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Newsroom - Resources for CPAs
Resources for CPAs
Insights in working with Indigenous businesses
Working with Indigenous businesses is becoming more common for companies in BC. Here’s my personal experience working as a Cree Métis accountant, along with some ways that you can start working with Indigenous businesses.
Jun 16, 2022
Resources for CPAs
The best negotiations have win/win outcomes: Here’s how you can achieve them
The ability to negotiate effectively is extremely important in our professional and personal worlds. When it comes to the workplace, competence in negotiating can be a key differentiator in the value you offer to their team.
May 31, 2022
Resources for CPAs
Decluttering, organizing, and productivity hacks for personal and business success
Jane is otherwise known as Organized Jane, and she helps individuals and businesses declutter, organize processes, and reduce overwhelm both in their personal and professional lives.
May 30, 2022
Resources for CPAs
Five tips for creating effective data visuals
When trying to communicate the message behind the numbers, many financial professionals miss the mark. Fortunately, there are some readily available tools—data visuals, or “dataviz” for short—that can help you communicate financial analyses effectively.
May 27, 2022
Resources for CPAs
Back to the office: What this means for workplace mental wellness
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the mental wellbeing of many people. According to a Statistics Canada survey on COVID-19 and mental health conducted in 2021, one-in-four Canadians aged 18 and older screened positive for symptoms of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder (or PTSD), up from one-in-five in 2020.
May 3, 2022
Resources for CPAs
Filing a small business tax return in 2022? Here are 6 tips
As Canadians wrap up their personal income tax filings, it’s time for small business owners to focus on preparing their taxes as well. The deadline for self-employed individuals to file tax returns is June 15, 2022, and payment is due on May 2.
Mar 30, 2022
Resources for CPAs
Bill C-30: Changes to the taxation of employee stock options
An employee stock option plan could make up a substantial part of an employee’s total compensation package and provide them with a valuable tax deferral.
Mar 14, 2022
Resources for CPAs
Leading the way: Competency Map 2.0 - The path forward for our profession
The new Competency Map lays the foundation for the CPA certification program.
Mar 1, 2022
Resources for CPAs
Ethical leadership in an era of complexity and digital change
As ethical leaders and trusted advisors, CPAs rely on professional skills, values, ethics and attitudes to serve their organizations and clients.
Jan 19, 2022
Resources for CPAs
Skills CPAs need in 2022
One thing that’s been clear since the start of the pandemic is the importance of being agile and adaptable to change. Based on the past two years, we all know it’s impossible to predict how things will evolve.
Jan 18, 2022
Resources for CPAs
What's the buzz? Considerations on the current and temporary BC PST rebate program
The provincial government added the current temporary BC PST Rebate on Select Machinery and Equipment to its roster of COVID-19 tax incentives and benefits in March 2021. Since then, the BC Ministry of Finance has continued to update its webpage on the temporary rebate as additional details have become available.
Jan 12, 2022
Resources for CPAs
Maintaining confidentiality and public confidence
CPAs in Canada are bound by a strict requirement of confidentiality that applies to all aspects of their professional work. In BC, the CPABC Code of Professional Conduct outlines the requirements and provides registrants with extensive guidance on this topic. In this article, we cover the major confidentiality rules in the CPA Code, describe situations that are prone to potential breaches of confidentiality, and provide some cautionary examples.
Nov 22, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Bill C-208 opens the door to new tax-planning opportunities for family businesses
Succession planning is an important consideration for the founders and owners of family businesses, and the tax strategies available for selling shares to and purchasing shares from a third party versus a related party can vary significantly. Bill C-208 is intended to give families more flexibility to access certain tax advantages to facilitate intergenerational transfers of shares of small family businesses.
Nov 19, 2021
Resources for CPAs
How CPAs can upgrade their digital skills to stay competitive
An expert presenter and thought leader on the intersection of accounting and technology, Garrett provides guidance to finance professionals worldwide on how to thrive in this digital age.
Nov 15, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Managing cash difficulties
COVID-19 impacts have put financial pressure on many businesses and not-for-profit organizations, especially in certain sectors, resulting in reduced revenues and cash pressures. And while the government has provided substantial funding assistance since the pandemic started, this support is now in sunset mode, which means more CPAs will likely have to help their employers or clients manage through cash difficulties.
Nov 10, 2021
Resources for CPAs
4 ingredients for a healthy balance sheet
A healthy balance sheet indicates to your shareholders, investors and lenders, and potential partners that your business is in strong financial health and provides confidence in how your business operates.
Oct 5, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Need CPD hours? 4 Ways to Maximize Your Learning This Fall
As the profession transforms to meet the future, CPAs need to evolve their skillsets to best serve clients and organizations.
Sep 17, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Looking ahead: CPAs weigh in on the future of work
Here's what CPABC members had to say about the future landscape for employers and employees.
Sep 7, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Adding value: Adaptive CFOs lean in
How do you bring more value to your role? For today’s CFO, the expectation is not only to provide counsel to the CEO, but also to identify strategic opportunities for the business that will produce evolution and growth and lead to new opportunities.
Sep 1, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Humanizing tech: The new way for accountants to add value
Like many industries, accounting could be at risk of falling behind if it doesn’t stay afloat with technological progress.
Aug 12, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Working from anywhere - the tax implications for employers
The pandemic has reshaped the way employees work. Many have been forced to work remotely, and some have chosen to relocate. But necessity has borne some interesting insights.
Aug 4, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Good food, good mood – How to give your body its best chance
We’ve all heard that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And when it comes to getting healthy, this saying couldn’t be more accurate.
Jul 22, 2021
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Resources for CPAs
10 simple (but inspiring) ways to reduce email volume
You probably know this already – but you may be getting too many emails. If this resonates, you are not alone.
Jul 5, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Taking the first step to a digital transformation
One silver lining that has emerged over the past year is that the majority of organizations have realized the value of digital efforts—from client service to marketing to stakeholder engagement—and are putting resources into planning and implementing them.
May 14, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Family business continuity: How to secure the family legacy
If there’s one thing business leaders have learned over the last 12 months, it’s that they need to be prepared for the unexpected. The rapid emergence of COVID-19 and its subsequent impact on businesses across industries underscored.
May 10, 2021
Resources for CPAs
Improving the mental health of Canadian workers
Did you know that Canada has both a national mental health strategy and a National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace?
May 7, 2021
Resources for CPAs
What are the reasons to grow your business?
Growing your business can be both an exciting and a terrifying thought. How do you know when is the right time?
Apr 30, 2021
Resources for CPAs
What to do when your network is drying up?
We have been living in this new COVID-19 normal for over a year now. With events and workplaces remaining virtual and remote, are you finding it increasingly difficult to maintain connections with your existing network as well as build new meaningful connections? If the answer is yes, you are not alone.
Mar 25, 2021
Resources for CPAs
How integrating IoT, APIs, and data analytics can lead to better decisions and faster audits
Imagine a future where audits can be done easily and quickly. All your ledgers, journal entries, donations, and other transactions are connected, sorted, and verified on the spot.
Mar 22, 2021
Resources for CPAs
When it comes to the debt forgiveness rules, is all really forgiven?
The recent economic downturn may bring forth unexpected tax issues. As creditors become more inclined to forgive or settle debt without full or even partial repayment, more corporations may find that they are settling debt for less than the principal amount.
Mar 10, 2021
Resources for CPAs
What’s taxable? A breakdown of COVID-19 supports for business
The challenges brought on by COVID-19 has made business survival a key concern, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Oct 30, 2020
Resources for CPAs
What’s COVID-19 doing to the value of your small business?
Like 79% of small businesses in Canada, Old Salty, a gift shop on Salt Spring Island, was not fully open this past spring. However, when they reopened their doors in the middle of May business quickly ramped up, and by July sales were 75% of the prior year’s and increasingly steadily.
Oct 14, 2020
Resources for CPAs
Strategic planning: Defining your organization’s value curve
In the face of COVID-19, businesses – and even entire industries – that were formerly profitable now face upheaval.
Oct 8, 2020
Resources for CPAs
CPAs and AI: Adding value through ethical leadership
Imagine you start your workday by checking your voice messages; among them is one from your boss instructing you to perform a certain task. You complete the task and email her to confirm that you’ve received her message and finished the task.
Oct 5, 2020
Resources for CPAs
Finding opportunities in an economic downturn: Estate freezes (and refreezes)
During an economic downturn such as the one in which we currently find ourselves, many taxpayers focus on finding cost-cutting measures, including opportunities to decrease their immediate tax burdens. What may not be top of mind, however, are opportunities to minimize future tax burdens by freezing or refreezing an estate.
Sep 22, 2020
Resources for CPAs
Accelerating business agility: Maximizing organizational effectiveness in the age of COVID-19
Many business leaders and accounting professionals are wondering how best to recover from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and set their organizations up for success in the uncertain months and years ahead.
Sep 17, 2020
Resources for CPAs
Ethical pitfalls to avoid, especially during COVID-19
During times of significant pressure, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, it can be a challenge dealing with additional stressors on top of the usual professional and personal responsibilities. Nevertheless, CPA members are still expected to meet professional standards. In crises, the public relies on professionals even more!
Jul 24, 2020
Resources for CPAs
Rational decisions in turbulent times: Understanding behavioural finance can help investors
When news of the COVID-19 pandemic hit, markets plunged in unprecedented ways. These drastic declines played against traditional financial theories such as rational choice theory and efficient market hypothesis, the first of which posits that investors will behave rationally by making decisions that maximize personal utility, or satisfaction, and the second of which states that the price of securities being traded is correct and complete, in that all available information has been factored into the price.
Apr 23, 2020
Resources for CPAs
#MeToo – Empowering women leaders is good business
Does anyone really want to talk about gender issues in the workplace? Generally speaking, the answer is no.
Mar 13, 2020
Resources for CPAs
The educated director: Does your board have the skills to succeed?
Governance education in Canada took root in the early 2000s in the wake of the institutionalized fraud and corruption that plagued North American corporations. Most notably, the Enron scandal that resulted in the loss of billions in pensions and stock prices, and drove the creation of new regulations and legislation to increase accountability, highlighted the need for stronger board governance.
Mar 12, 2020
Resources for CPAs
The face of governance is changing
"The underlying premise for diverse boards is no longer about good corporate citizenship, but rather about contributing value to a business." Deborah Rosati, founder & CEO, Women Get on Board
Feb 12, 2020
Resources for CPAs
Workplace privacy policies: What are they and why are they essential?
Today’s workplace looks quite a bit different than it did twenty, or even ten years ago. Smartphones are not just a luxury but a necessity, and employees are spending more and more time connected to the office, even while they are at home.
Feb 6, 2020
Resources for CPAs
Pay to play: The value of music in business
Music is more accessible today than ever. With just a few clicks, businesses can access any type of music imaginable.
Jan 6, 2020
Resources for CPAs
The office of 2020 and beyond: What is the future of work?
CPABC’s 2019 BC Check-Up report paints a clear picture of British Columbia’s tight labour market. As noted in the report, unemployment in BC fell from 6.1% in 2014 to 4.7% in 2018, while the job vacancy rate increased by 0.8%, reaching a high of 2.5%. Competition for talent is tough, and employers in all industries are struggling to fill positions.
Nov 15, 2019
Resources for CPAs
Why is strategy so hard?
Many organizations struggle with strategy. In my experience, there are three main reasons why: Strategy is not one thing, it must be implemented and monitored, and companies often try to do too much.
Oct 30, 2019
Resources for CPAs
What justifies the cost of a product? Blockchain can tell you
“Blockchain is the most disruptive technology to face [businesses and] CPAs in decades, and yet it remains one of the least understood,” states a CPA Canada article.
Oct 22, 2019
Resources for CPAs
Is social media risky business?
Red beer fridges in random locations across Europe that dispense free beer to anyone opening the fridges with a Canadian passport? Molson Coors Canada’s fun video of this inventive campaign quickly went viral when it was released in 2013.
Aug 28, 2019
Resources for CPAs
The impact of British Columbia’s real estate taxes on the mobile employee
In an effort to curb speculation in British Columbia’s housing market over the last few years, the BC government and the City of Vancouver have independently implemented real estate taxes designed to increase housing affordability and convert underutilized properties into homes that are available for BC residents.
Aug 12, 2019
Resources for CPAs
Workforce of the future: Investing in skills training is essential
Digital technology defines the world we live in and affects all areas of business performance.
Jun 24, 2019
Resources for CPAs
5 common mistakes entrepreneurs make, and how to avoid them
Deciding to start your own business is an exciting endeavour that comes with a ton of flexibility, which is amazing. But it also requires a lot of responsibility, and that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Apr 10, 2019
Resources for CPAs
Looking to optimize workplace culture? Make an impact with these 5 tips
How incredible would it be for your organization to appear on a ‘best place to work’ or ‘best culture’ list?
Apr 2, 2019
Resources for CPAs
Aspiring entrepreneurs, these are the 3 questions you need to ask yourself
Have you ever thought about starting your own business? The thought of being your own boss certainly sounds appealing, but being an entrepreneur is about more than just having a good idea.
Mar 28, 2019
Resources for CPAs
What do diversity and inclusion in the workplace truly look like?
When a race-related incident at a Philadelphia Starbucks sparked worldwide outrage in the summer of 2018, the company’s response to the incident—an afternoon of anti-bias training for staff across North America—came under intense scrutiny.
Jan 3, 2019
Resources for CPAs
How do you put a price tag on your business? Consider the investment approach
Are you considering selling your business? Or perhaps, bringing in a partner or investor to take it to the next level?
Oct 18, 2018
Resources for CPAs
Embracing a diverse workforce is good business
The first question people often ask in social situations is, “what’s your name?” The next question is, “what do you do?” Too many British Columbians with disabilities do not have a good answer to the second question.
Sep 19, 2018
Resources for CPAs
Cloudy with a chance of data leaks: What business professionals need to know before using the cloud
Cloud computing is the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage and process data as opposed to relying on this information to be saved on a local server or personal computer. Some popular cloud services include Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive and Google Docs.
Aug 31, 2018
Resources for CPAs
Gamification: Playing games can help your business strategy
Earth has been ravaged by a devastating storm. The world’s population has been decimated. The 100 remaining survivors scramble to find resources to build fortifications, and weapons to fight each other to be the last one standing.
Jul 25, 2018
Resources for CPAs
Enterprise risk management - How to prepare for potential risks to your business
We’ve all seen the headlines and YouTube videos: Millions of customers have their confidential information exposed and possibly compromised through the Equifax data breach. A United Airlines passenger is forcibly dragged from an overbooked flight. And the pillar of German banking, Deutsche Bank, unravels through a series of corporate scandals.
Jul 5, 2018
Resources for CPAs
Crossing the US border with sensitive electronic information? What business professionals need to know
Summer has arrived and like many vacationers, you might cross the US/Canada border when embarking on your adventures. And while work may not be top of mind, if you deal with sensitive client information you should always be conscious of the data you carry.
Jun 11, 2018
Resources for CPAs
Valuing a small business: Is there an easy way?
If you are the owner of a small business, at some point you have likely asked yourself, “I wonder how much my business is worth.” Perhaps you’re considering selling, bringing in a partner or investor, thinking about estate planning, or maybe you’re just curious if your business strategy is adding value.
Apr 25, 2018
Resources for CPAs
US tax reform: What BC businesses need to know
President Trump signed House of Representatives bill 1 (originally referred to as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”) (the Act) into law on December 22, 2017, ushering in the most significant changes to the US tax Code since 1986. These changes substantially modify the US tax Code and will significantly impact US domestic and international taxation.
Mar 28, 2018
Resources for CPAs
Fraud targets everyone: Learn how to protect your business
Every individual and business is a potential target for fraud, regardless of personal attributes or industry. In a recent report, the Government of Canada revealed that Canadians lost over $405 million to fraudulent activity from January 2014 to December 2017.
Mar 26, 2018
Resources for CPAs
Why you should know how your business is valued – Even if you’re not ready to sell
Entrepreneurs who don’t think about how their business is valued until the time comes to sell are missing an opportunity. They could be implementing strategies today that could result in a higher business value in the future.
Feb 26, 2018
Resources for CPAs
Is there such a thing as “bad” goodwill?
As a business owner, one of your long-term objectives is to build and grow the value of your business. The question often raised around that goal is “What will drive business value?”
Oct 11, 2017
Resources for CPAs
Trends in future commerce: Blockchain
Commerce is no stranger to the disruptive power of technology. A generation ago, we thought ATMs were the ultimate convenience compared to waiting in line for a bank teller.
Sep 22, 2017
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2021/22 Regulatory Report to the Public
The CPA profession constantly reassesses and adjusts the regulatory system as needed to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the public and government, while meeting or exceeding international standards.