Professional Development Seminars
Here’s an opportunity for CPAs in Yukon to attend courses on Fraud Risk Management, Ethics and NFPO Governance. Registration is limited, so register early to ensure your spot.
Registration Options
Day 1: An End to Manual Effort in Excel: The Power Query Effect – November 7, 2019 ($450)
Day 2 AM: Ethics at Our Core – November 8, 2019 ($225)
Day 2 PM: NFPO Governance – November 8, 2019 ($225)
Day 1 & 2 (AM/PM): November 7 & 8, 2019 ($850)
Seminar Material Format
Paperless materials only. Print option available only for Day 2 sessions for $15 per title/per copy.
Read more information on Seminar Material Formats and instructions on accessing paperless material.
An End to Manual Effort in Excel: The Power Query Effect
Prerequisite
Strong working knowledge of Excel’s basic functions as well as working knowledge of pivot tables.
Overview
The sad reality is that not all data is stored in nicely curated databases and often - even when it is - the data analyst doesn’t have access. Instead we have to piece together data provided in text files, Excel files, web pages and even the body of emails to build the business intelligence solutions we need. Until now this has been a painful process with a great deal of cut and paste effort, and updates have been tedious and error prone. That stops today.
In this course, you’ll learn how Power Query can clean up, reshape and combine your data with ease. Converting ASCII files into tables, combining multiple text files in one shot and even un-pivoting data is not only simple, but an investment in the future, refreshable with a single click when next needed.
Applicable for
Anyone who needs to pull data into Excel, clean it up and/or consolidate it. Please note that you must bring your own laptop, and ensure you have all the prerequisites listed above before attending the seminar.
Content
- import data from text files and web pages
- append data from one table to another
- merge two data sets together
- import all files in a folder in one shot
- un-pivot tables with ease
- create dashboards from email in minutes
Special Notes
This is a hands-on seminar. Please bring a laptop with one of the programs listed: Excel 2010 and the free Power Query download; Excel 2013 and the free Power Query download; Excel 2016 (Power Query is built in to the product)
Speaker
KEN PULS, FCPA, FCMA, is the president of Excelguru Consulting Inc, a company dedicated to leveraging over 20 years of corporate accounting and IT experience to help users get the most out of Microsoft Excel and Power BI. Ken has been an active participant in many Web forums since 2002, and hosts his own website, blog and free help forums at www.excelguru.ca. In recognition of his online community contributions, Microsoft has awarded Ken the prestigious Microsoft MVP award every year since 2006.
Ethics at Our Core
Overview
Commitment to ethical conduct and protecting the public are what differentiate CPAs as essential business leaders. Adherence to the CPA Code of Professional Conduct is not just a professional obligation, it’s a source of pride, value, and competitive distinction. Our stakeholders rely on our judgment and guidance, but ethical dilemmas can be complicated, and determining how to implement the best course of action can be challenging. This seminar helps participants build skills in dealing with ethical dilemmas and promoting appropriate decision-making in their workplaces.
Course Description
This seminar will provide participants with an opportunity to refresh and update their knowledge of the CPA Code and build competence in interpreting and applying the Code to resolve a variety of realistic situations. Participants will also explore the current environment of workplace ethics and assess the implications for ethical leadership. The workshop emphasizes collaboration and interactivity, as participants are engaged with their peers on a variety of activities including quizzes, comparative surveys, and case studies.
CPA Codes across the country are covered in this course, with the exception of the Quebec Code.
Applicable for
This seminar is applicable for CPAs at all levels of their career, and in any type of organization. The seminar draws on examples and interactive activities across a range of industries and roles that reflect the breadth of the profession.
Content
- an overview of the CPA Code of Professional Conduct across the country, with a more detailed walk-though of the requirements in the specific jurisdiction
- workplace conduct: Current trends and implications for leaders in areas such as workplace pressure, retaliation for reporting, use of whistleblowing systems, and diversity and inclusion
- collaborative quiz where participants work together in small groups to solve scenario-based multiple-choice questions that require research and interpretation of the Code
- case studies where participants collaborate in small groups to analyze case scenarios using a decision-making framework
NFPO Governance
Prerequisite
It would be useful but not necessary for the participant to have some experience as a board member or has worked with boards.
Overview
Not-for-profit organizations (NFPOs) are diverse and their expectations of directors and good governance can vary widely. This half-day session explores some of the unique governance challenges facing NFPOs with a view to incorporate best practice and identify emerging issues in order to provide effective oversight.
Course Description
Since the days of Enron in 2002, governance has been subject to attention and regulation in the for-profit sector. However, NFPOs have not garnered that same attention. Yet, it has been proven that effective governance leads to improved results. For NFPOs with limited resources, it becomes even more important to ensure their governance practices are effective and they use their volunteer board resources wisely. For example, how can a volunteer board member of a smaller NFPO maintain oversight responsibilities when they may be required to take on a more operational role? Through discussion and exercises, we will work through the key elements of a corporate governance framework and determine how to bring in certain elements of discipline that are seen on corporate boards to benefit the NFPO.
Applicable for
This session will be of benefit to those who are on NFPO boards, those considering joining an NFPO board, and any who interact or provide support to NFPO boards as it will help current and future board members determine how to manage through certain expectations, especially in light of the volunteer status they are likely to have.
Content
- what is governance?
- the essential elements of a corporate governance system
- understanding the governance value proposition
- the control environment
- the role of the board of directors and the audit committee and the importance of self-evaluation
- the role of management in promoting ‘tone at the top’
- the importance of an ethical culture
- understanding the subset of ethics within an organization
- tools for evaluating the ethical culture of an organization
- current trends and emerging issues
- current trends and their impacts on board composition and reporting
- identifying emerging issues and how to handle them
Speaker
ROGER MERKOSKY, CPA, CA, is an independent consultant. He recently served as Director, Regulation, for CPABC, and currently serves as secretariat to the CPA Canada Other Regulated Services Task Force. His previous experience includes ten years with a Big 4 accounting firm, including four years in the national office specializing in professional development and practice advisory services. Roger also has significant experience in industry, spending ten years with AB InBev, holding senior financial roles based in Belgium, Croatia, and most recently in Toronto where he served as CFO of Labatt. Roger serves on the Board of Directors and is Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee of Vantage Point.
