Practical Experience Officer

BCCPA; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 82,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

CPABC in Vancouver seeks a Practical Experience Officer to assess student PER submissions and support candidates, mentors and employers through the CPA Certification Program. You will apply assessment criteria under both the current CPA Certification Program and the new CPA Professional Program.

The role demands strong analytical ability, collaboration across teams, and meticulous attention to regulatory policies as you guide progression and ensure quality across practical experience reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or post-secondary education in Business, Finance, Accounting, or equivalent experience.
• Five (5) plus years of progressive experience in either public practice or industry, or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of accounting, finance, tax, and other business practices.

Responsibilities

• Assess students’ practical experience reporting submissions against competency criteria under both CPA programs.
• Provide commentary and feedback to support and guide students and ensure appropriate proficiency levels.
• Liaise with students, mentors, and employers for additional information and evidence as needed.
• Guide students through the practical experience journey and navigate program requirements and changes.
• Ensure PER policies and provincial regulations are followed and best practices are updated.

Skills

MS Office

Independent work

Team collaboration

Customer-focused

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Initiative

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or equivalent

Tools

CRM system

HelpDesk

SharePoint

Job description

Position: Practical Experience Officer

Reports To: Associate Director, Practical Experience

Contract Type: Indefinite, Full Time

The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is seeking a dynamic, results driven individual with excellent analytical skills for the position of Practical Experience Officer. We are proud and honoured to have been recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers for a seventh consecutive year in 2026. Come join a collaborative network of like-minded professionals and take the first step towards an exciting opportunity by applying to the position.

Job Summary

The Practical Experience Officer will assess students’ practical experience submission reports under the current and new CPA Certification Program, as well as provide support to candidates/learners, mentors and employers in understanding the practical experience requirements ("PER").

Key Responsibilities

Practical Experience – Assessment

• Assess students’ practical experience reporting submissions, including review of work experience responses for technical and enabling competencies against practical experience competency criteria under both the current CPA Certification Program and the new CPA Professional Program.
• Provide commentary and feedback to support and guide students in understanding their individual assessment reporting and ensuring that appropriate proficiency levels are granted for their experience reported.
• Liaise with students, mentors, and employers for additional information and/or further evidence required for the assessment.
• Provide guidance and support to students throughout their practical experience journey, helping them understand program requirements, identify development opportunities relative to competency expectations, and navigate changes impacting their progression.
• Ensure continuous improvements of best practices for PER policies and provincial regulations are being complied with as they relate to assessments.

Practical Experience – Other

• Ensure technical knowledge is maintained and up to date.
• Actively participate in team and assessor meetings, as well as provincial, regional and/or national practical experience working groups, as required, to improve consistency in assessments.
• Participate in new initiatives to develop, support and improve policies and processes.
• Participate and assist in training of new team members, as required.
• Ensure all processes and procedure manual(s) for this position are fully documented and up to date.
• And other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Associate Director, Practical Experience.

Key Requirements

Knowledge and Experience

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation required;
• Bachelor’s degree or post-secondary education in Business, Finance, Accounting, or equivalent experience;
• Five (5) plus years of progressive experience in either public practice or industry, or equivalent experience;
• Strong understanding of accounting, finance, tax, and other business practices and activities;

Demonstrated Skills and Abilities

• Intermediate proficiency with MS Office, in particular Word, Excel and Outlook;
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment;
• Customer-centric approach with a strong track record of identifying and implementing process improvements;
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills;
• Meticulous attention to detail, refined organizational and time management skills;
• Proven self-starter with the ability to take initiative, work independently and contribute effectively within a team environment;
• Proven ability to prioritize competing requirements and deadlines under pressure;

Preferred Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Abilities

• Prior experience working with a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and a HelpDesk ticketing system would be preferred;
• Experience with SharePoint would be an asset, but is not required.

The starting annual salary for this position is between $82,000.00 and 97,350.00 per annum, based on candidates’ qualifications, experience, and internal parity. Exceptions may be considered with further review.

We thank all candidates who respond; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Why join our team?

CPABC offers an entrepreneurial environment with a competitive compensation package. At CPABC, our values guide how we work together and make decisions every day:

• Integrity: We do the right thing and inspire trust
• Inclusivity: We embrace differences and thrive together
• Forward-Thinking: We envision tomorrow and act with purpose today
• Social Responsibility: We protect the public interest and strengthen our communities

About CPABC

The Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) is the training, governing, and regulatory body for over 40,000 CPA members and 6,000 CPA students and candidates. CPABC carries out its primary mission to protect the public by enforcing the highest professional and ethical standards and contributing to the advancement of public policy. CPAs are recognized internationally for bringing superior financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, and leadership to organizations. CPABC is proud to have been presented with a seventh consecutive BC Top Employer award in 2026.