Post-Secondary students taking the CPA Challenge

CPA Ontario sponsors student competition for money, prizes and campus pride

TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2015 /CNW/ - Students from across the province are competing for pride and prizes in the CPA Challenge on Saturday, January 31. The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario holds this annual competition to give post-secondary students considering a career as a CPA the opportunity to compete, have fun and earn some cash prizes.

A total of 33 three-person teams are traveling to the offices of CPA Ontario in Toronto for the competition. Team members are undergraduate business students selected by the CPA Ontario's Board of Ambassadors from 23 university and college programs across the province.

The CPA Challenge pits the teams against each other in friendly competitions stressing the use of CPA skills such as communications, teamwork, leadership, negotiation and time management.

First prize winners get the prestigious CPA Challenge Cup, plus $3,000 for first place and an additional $1,500 for their school's accounting/business society. Additional prizes include $1,500 for second and $750 for third, with the teams placing fourth and fifth each getting $300. All teams will also be aiming to succeed last year's winner – a team from the University of Waterloo – as the CPA Challenge champions.

CPA Ontario can put reporters in touch with participating students in most Ontario communities. The top three teams will be announced at the event on January 31 with a news release to follow on February 2. Professional and student media are invited to attend the event.

WHAT:  CPA Challenge
WHEN:  Saturday, January 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHO:  Students from 23 Ontario post-secondary programs
WHERE: Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, 69 Bloor Street East, Toronto

The university programs taking part are:

• Brock University
• Carleton University – Sprott School of Business
• Lakehead University
• McMaster University – DeGroote School of Business
• Queen's University
• Redeemer University College
• Ryerson University
• Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology
• Sheridan College
• University of Guelph
• University of Guelph-Humber
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT)
• University of Ottawa
• University of Toronto – Mississauga Campus
• University of Toronto – Scarborough Campus
• University of Toronto – St. George Campus – Rotman School of Management
• University of Waterloo
• University of Windsor
• Western University
• Western University – Ivey Business School
• Wilfrid Laurier University
• York University
• York University – Schulich School of Business

About the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

CPA Ontario protects the public interest by ensuring its members meet the highest standards for integrity and expertise. CPA Ontario serves and supports its more than 80,000 members and approximately 20,000 students in their qualification and professional development in a wide range of senior positions in public accounting, business, finance, government, not-for-profits and academe. Certified General Accountants (CGAs), Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) and Chartered Accountants (CAs) are now unified under the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. Chartered Professional Accountants are valued by organizations of all types and sizes for their financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, management skills and leadership. For information on the profession, visit cpaontario.ca. To become a CPA in Ontario, visit gocpaontario.ca.

SOURCE The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

Perry Jensen, Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, 416-969-4271 or 1-800-387-0735, ext. 271, [email protected]; Amy Mulhern, Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, 416-322-6520 or 1-800-668-1454 ext. 8311, [email protected]