Canada is a large, modern nation with a reputation for friendliness to visitors and expats. With the tenth-largest economy in the world and a wide range of industries luring global talent, Canada is a great country to find work as a CPA. The second largest and most sparsely populated country in the world might be best known for winter sports, mounted police and moose, but it is also home to major cities and financial centres. Canada's most populous city, Toronto, has just over 2.5 million residents and is the key location for CPAs seeking work in the banking and financial sector.
Local professional accounting bodies
There are two main accounting bodies in Canada, and CPA Australia has recognition agreements (MRAs) with both. Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada) represents 68,000 CGAs and students in Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Hong Kong and mainland China and Certified Management Accountants Canada (CMA Canada) has more than 40,000 certified members and 10,000 students around the world.
The MRA between CPA Australian and CGA-Canada allows members of each body can be eligible to join the other body and, upon completed of additional studies, will advance to CGA or CPA status. CGA-Canada is the fastest-growing accounting designation in Canada, recognised as the country's accounting business leaders and providing strategic counsel, financial leadership, and overall direction to all sectors of the economy.
CMA Canada and CPA Australia's MRA allows members of each body to join the other with CMA or CPA status. The agreement enhances mobility within the accounting profession and identifies areas for mutually beneficial joint initiatives. CMA Canada grants a professional designation in Strategic Management Accounting and applies a unique blend of expertise in accounting, management and strategy to identify new market opportunities, ensure corporate accountability, and help organisations maintain a long-term competitive advantage.
Members wanting to join CMA Canada will need to contact the relevant province in Canada to obtain detailed information on the application process. A full listing of provinces and territories is available on the CMA Canada website.
Canada's business environment
Canada has benefited from a bounty of natural resources such as gold, nickel, uranium, diamonds and lead, and its role as a large-scale exporter ties it closely to the world economy. Like many industrialised nations it is highly dependant on the service industry.
Multinational companies have a large presence in Canada's cities, particularly Toronto and Montreal, and the high levels of mobility and economic freedom power the opportunity available in the nation.
Employment opportunities
Graduates who major in finance, accounting or business are recruited on a yearly basis. Most of the large accounting firms conduct annual recruitment exercises for final year accounting students from overseas universities. Four of Canada's five major banks, the Bank of Montreal, Scotiabank, CIBC and Toronto-Dominion Bank are based in Toronto, as are their big 5 accounting firms: BDO Dunwoody, Deloitte & Touche, PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG Canada and Ernst & Young Canada.
Working conditions and lifestyle
Despite the chill, Canadians love the outdoors and are a sporty, hardy nation with many parallels to Australia. Some areas in Canada, such as French-influenced Quebec, have a regional pride so fierce it has had dreams of secession, but the overall experience is of a harmonious, prosperous nation. French is widely spoken, and recommended if you wish to live in Montreal.
Work permits
If you are looking to move to Canada you could either apply for permanent residency as a skilled worker or professional, or apply to work temporarily. To work temporarily, you generally must already have a job offer from a Canadian employer and a work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.