Member Forums

The Academic Forum is for members in academia (contract or tenured) who work in an accredited BC post-secondary institution and who are engaged in teaching or other scholarly activities (such as authoring textbooks, research papers or academic articles) on a full time basis.  Members are invited to attend certain professional development events for faculty development and will receive relevant information for academics including special invitations to scholarly events (such as panels, consultations, etc.).

The Construction Sector Forum is for members working in the construction industry. CPABC members who are either owners or financial personnel in businesses within this sector are welcome to join and to share their knowledge and experiences with each other. The Forum meets online for a 90 minute morning session three times a year on Thursdays in September, January and May. The agendas are pre-determined by the Forum's members and discussion topics vary at each meeting.

The Management Forum provides an opportunity for, and is open to, members in industry with managerial and/or supervisory responsibilities to share experiences on issues common to their roles. The intention is to provide a venue for members to share knowledge and learn from one another. The Forum meets for a two-hour morning session three times per year. Discussion topics can include areas such as controllership, financial management, operational efficiencies, and team development.

The Mid-Size Firms’ Forum provides an opportunity for practitioners in mid-size public practice firms to exchange information, share best practices, and strengthen professional alliances. The Forum is open to partners of registered CPA firms with five or more partners. The Forum meets three times a year on Wednesdays for morning sessions in October, January and May. The Forum chair sets the agenda in advance, and discussion topics vary at each meeting.

The Professional Standards Advisory Committee participates in the profession’s standard-setting process by reviewing and critiquing white papers, discussion papers, and exposure drafts circulated by the Accounting Standards Board (AcSB), Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AASB), International Ethics Standards Board of Accountants (IESBA), and government authorities. Participation in the Advisory Committee offers members the opportunity to provide input on current accounting, assurance, and professional ethics projects before they are formalized as standards. We seek members who have an advanced level of accounting and assurance knowledge and are willing to share their practice experience. The Advisory Committee meets for a two-hour morning session periodically throughout the year on an as-needed basis. Members are expected to come prepared for these working sessions. There may be virtual, phone or survey consultations in addition to in-person meetings to provide support to CPABC where technical expertise is required.

The Public Company Forum provides an opportunity for members working with public companies to exchange information, share best practices, and strengthen professional alliances. The Forum is open to members from firms who are CPAB registered plus staff from the BC Securities Commission and the TSX Venture. Each firm is allowed one representative and one alternate. The Forum meets five times a year on Thursdays for lunch sessions in September, November, January, March and May. The Forum chair sets the agenda in advance, and discussion topics vary at each meeting.

The Small Firms’ Forum provides an opportunity for practitioners in small public practice firms to exchange information, share best practices, and strengthen professional alliances. The Forum is open to partners of small public practice firms who derive a majority of their professional income from their practice. We define a “small firm” as a registered CPA firm with two to four partners (owners) licensed for public practice. . The Forum meets three times a year on Thursdays for morning sessions in October, January and May. The agendas are pre-determined by the Forum's members and discussion topics vary at each meeting.  

The Sole Practitioners’ Forums provide an opportunity for practitioners to exchange information, share best practices, and strengthen professional alliances. The sole practitioners’ forum meetings are open to CPABC members licensed for public practice. We define “sole practitioner” as a registered CPA firm with a single partner (owner) licensed for public practice. The agendas are pre-determined by the Forum's members and discussion topics vary at each meeting. There are a number of Sole Practitioners’ Forums to choose from based on location:

• Sole Practitioners’ Forum – Abbotsford
  This Forum meets three times a year on Tuesdays for morning sessions in October, January/February and May.
• Sole Practitioners’ Forum – Okanagan
  This Forum meets three times a year on Tuesdays for lunch sessions in October, January/February and May. 
• Sole Practitioners’ Forum – Surrey
  This Forum meets three times a year on Thursdays for lunch sessions in October, January/February and May.
• Sole Practitioners’ Forum – Vancouver Area
  This Forum meets three times per year on Thursdays for morning sessions in October, January/February and May.

The Taxation Forum gives members the opportunity to liaise with the federal and provincial governments to:

1. promote the efficient administration of tax laws;
2. support activities to promote public recognition of members’ tax expertise; and
3. provide support to CPABC where technical tax expertise is required.

The Forum holds liaison meetings with tax authorities two times per year. Participation is open to members in industry or public practice who specialize in taxation (completion of In-depth Tax Program is required).

The Technology Forum - BC provides presentations on computer software, hardware, and other technology-related topics (e.g. cyber security, cyber insurance, digital change) to members throughout the province via Zoom. The Forum meets on the third Thursday of each month for up to two hours from 7pm to 9pm except for July, August and December. There is a $75 + GST nominal annual forum membership fee.