Cover Story
Building for Success
Our first-ever chair, Olin Anton, FCPA, FCA, is excited to help
lay the foundation for CPABC’s future
By Patrick Schryburt
W
hat’s next?
It’s a question that has no doubt been on the minds of many
CPAs ever since the Chartered Professional Accountants of
British Columbia (CPABC) was officially established through proclamation
on June 24, 2015. Unification under the CPA designation was the accounting
profession’s primary goal over the past two years—now that it has been
achieved, what’s next on the “to-do” list?
“It may seem simplistic,” says Olin Anton, FCPA, FCA, CPA (Illinois),
chair of CPABC’s inaugural board of directors, “but our job now is to make
members happy.”
A partner with Deloitte LLP and long-time leader of the firm’s audit practice,
Olin is accustomed to taking on big projects. He’s excited to lead the CPABC
board and committed to laying a solid foundation for the future.
“We have an opportunity to establish new protocols for how our board
will operate, and the policies and structure we set will stand for a long
time,” he says. “So it’s crucial that we do it the right way.”
Olin is equally committed to ensuring that the nascent organization
serves the needs of its members.
“We must look at finding new ways to engage members and foster two-way
communication to build a stronger CPA community,” he says, adding: “Now
is the time to begin establishing new traditions.”
Member engagement is just the first part of a three-pronged strategy Olin
envisions for the coming year. The second is outreach to employers.
“We have to focus our energies on building and enhancing our relationships with the employers of our members,