Academic Forum
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.).
Construction Sector Forum
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.
Mid-Size Firms' Forum
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.
Professional Standards Advisory Committee
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.
Public Company Forum
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.
Small Firms’ Forum
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.
Sole Practitioners’ Forums
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.
