CPABC Annual Business Case Competition 2024

CPABC’s Annual Business Case Competition showcases the talent and business acumen of post-secondary students throughout British Columbia by challenging students to apply their skills to business case analyses.

This year, 33 teams from various post-secondary schools competed in the first virtual round of the competition. Teams were given a 48-hour window in which to resolve a business case scenario, prepare their recommendations, and present their findings via video submission.

For the final round of the competition, eight teams from four post-secondary institutions — Capilano University, Langara College, Simon Fraser University, and the University of British Columbia — were selected to participate.

The final round was co-hosted with UBC Sauder School of Business on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the UBC Vancouver (Point Grey) campus. Teams were given a new business case and divided into separate rooms, where they were given three hours to prepare recommendations.

Each team was then required to present their findings in front of a panel of six CPA judges. Teams were assessed based on a variety of factors including presentation style, case knowledge, strategic thinking, and creativity. Teams were also judged on how they managed a rapid-fire question period.

The top three teams were formally announced at a awards reception later that evening which was attended by students, judges, and CPA guests.

The top three teams were as follows:

First place: “Team Ace Consulting” from SFU, represented by Draco Dominus, Jake Melo Valinho, Sofia Li, and Troy Cheah.
Second place: “Team AFO Partners” from UBC, represented by Ishan Bhandal, Michael Martorella, and Vaibhav Sohnvi.
Third place: “Team HAWK Consulting” from Langara, represented by Mateus Mota, Olivia Chia Yu Nie, Oshiorenua (Zayyan) Shaibu, and Peter Jae Woan Kim.

CPABC congratulates the top three teams and thanks everyone who participated!

Check out the photos from the awards reception and the first place team’s case presentation.

First Place Team Testimonials

Sofia Li

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in such an engaging case competition and thank you to everyone who made it happen! The CPABC case competition was a phenomenal and rewarding experience. It puts your critical-thinking skills to the test under various time constraints while exploring how various concepts, not only in accounting, go beyond what is taught in school. Apart from the case itself, the insights gained from meeting industry professionals and peers were invaluable. This is the perfect chance to develop your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that will carry on in the future!

Jake Melo Valinho

The CPABC Case Competition was a fantastic opportunity to build and showcase problem-solving and presentation skills. As a first-year competitor, CPABC provided a platform to showcase our competitive skills. The competition was extremely well-run, and it was an enriching experience. The judges were fantastic and provided excellent feedback, and there was a lot of opportunity for valuable networking with a variety of CPAs and industry professionals from various industries throughout accounting and finance. I would highly recommend case competitors who have an interest in accounting, finance or consulting compete in the CPABC business competition. #RockSteady!

Draco Dominus

CPABC was definitely one of the highlights of my year. Being able to apply my business knowledge and work on my soft skills while under stress was critical for my development. I want to thank everyone who helped put together this amazing event and I strongly encourage anyone interested in business to partake. Overall, I truly believe this competition is an amazing opportunity to put yourself outside of your comfort zone and demonstrate your abilities on the big stage!

Troy Cheah

The CPABC Case Competition was an exhilarating, transformative learning experience. The two rounds of cases, which extended beyond accounting concepts learned in the classroom, effectively challenged my critical thinking, presentation, and storytelling skills, and further strengthened my team’s collaboration and trust in one another. The final presentation day was very memorable, with networking opportunities, delicious food and drink, and amazing people. Thank you to the encouraging judges and the incredible CPABC organizing committee for hosting such a wonderful event!