the summer . It was easy to feel discouraged about my progress throughout my preparation , but they always reinforced that I needed to keep working towards the future instead of dwelling on past results . I would also like to thank the University of Saskatchewan MPAcc program — it not only prepared me for the CFE , but also gave me two amazing summers with great friends .
Any advice for future CFE writers ? Don ’ t let a lack of consistent practice exam results discourage you ! I went through ups and downs throughout my study summer and constantly had to remind myself to think positively and let go of negativity . I encourage writers to study smart — don ’ t think that means studying every day of the week for 12 hours a day . Make sure you understand your strengths and weaknesses and build a study plan to get you to your goals . Lastly , nobody walks out of the exam feeling like they aced it . Trust yourself !
Alexander Nowak , CPA
Birthplace & current city of residence : Prince George , BC
Employer : Deloitte LLP
Job title : Audit Senior
Experience route : Pre-Approved Program
What will you remember most about your CFE experience ? I will never forget my two months of study leave during which I would study through the morning into the early afternoon and then relax and enjoy the rest of the day . Also , I will never forget hearing the Mission Impossible theme song coming from a graduation ceremony outside of my exam room during the last hour of day three and trying to laugh it off .
Any hobbies that helped you manage stress during your studies ? Watching sports , playing golf and tennis , hiking , and reading all helped me take my mind off of studying .
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies ? I ’ d like to thank the following people : first and foremost , my wife and biggest cheerleader , Lainy , for her unwavering love and support ; my CPA coach Jessica Righi , CPA , for her countless hours marking my cases and providing me with invaluable feedback and advice ; and Angela Kellett , CPA , CA , leader of Deloitte ’ s national CFE program , for the multitude of resources and cram sessions she provided us with .
Julia Phillips
Birthplace & current city of residence : Victoria , BC
Employer : KPMG LLP
Job title : Senior Accountant
Experience route : Pre-Approved Program
What will you remember most about your CFE experience ? My scariest study memory is feeling like I ’ d failed the mock-CFE . Thankfully there were many more positive memories , including paddling the Bowron Lakes between modules and enjoying a beautiful lunch in the sun at Cadboro Bay beach . And my favourite memory is the phone call letting me know that I ’ d not only passed , but made the honour roll !
Any hobbies that helped you manage stress during your studies ? I stayed active — camping / cabining , hiking , kayaking , rock climbing , and playing soccer whenever possible .
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies ? My co-workers in Victoria were a great source of support over the summer — from new hires right up through partners . Thank you to everybody who planned schedules , marked cases , hosted workshops , and took us all out for coffee , lunch , and dinner to keep our heads on straight . A more specific thank you goes out to my study group , Emily and Jackie , who provided honest and constructive feedback all summer , and kept the stress level low . Finally , thank you to my family and especially to my boyfriend Joel , who put up with more than a couple of study-related grumpy days over the past couple of years . I ’ m looking forward to many more adventures with you in the years to come !
Any advice for future CFE writers ? Compare your case results to the entire capstone group where possible . Sometimes I got stressed out because my results were poor , only to find out a few days later that everybody had done poorly . Context is huge ! Also make sure to make a plan and stick to it . That said , be flexible with yourself : If you need to throw in a long weekend somewhere to reset , do it !
Any advice for future CFE writers ? Just stick to studying during the day and relaxing during the evenings and weekends , and it ’ ll be over before you know it . Then , once you find out you passed , you might even look back on that study time and miss it .
CPABC in Focus • Jan / Feb 2017 33