Professional Accounting & Use of the CPA Designation

The CPA Act reserves the use of the titles “Chartered Professional Accountant” and “Professional Accountant” to CPABC members in good standing and registered firms.

The practice of professional accounting is restricted to CPA members in good standing as authorized by CPABC, and comprises:

• Performing an audit engagement and issuing an auditor’s report in accordance with the standards of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada;
• Performing any other assurance engagement and issuing an assurance report in accordance with the standards of CPA Canada; and 
• Issuing any form of certification, declaration, or opinion with respect to information related to a financial statement or any part thereof on the application of financial reporting standards of CPA Canada, or specified auditing procedures in accordance with the standards of CPA Canada. 

Being the sole provider of these services to the public in British Columbia gives our profession a profound responsibility.

CPABC has custodial powers such that it may apply to the provincial court for an order appointing CPABC or another person/registered firm to take control over all or part of a practising member/firm’s property in situations where the member (or former member) is unable to continue managing their practice. This is a valuable addition to the tools we have at our disposal to ensure that the interests of the public are protected.