A graduate of Carleton University’s Bachelor of Commerce program, Nick McConkey (BCom/19), earned a place on CPA Canada's national honour roll by placing in the top one per cent of the nearly 6,000 candidates who successfully wrote the CPA Common Final Exam (CFE) in September.
“I was equally surprised and relieved when given the news that I had made the Honour Roll,” said Nick, who is a staff accountant at Hendry Warren LLP in Ottawa. “My firm had informed me of the achievement a week before the public release of the results, so it gave me some time to let it really sink in. I'm very grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way to this accomplishment.”
The CFE is a three-day exam conducted by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada), as the final step of the educational requirements for becoming a CPA.
The exam not only covers important competencies in accounting, finance, governance, strategy, and assurance, but also evaluates skills in critical analysis, decision-making, and professional judgement.
Nick’s achievement further demonstrates the success of Sprott’s accounting offerings, which include the Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting concentration, the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting and the CPA-accredited Master of Accounting (MAcc), in preparing graduates for careers as CPAs. He is the ninth Sprott graduate to make the honour roll in the last four years.
“Congratulations to all the Sprott undergraduate and Master of Accounting students who wrote and passed the CFE this year,” said Emily Gray, MAcc program director and accounting teaching area coordinator at Sprott. “They did most, if not all, of their preparatory program during the pandemic showing great resilience and commitment to their education and careers, and I wish them all the best.”
“I’m so happy that Sprott was able to contribute to their success. Go Sprotties!”
Sprott’s Bachelor of Commerce Accounting concentration prepares students for careers in financial management accounting, auditing and taxation. Sprott BCom students complete all of the academic courses required to enter the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP). And, co-op hours in approved placements can be counted towards the CPA practical experience requirement.
Sprott’s CPA-accredited Master of Accounting is a gateway to a career as a professional accountant. Students graduating from the MAcc will be exempt from the CPA Canada Professional Education Program and will proceed directly to the CPA Canada Common Final Examination. The MAcc goes beyond the CPA PEP requirements, covering all four CPA competencies, and students benefit from the guidance of MAcc faculty, many of whom are experienced CPA case writers and markers.