Sprott alumni earn top honours in Chartered Accountant entry exam

Mathew Burpee (BCom/09) and Adele McGee (BCom/10) achieved top results in the Chartered Accountant profession’s Uniform Evaluation (UFE), considered to be one of the most challenging professional entry exams in the world. Both Mathew and Adele earned places on the UFE Honour Roll, which represents the top 50 of the 3,046 individuals who successfully wrote the UFE this year. In addition, Mathew was awarded the regional Gold Medal and cash prize of $2,500 for achieving the highest standing in Western Canada in the 2010 UFE.

“I owe a lot of credit to Carleton for the successes I’ve had since graduating, both in the UFE and in my career,” says Mathew, who is a Senior Staff Accountant with Ernst & Young in Calgary. “I’ve worked in the accounting profession in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta, and I have yet to meet someone who I felt was more prepared for a career in accounting based on their university experiences.

Mathew graduated from Carleton in 2009 with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours). He completed concentrations in Accounting and Finance, as well as the co-op program. “Carleton provided me with an excellent technical background in accounting and exposure to the soft skills required throughout the CA program and accounting profession,” says Mathew.

Adele completed her degree in January of this year; she graduated in June with a Bachelor of Commerce (Highest Honours) and a concentration in Accounting. Like Mathew, Adele also completed the co-op program. She currently works for Hendry Warren LLP in Ottawa

“I was surprised, but I’m very excited about my results,” says Adele, whose goal for the UFE was to pass the exam. “I’d like to give a big thanks to all the accounting professors I’ve had the pleasure of studying with and working for as a TA. I credit the exceptional teaching staff for their hard work; without them, I’m sure my results wouldn’t have been nearly as good.”

The UFE, written in September, is a national three-day evaluation that assesses competencies including essential knowledge, professional judgment, ethics and the ability to communicate. The UFE is an important component of the CA qualification program, which includes prescribed education, practical experience and examination requirements. Only those who complete this entire program successfully are entitled to use the internationally recognized designation of Chartered Accountant.