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Update eNewsletter 
Spring 2004
1. CMA Canada signs another Ground-Breaking Mutual Recognition Agreement
2. Increasing Awareness of the CMA Designation at BC Post-Secondary Institutions
3. 2004 Budget Coverage
4. Canadian Academic Accounting Association Conference
5. Financial Aid now available for Individuals taking CMA programs in BC
6. CMA Members without a Degree can now get Advanced Standing in BCOU's BBA Program
7. Online Library
8. CMA Strategic Partners offering the CMA FastTrack Program in BC this September
9. CMA Spotlight: Fred Zdan
10. Benefits for CMA members in BC
11. Angie Stanta joins the Marketing Team as the CMA Market Representative for Vancouver Island
12. CMA Notebook
13. Members on the Move
14. New Members of CMA Canada - British Columbia
15. Members in Memoriam
16. Member Resignations and Terminations



CMA Canada signs another ground-breaking mutual recognition agreement

CMA Canada established a mutual recognition agreement with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) last February. Under this agreement, certified members of CIPFA can become Certified Management Accountants and vice versa.

Based in the United Kingdom, CIPFA has over 15,000 members and is the only accounting body in the UK that specializes in public service.

This mutual recognition agreement is the second that CMA Canada has signed since last year. In addition to CIPFA, CMAs can pursue professional membership with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants of the United Kingdom (CIMA).

For CMAs who want to become IPFAs (Members of CIPFA):
CMAs who want to apply for CIPFA membership should contact Barry Mather at 0207.543.5669 or email him at barry.mather@cipfa.org
Click here for general information about CIPFA.

For CMAs who want to become ACMAs (CIMA Members):
CMAs who want to apply for CIMA membership should contact CIMA Services at ima.services@cimaglobal.com or call +44.0207.663.5441
Click here for general information about CIMA.


Increasing Awareness of the CMA Designation at BC Post-Secondary Institutions

With more and more opportunities opening to business students and alumni in the province, promoting the CMA designation at BC post-secondary institutions is vitally important.

In response to this, CMA Canada at the national and provincial levels is pleased to make a number of announcements. At the end of March, CMA Canada strengthened its partnership in management education with Simon Fraser University by funding a $1 million research centre at the new Segal Graduate School of Business. This new school will open in 2005 in a newly refurbished heritage building in downtown Vancouver.

As one of the six research centres to be established at the school, the CMA Canada Centre for Strategic Change and Performance Management will identify and research the best practices related to three themes: strategic change and its execution; strategic performance measurement; and leadership and change management. In the coming months, CMA Canada - British Columbia will work closely with Simon Fraser University to broaden access to cutting-edge business research and best practices to CMA members as well as the business community in the province.

This spring CMA Canada has also accredited two more business undergraduate programs in British Columbia, bringing the total number in BC to three. Students who have graduated with a BCom after April 2004 from the University of British Columbia and have earned credit in all of the courses that cover the 18 CMA syllabus topics can now qualify for exemption from Part 1 of the CMA National Entrance Exam. These students will have three years after their graduation date to qualify for the exemption. Representatives from CMA Canada - British Columbia and the University of British Columbia will celebrate this milestone with UBC business students and alumni this May.

In addition, students who have graduated with a BBA after April 2004 from Okanagan University College (OUC) and have earned credit in all of the courses that cover the 18 CMA syllabus topics can now qualify for exemption from Part 1 of the CMA National Entrance Exam. Like all graduates from a CMA accredited program, these OUC alumni have three years after their graduation date to qualify for the exemption. At the OUC campus in Kelowna this April, representatives from CMA Canada - British Columbia and the Okanagan University College will celebrate this milestone with OUC business students and alumni.

CMA Canada accredited BC's first business program in April 2002. That program is the BBA program at Simon Fraser University.

For More Information:

For more information about the Segal Graduate School of Business, click here.

For more information about CMA Canada accredited programs, click here.

2004 Budget Coverage

Every February the CMA Canada - British Columbia sends its CMA analysis team to evaluate the BC government's new budget for the coming year.

In its new release issued on Budget Day, the team acknowledged that the government had delivered on many of the commitments that it had made the previous two years. Those commitments included a balanced budget forecast and the adoption of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

The team made two recommendations to the government that would strengthen its existing strategic plan. The first recommendation entailed making the government's performance targets more specific and challenging. The second recommendation urged the government to specify and communicate its plans for its forecasted surpluses. The government has forecasted a $100 million surplus in 2004/05, followed by $275 million in 2005/06 and $300 million surpluses in 2006/07.

For More Information about the BC Budget and Reaction from the BC Business Community:

For a copy of the 2004 BC Budget and related publications, click here.

For a report issued by the economics department of the Credit Union Central of British Columbia, click here.

For a report by the Business Development Council of BC about the province's changing economy and job market, click here.

For Information about the 2004 Federal Budget:

For the news release from CMA Canada, click here.

For a copy of the 2004 Federal Budget, click here.

Canadian Academic Accounting Association Conference

How is globalization affecting the profession of accounting? Find out by attending the Canadian Academic Accounting Association Annual Conference from May 27-30th in Vancouver.

Sponsored by CMA Canada and others, the conference will feature a number of international speakers:

    		•  Katherine Schipper, member of the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), who will speak about standard setting issues confronting the board
    		• Jim Sylph, Technical Director, International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board of the International Federation of Accountants, and formerly Director of Auditing Standards for the Chartered Accountants of Canada, who will discuss the issues confronting the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board
    		• David Rattray, Assistant Auditor General of Canada and former member of Public Sector Committee at the International Federation of Accountants
    		• Judy Tsui, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Chair Professor of Accounting at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who will discuss these issues from the perspective of Hong Kong and China
    		• Mark Beasley, Associate Professor, North Carolina State University, who will discuss these issues from an American perspective
    		• Daniel Thornton, Professor, Queen's University, who will discuss these issues from a Canadian perspective

    CMA Canada - British Columbia will have a number of CMA representatives at the conference, including Diane Chung. Diane is the Student Recruitment Manager, and she spends the majority of her time visiting post-secondary institutions to talk about the CMA designation and CMA programs.

    For information about CMA Canada's involvement at the event, contact Diane at 604.687.5891 extension 241.

    For more information about the CAAA conference, click here or call 416.486.5361 or email admin@caaa.ca


    Financial aid now available for individuals taking CMA programs in BC

    Are you working towards your CMA designation? If you are, you now have more financing options to choose from.

    CMA Canada - British Columbia recently signed an agreement with the Bank of Montreal that allows CMA student and candidate members to apply for a student line of credit.

    "This line of credit will help our current and prospective student members realize their goals of becoming a CMA," says Matthew Haussmann, Director of Accreditation Programs at CMA Canada - British Columbia.

    CMA students taking the 10-month CMA FastTrack Program can apply for a maximium of $10,000. CMA candidates in the two-year CMA Strategic Leadership Program can apply for $10,000 a year or a total of $30,000 for that particular program. Individuals taking the two-year CMA Executive Program can apply for $10,000 a year or a total of $30,000 for that program.

    For More Information:

    Call Stan Yee at 604.668.1236 or David Raza at 604.665.7303 at the Bank of Montreal or click here.


    CMA Members without a Degree can now get Advanced Standing in BCOU's BBA Program

    The expansion in graduate education continues as more business professionals in the United States and Canada see a graduate degree as a prerequisite to career advancement. But what does this trend in the marketplace mean for professionals who have a lot of business experience but do not have the undergraduate degree that so many institutions require for admission into graduate programs?

    As a CMA member, you can now apply for advanced standing towards the completion of a BBA from the British Columbia Open University (BCOU), one of the few Canadian virtual universities in western Canada. BCOU offers a variety of certificate and degree programs via distance learning, enabling people who prefer independent self-study to customize a learning path that meets their specific needs.

    To earn a BBA from BCOU, you have several options open to you, depending on your CMA membership and goals. If you are a certified member, you can qualify for upto 90 credits towards your BBA. If you are a CMA student member, you may be able to apply for 60 credits towards your BBA after you have passed the CMA National Entrance Exam, in effect earning your CMA designation and BBA at the same time. Alternatively, you can choose to earn your CMA designation first and then work towards earning your BBA. To graduate from this undergraduate program, you will need a total of 120 credits.

    If there is sufficient interest in the BBA for CMA members, CMA Canada - British Columbia and BCOU will schedule information sessions this May or June. To express your interest in attending these sessions, call Mark Chiarello at 1.800.663.9646 or 604.687.5891 extension 224 or email him at mark@cmabc.com

    More information about the BBA program for CMA members will appear on BCOU's web site and at www.cmabc.com by early May.

    For More Information about BCOU:

    For information about the BBA program at BCOU, click here.

    For BCOU student advising services, click here or call John Bryant at 604.431.3304 or email him at johnbr@bcou.ca

    For information about BCOU becoming a part of a new university in BC, click here.

    Online Library

    Many people believe that knowledge is power. But managing personal or organizational knowledge, particularly during these rapidly changing times, is often difficult and overwhelming. There are just too many different sources to check for the latest in business trends and thinking.

    CMA Canada has consolidated some of the best of contemporary and emerging best strategic management and management accounting practices. Most of this material is used to supplement the program syllabus for the CMA Strategic Leadership Program. Until now only candidates who were taking the program had access to these materials.

    Now all CMA members can access these resources at no cost and at any time by using their CMA membership number and password for CMA Canada's online library. This growing library features several hundred articles from such publications as Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, Journal of Cost Management and CMA Canada's own Strategic Management Accounting Practices. Topics include strategy formulation, business strategy, functional and operational strategy, management accounting, operational management, marketing, information technology, and strategy evaluation and control.


    CMA Strategic Partners offering the CMA FastTrack Program in BC this September

    How can your colleagues and friends earn their CMA designation in as little as three years?

    By applying for September admission into the 10-month CMA FastTrack Program. This year Simon Fraser University becomes the newest CMA Strategic Partner to offer the program in the Lower Mainland. SFU will offer the program once a year at its Surrey campus beginning this fall. The other partners include Langara College, BCIT, and Camosun College.

    The 10-month, part-time self-study program will prepare individuals to qualify for the June 2005 CMA National Entrance Exam.

    CMA Information Sessions are being held at CMA Canada - British Columbia from 1:30 to 2:30 pm every Thursday in May and every Tuesday and Thursday in June. CMA representatives are also hosting a number of CMA Information Sessions in Victoria and at various locations throughout the Lower Mainland during those months.

    Let your co-workers, colleagues and peers know they can learn more about the CMA designation and the CMA FastTrack Program at any of these scheduled sessions. Alternatively, if you would like to host a CMA Information Session at your workplace, please call Diane Chung at 604.687.5891 extension 241 or email diane@cmabc.com. Diane is happy to deliver a 30 to 45 minute presentation customized for your workplace and to meet with anyone one-on-one after the session. These workplace sessions are also a great opportunity for members to play an active role in raising the awareness of the CMA designation in the workplace.

    The registration deadline for September 2004 admission into the CMA FastTrack Program is 4:30 pm on Friday, August 20th or until seats are no longer available. Print advertising about September admission into the program will appear in the Lower Mainland and in the Greater Victoria area beginning this May.

    For More Information:

    For general information about the CMA FastTrack Program, click here.

    For options about meeting the minimum entry requirements for the program, click here.

    CMA Spotlight: Fred Zdan

    Fred Zdan is the First Vice President on the Board of Directors for CMA Canada - British Columbia. For the last five years, he has been the Director-at-Large for the Upper Island Chapter.

    A CMA since 1996, Fred is also the Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration for Island Savings Credit Union in Duncan. He recently shared some information about his career as a CMA and his involvement with CMA Canada - British Columbia.


    How he came to decide to become a CMA
    "I decided to become a CMA because I'd always had a knack for numbers, but I didn't necessarily have a liking of accounting. I recognized early on that I had more management abilities than accounting interests. The CMA accreditation process provided the balance of the two. To reach my professional goals, I also wanted the recognition of having a business designation. The CMA designation was a perfect fit."

    Highlights from his Professional Career
    		• Series of career moves within the credit union system in BC, from analyst to advisory to executive roles
    		• Chief Executive Officer with the Parksville and District Credit Union for five years
    		• Treasurer for Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation for five years
    		• Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration with Island Savings Credit Union

    Major Initiatives as the First Vice President
    "If our product is the CMA designation, we have to be focused on what our value proposition is in order for new candidates to want the product and for existing members to find lifetime value in the designation. If we want to transform our members into advocates of the designation, we need to focus our efforts here. We spend a lot of time examining why we're not the biggest in terms of the number of members when perhaps we should focus on providing the best value, building loyalty to the designation, and retaining our members throughout their careers and into retirement."

    What Role he sees Members playing
    "We need our members to be proud advocates of the CMA designation. If we're going to achieve the positioning that we are seeking in the market, we must have our members making the difference in the market. We need members to pronounce their successes and tie them directly to the benefits of being a CMA."

    Advice to students earning their CMA Designation now
    		• Keep learning. To keep providing value to your employer and yourself, you need to stay abreast of change.
    		• Network. In the long term, having a network of contacts can assist you greatly in building business, shortcutting to solutions, finding support for your challenges and even providing opportunities for career and personal growth.
    		• Pay it forward. As a CMA, you'll have a lot of skills to offer. You can make a difference.

    Look for Fred's profile in the April 2004 issue of CMA Canada's Management Magazine.

    Benefits for CMA Members in BC

    CMA Canada - British Columbia offers a wide range of benefits and services for members and students and their families.

    CMA Canada - British Columbia has recently added a number of new services to the list, including special offers from hotels such as the Best Western Inn at Penticton, Executive Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, Hotel Le Soleil, Laurel Pt. Inn Victoria, and Ramada Hotel Prince George.

    Next time you need fuel and one service station is two cents per litre cheaper than the other, which one do you pull up at? It's an easy choice. CMA Canada - British Columbia has an arrangement with Petro Canada for a fuel discount of 2.0 cents per litre using Petro Canada's modern, well-located retail stations and the SuperPass card. Applying is easy and can be done online.

    Remote Backup Services is a protection service for accounting data. New subscribers will receive one month free service.

    Integrity Solutions is presenting a Microsoft Business Solutions Seminar on April 20th at no charge. For more details, click here.

    Current CMA member promotion: Are you currently using AccPacc and looking to upgrade to Microsoft Business Solutions? Until June 18th you can trade in your AccPacc system for a 50-60% discount on the current list price.

    WhiteCap Software Inc. provides cost effective pre-packaged and custom tailored software and information technology consulting services. For a limited time, a 30% discount on your first service for a six month period is being offered as well as referral discounts.

    Hi-Performance Enterprises Inc. offers internet hosting and development and is extending 10-25% off regular rates. Additional services offered are web-based accounting and management information systems.

    If you do business in BC, then you need to read Business in Vancouver. A complimentary trial subscription is available to you for this weekly publication. Paid subscribers receive valuable special publications and directories, including the Book of Lists, Hightech Directory, Meeting Places and more.

    Park'N Fly Vancouver is offering one complimentary airport parking for the initial visit and an additional 25% off all future parks. Additional car care services are also available.

    For More Information:

    For a complete list of discounted services and products available to members in BC, click here.

    For information about the member services that CMA Canada provides, click here.

    For all other inquiries and feedback, call Sandra Record at 604.687.5891 extension 242 or 1.800.663.9646 or sandra@cmabc.com


    Angie Stanta joins the Marketing Team as the CMA Market Representative for Vancouver Island

    We are pleased to announce the appointment of Angie Stanta to the role of CMA Market Representative for Vancouver Island. After earning a degree in geology, she developed a career in forestry and mining and earned her CMA designation in 2003. She now resides in Mill Bay.

    In her role as the CMA Market Representative for Vancouver Island, she will help build awareness among students and faculty at the University of Victoria, Royal Roads University, Camosun College, and Malaspina University College. In the coming months, she will work on a number of initiatives within the employer market on Vancouver Island.

    Angie is available at 250.715.5239 or at astanta@shaw.ca

    CMA Notebook

    Home Office of CMA Canada - British Columbia relocates to Bentall Centre
    By the end of May, the Certified Management Accountants of British Columbia will move to its new office at Bentall II after spending over 22 years at the Scotia Tower on Georgia Street in Vancouver. Since the Society was established in this province in 1945, CMA Canada - British Columbia has had seven offices, including this new one. The new address will be Box 269, Suite 1055, Two Bentall Centre, 555 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V7X 1M8. Look for more updates in the coming weeks.

    September 2004 admission into the CMA Executive Program
    Building on the excellence and rigorous standards of existing CMA accreditation programs, this program is tailored to meet the needs of today's busy senior manager. This May and June, the Certified Management Accountants of BC and SFU Business will host a number of CMA Information Sessions about the two year, part-time program. For more information or to pre-register for any of these sessions, your colleagues should contact Bob Gautama at 1.800.663.9646 or 604.687.5891 ext. 238 or email him at bobgautama@cmabc.com

    Policy Change for CMA National Entrance Exam
    Under the existing policy, CMA students who fail the CMA National Entrance Exam three times can re-qualify for two more attempts by successfully completing the CMA FastTrack Program. Effective for the October 2004 CMA National Entrance Exam, this policy will change. At that time, all CMA students can challenge the National Exam only twice. A third attempt may be requested under appeal. More information about this upcoming policy change, prospective and existing CMA students can click here.

    Members on the Move

    Congratulations to these members of CMA Canada - British Columbia who have been recently promoted or accepted a new career opportunity:

    Jozef Hubburmin, CMA, Controller, Synergy Pacific Wood Solutions ULC (Armstrong)
    Mylène Maguire, BBA, CMA, Director of Finance and Accounting, Alloptic Inc. (Liverpool, California)
    Linda McKay, BA, CMA, Manager, Accounting; BC Homeowner Protection Office (Vancouver)
    Karim Kassam, BCom, MBA, CMA; Director, Business Development, Asia Pacific; Colliers International (Vancouver)

    Have you made a career move? Do want you a news release issued to the media in your community? Email Kim Willoughby at kim@cmabc.com.


    New Members of Certified Management Accountants of British Columbia

    Welcome to these CMAs who have recently become members of CMA Canada - British Columbia:

    Roxi Alix, CMA, Kelowna George McLaren, CMA, Golden
    Colleen Gottselig, CMA, Duncan Chuck W. Moorhead, CMA, Kamloops
    Carol LaBella, CMA, Victoria Ed W. Solomon, CMA, Fort Nelson
    Dexter Lindberg, CMA, Nanoose Bay Frank D. Skarlicki, CMA, New Westminster
    Peter J. McIvor, CMA, Vancouver Sharon E. Sawchuk, CMA, Vancouver

    Our Members in Memoriam

    We wish to extend our sympathies to the families and friends of the following members who have recently passed away:

    Rhonda J. Maretic, CMA (1996), Burnaby
    G. Ernest Owen, CMA (1951), FCMA (1979), Life Member (1981), Vancouver. Over three decades, Ernest has served CMA Canada - British Columbia in a number of capacities. He was the President of CMA Canada - British Columbia from 1955 to 1956 and served on the provincial Board of Directors from 1953 to 1972.
    If you knew any of these members and would like to send condolences to their families, contact Director of Operations Rick Lightheart at 604.687.5891 or 1.800.663.9646 extension 226 or email him at rlightheart@cmabc.com

    Member Resignations and Terminations

    The following individuals have resigned their certified membership in accordance with bylaw 3.09 and may no longer use the CMA designation:

    Thomas A. Austin, Victoria Chris McVittie, West Vancouver
    Marie Blair, Coquitlam Patrick MacDonell, Whitehorse
    Wayne A. Camire, White Rock Gordon McAllister, Victoria
    Susan Dohm, Vancouver Nathalie R. Merrill, Sorrento
    Bruce Fowler, Coquitlam Amery Mold, Delta
    Marcia Harrison, Coquitlam H. James Peacock, Kamloops
    Betty Harvey, Victoria James I. Symthe, Nanaimo
    Ken P. Hlavacek, Creston Ian Stebner, Vancouver
    Malcolm Lower, Langley Kin Chi Wong, Gubei, China
    Sharron Manick, Victoria Maria Wong, Richmond

    The following individuals have resigned their technologist membership in accordance with bylaw 3.09 and may no longer use the AAT designation:

    Brian Alexander, Victoria Ruth Montgomery, White Rock
    Mary Baker, Trail Suzanne Poudrier, New Westminster
    Julie Bischoff, Langley Emad Samwel, Richmond Hill
    Edith Domingo, Vancouver Tuula Schroderus, North Vancouver
    Bozena Kielar, North Vancouver Ka-kin She, Hong Kong
    Richard Kilborn, Vernon Marlene Smith, Burnaby
    Sean Kinsley, Prince George Susie Wood, North Vancouver
    John Merlo, Trail    

    The following individuals have had their technologist membership terminated in accordance with bylaw 2.21{c} and may no longer use the AAT designation:

    Roger Cole, Mission Anthony Whelan, Vancouver
    Ken Davis, Rossland Juliet Yap, Vancouver
    Bhupendra Gill, Surrey Flora Yu, Richmond
    Francois Vincent, Calgary    

    The following individuals have had their certified membership terminated in accordance with bylaw 2.21{c} and may no longer use the CMA designation:

    Kathryn Crawford, Delta Donald Niquidet, Lac La Hache
    Robert P. Johnston, Richmond Susan Stauffer, Prince George
    Cheung Ming, Hong Kong Kwok-tai Tsang, Richmond
    Ronald Murphy, Vancouver Zhi-jie Yang, Hong Kong