Beyond Canadian Experience: Position Yourself for Success

As a newcomer to Canada, you bring valuable education, skills, and professional experience. The challenge is often not whether you have the right experience, but how you communicate its value to employers in Canada.

Join CPABC for a practical webinar designed to help you confidently present your professional background, articulate your accomplishments, and navigate the Canadian accounting job market. Learn strategies that you can apply immediately to your networking conversations, interviews, and job search activities.

In this webinar, you will learn how to:

• Effectively communicate the value of your international education, credentials, professional experience, and transferable skills to Canadian accounting employers.
• Present your accomplishments in ways that resonate with Canadian employers and accounting hiring managers
• Navigate and address the "Canadian experience" conversation with confidence
• Build professional connections through networking and understand how networking can support your job search
• Strengthen your interview skills and professional presence to increase your success with Canadian employers

Whether you are pursuing the CPA designation, working in accounting, or trying to land your first accounting job in Canada, this session will provide practical tools and strategies to help you showcase your value and move forward with confidence.

Who should attend?

• Internationally educated professionals
• Internationally designated accountants
• Accounting professionals seeking to build their careers in Canada
• Newcomers looking to strengthen their interview, networking, and career development skills in the Canadian accounting job market.

Speakers

Ali Shirazi
Financial Analyst
Lawson Lundell LLP

Ali Shirazi is a financial analyst based in Vancouver who began his CPA Canada journey in 2023, completing the Common Final Examination in June 2026. Before moving to Canada, he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting in his home country and built over 15 years of experience in financial operations and strategic business consulting.

As a newcomer who successfully transitioned into the Canadian accounting field, he shares practical insights on navigating the CPA pathway, adapting to a new professional environment, and building a strong career foundation as an internationally trained accountant.

Outside of work, Ali enjoys watching movies and TV shows, spending time with friends, and going on hikes around beautiful British Columbia.

Sidra Mobin
Resource Advisor
ISSofBC

Sidra Mobin is a Resource Advisor with ISSofBC’s Global Talent Loans program, where she supports internationally trained professionals as they navigate career development and professional credentialing in Canada. With a background in management consulting, business coaching, and newcomer employment support, Sidra also leads partnerships, mentorship initiatives, and educational events designed to help newcomers move forward in their careers.

Yoko Ozaki, CPA
Senior Associate
PwC

Yoko Ozaki is a Senior Associate at PwC Vancouver specializing in audit and assurance services. After graduating from Japan's National Defense Academy, Yoko served as an officer in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force for 12 years, supporting aircraft operations. Yoko later immigrated to Canada and recently obtained the CPA designation.