CPABC congratulates the 268 BC and Yukon candidates who successfully wrote the Common Final Exam (CFE) in May 2025 and extends special recognition to BC writers Simren Boyal, Laurel Dabb, Chelsea MacBean, Dylan Murphy, and Kiani Siu for making the National CFE Honour Roll. Here’s what the candidates had to say about the CFE experience.
Simren Boyal
Employer: Van Gogh Designs Furniture Ltd. (Surrey)
Job title: Financial Controller
What will you remember most about your CFE experience? That final moment, when it was all over, was unforgettable. It was a mix of exhaustion, disbelief, and quiet pride. Knowing I had given it everything and reached the finish line was incredibly validating.
Tell us about a breakthrough or ‘aha’ moment during your studies. One major ‘aha’ moment came when I realized that the CFE isn’t about perfection—it’s about professional judgment and prioritization. Once I started focusing on addressing the most critical issues with depth, and managing my time more deliberately, everything changed. My whole approach shifted from just surviving the exam to actually strategizing through it.
What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started CPA PEP? I wish I’d known how important it is to focus on case-writing skills early on. When I started CPA PEP, I assumed technical knowledge alone would be enough. But I quickly realized that success in the program—and especially on the CFE—depends just as much on strong case-writing skills.
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies? I’d like to thank my parents, who have guided me my whole life and have supported me throughout my CPA journey. I would also like to thank my manager, Amarjit Dhindsa, who provided me with a flexible work schedule that allowed for adequate study time.
Any hobbies that helped you manage stress during your studies? One of the biggest stress relievers for me during CFE prep was staying active and continuing to do activities such as basketball and going to the gym. It gave me the chance to reset mentally and step away from the material, which ultimately helped me come back more focused and energized.
Laurel Dabb
Employer: TELUS (Vancouver)
Job title: Financial Analyst II
What will you remember most about your CFE experience? The sense of accomplishment when I finished studying. At first I felt like I had zero technical knowledge, and I struggled to finish Day 3 cases within the time limits. The first few weeks of my studies were frustrating, but eventually I started to improve. By the end of the process, it was incredibly satisfying to look back and realize how much I’d learned—not just technically, but in terms of strategy, time management, and confidence.
Tell us about a breakthrough or ‘aha’ moment during your studies. I initially struggled to differentiate between the financial reporting criteria under different accounting standards, especially when the differences were subtle. After a particularly frustrating case, where I’d used the criteria for the wrong standard, I started writing the criteria out side by side to visually compare them. Reviewing all of the rules for a particular issue, rather than focusing on each standard individually, helped me avoid mixing them up on future cases.
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies? I’d like to thank my sister and best friend, for talking me down when I was spiralling from CFE stress; my mentor, Sonya Parmar, CPA, CA, for her guidance throughout my CPA PEP journey; my FMDP peers at TELUS, for their advice on study and stress management strategies; and my parents, for their support and unwavering belief that I would pass.
Any hobbies that helped you manage stress during your studies? Three times a week, I started my day with a run before studying. This helped me clear my head and start the day off on a positive note. I also read in the evenings to focus on something other than CFE and enjoy my time off work.
Chelsea MacBean
Employer: Deloitte (Vancouver)
Job title: Internal Audit Consultant
What will you remember most about your CFE experience? I wrote my CFE in my hometown of Victoria so I could be near family and friends during the week leading up to the CFE. I’ll remember the three mornings of the exam the most. My mom woke up early each day to have breakfast with me and provide words of encouragement. It really helped me go into each day with a good mindset.
Was there a time during your studies when you accomplished something you previously thought was impossible? When I completed a five-hour long case!! Going into Capstone 2, it seemed like an impossible and daunting task. But with practice, you get used to the writing approaches, so it turned out to be okay!
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies? Firstly, I’d like to thank my wonderful friends and family for all the support and love they’ve shown me throughout my CFE experience—I couldn’t have done this without them. My mom, dad, and boyfriend were there to answer every phone call, and my amazing friends spent hours running cue cards, making me laugh, and cheering me on.
I’d especially like to acknowledge Sophia Roy* for being my sounding board for all things CPA/CFE related, and Megan Barss, my CFE buddy, for taking the time to answer countless texts and mark countless cases. I’m glad we got to experience this together.
I’d also like to thank all the leaders I’ve had the pleasure of working with at Deloitte and other corporations for their mentorship and encouragement. In particular, I’d like to thank my CPA mentor, Agnes Ho, CPA, for taking the time to meet with me and share her knowledge.
* Sophia Roy is a CPA in Nova Scotia.
Dylan Murphy
Employer: City of Abbotsford (Abbotsford)
Job title: Financial Analyst
What will you remember most about your CFE experience? The adrenaline I felt once the clock struck 9:00 a.m. each day of the exam. It made recalling specific technical knowledge much more difficult and left me no option but to answer based on instinct.
Tell us about a breakthrough or ‘aha’ moment during your studies. A breakthrough moment for me was realizing that it was just as important to study the frameworks, models, and templates for responding to case questions as it was to focus on technical knowledge.
Was there a time during your studies when you accomplished something you previously thought was impossible? It took me 10 years to complete my undergraduate program, and I thought I might have similar commitment issues with the CPA PEP, which would make it impossible to complete within two years. But I think the structure of modules, the flexible program registration, and the extensive amount of learning resources really suited my learning style and personality.
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies? First, I’d like to thank Cierra, my partner, for being there with me to celebrate the highs and console me through the lows. I’d also like to thank Josh and Hue for their friendship and for making CFE preparation fun—you are both brilliant people, and I know you will have many accomplishments in your careers.
Thank you also to Olga Pratasevich, CPA, for being such a supportive mentor and manager during this process; to all of the present and past City of Abbotsford finance staff who encouraged me to join and follow through with the CPA program; and to Keith Lownie, CPA, CA, for the quality undergraduate accounting instruction.
Kiani Siu
Employer: British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (Victoria)
Job title: Analyst, Corporate Accounting Branch
What will you remember most about your CFE experience? Driving home after writing Day 2 and the sense of relief and accomplishment I felt when I realized I only had four hours of exams left in my entire life (hopefully).
Tell us about a breakthrough or ‘aha’ moment during your studies. During one of the last practice cases I wrote before the exam, I discovered that there were still many things I didn’t know, despite all my hours of studying. Rather than stress about it, I realized there was no way anyone could know everything perfectly. This helped me stay calm during the CFE when something inevitably came up that I was unsure about.
What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started CPA PEP? How quickly the time would go by. In the Core 1 weekend workshop, it was daunting to think of how much time and effort I’d need to invest, but each of the modules went by so quickly that before I knew it, it was time to write the CFE.
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies? First and foremost, I’d like to thank my family for all of their support throughout my years of schooling and for always believing in me.
I’d also like to thank my partner and fellow writer, Jordan Hanson, who motivated me to study and, equally importantly, to take study breaks.
Lastly, I’d like to thank my fellow writers and friends, Daryl Thompson and Kyle Bird. Having others to navigate the program with made the whole experience feel so much more doable. I also owe Daryl a special thanks for taking a chance and hiring me as a co-op student years ago—and for persuading me to pursue my designation.
Photos of Simren Boyal, Laurel Dabb, and Chelsea MacBean by Kent Kallberg Studios. Photo of Dylan Murphy by Anita Chapman, Perfect Moments Photography. Photo of Kiani Siu by Brit Kwasney Photo.
A version of these profiles will be published in the January/February 2026 issue of CPABC in Focus.
