan and Thailand, and the journey that led her to Alberta. Her story will continue in episode 202 where she describes what it's like to finally have a place to belong, how people supported her as a newcomer to Alberta, and why she considered the CPA designation worth pursuing.

In the final episode of the first season of Straight From the CPA’s Mouth, Todd Scaletta CPA, CMA, Senior Vice President of Foresight and Research at CPA Alberta, discusses the five drivers of change and the potential futures they might create. What does the future look like? How can we know? What can we do to prepare for it? Todd answers these questions and more.

In the second installment of this two-part special on taxes, Dale Somerville CPA, CA brings attention to often unheard-of deductions that individuals can claim when filing their taxes. Are you a schoolteacher who pays for supplies out of pocket? You can claim some of that. Have you moved recently? You can claim some of that too! Tune in to learn more.

Part one of this podcast special on taxes features Dale Somerville CPA, CA, founder and president of W. Dale Somerville Professional Corporation. Dale offers tips and tricks for keeping your receipts, staying organized, and making things easier for yourself. He also explains what certain policies mean, and how you can use them to get the most out of your return.

Accounting instructor at SAIT, Stephen Bergstrom CPA, CMA, leans on his teaching experience to tackle the question, "What is the difference between education and accounting?" He also talks about his time working with the Canadian military in Bosnia and Afghanistan, and speculates what the future generation of CPAs will be like.

Actor-turned-accountant Gerald Matthews CPA, CMA is an internal auditor at Enerflex Ltd. He answers the question, "What do you consider absolutely necessary for a successful life?"; shares about his previous career in the performing arts and the circumstances and that inspired him to pursue accounting; and discusses the joys of learning skills in a new field.

What does it look like when accounting and crime investigation go hand-in-hand? Chioma Ufodike CPA, CMA shares her experience as a forensic accountant and delves into what it means to follow the data, investigate the leads, and find the fraud. She also answers the question posed in a previous episode, "What is the wisest thing you have ever heard someone say?" and talks living life to the fullest.

Lisa Matthews CPA, CGA knows how to invest. After declaring bankruptcy in her twenties, she was able to retire early because of her investing know-how. In the fourth and last episode of the Straight From the CPA's Mouth Financial Literacy series, Lisa shares her story, and tells listeners what they can do to invest well.

Three CPAs come together to discuss the value of saving, and the importance of being a wise consumer; Aileen Campbell CPA, CGA, Tim Onciul CPA, CMA, and Justin Wong CPA, CA each bring experience from different fields in accounting, in combination with their passion for financial literacy, to offer their own perspectives and unique knowledge.

In the second installment of the four-episode series on Financial Literacy, a student and an early-career professional interview Raymond Letendre CPA, CGA about debt. Hear about different strategies for paying off debt, how to balance lifestyle with limited finances, and the importance of being aware of your situation.

This episode is the first in a four-part series on financial literacy. Straight From the CPA's Mouth took to the crowds at CPA Alberta's Meet Your Employer events in September to get real people's questions about smart money management. Hear how the experts—CPAs—responded.

Jason Ding CPA, CA is Senior Managing Director, Deloitte Corporate Finance, at Deloitte Canada and specializes in life sciences and healthcare transactions. He shares his approach to conflict—honed from his experience as a trained Ombudsman!—and discusses the current state and future of biotechnology in Alberta.

Rachel Miller FCPA, FCA is CEO of CPA Alberta, a respected leader in the CPA profession, and a dedicated volunteer and community leader. In this episode, Rachel talks about being good enough, gender balance in the accounting profession, and leadership. She also discusses the pressure women sometimes feel to "do it all" and shares her advice on how to identify your professional strength(s).