(Extra)ordinary CPAs
Sarah Carver and Vicky Cato demonstrate you don’t have to be a straight-A student to excel as a CPA
Failure can seem devastating at first, but it isn’t always a bad thing. It can be an opportunity to reassess where things went wrong, bounce back stronger, and become extraordinary.
At 27, Sarah Carver CPA is the Financial Controller at C-West Custom Fixtures, an Alberta-based manufacturing company. However, achieving success so early in her career didn’t come without a few bumps on the road. “I failed the Common Final Examination (CFE) the first time…. That was easily one of the worst days of my life,” says Sarah.
CPA candidates write the three-day case-based CFE at the end of the CPA Professional Education Program. Passing the exam is a critical step towards obtaining the CPA designation. Day 1 of the CFE is four hours, Day 2 is five hours, and Day 3 is four hours. Needless to say, it is tough!
Sarah finished each day with an hour to spare. In retrospect, she acknowledges this should have been a red flag because candidates usually wish they had more time for the exam.
“I realized finishing early wasn’t a sign of completeness. I needed to integrate more case facts into my responses and go deeper into my analysis,” says Sarah. “The experience changed the way I approached my studies.”
It also changed the way Sarah approached her career. To excel at work, she realized she had to step out of her comfort zone and take on new challenges. These have included presenting in boardrooms, managing her company’s IT systems, and recently, representing the company at a conference in Arizona. “Taking on challenges is how I got here. I take every opportunity to learn and grow in my role and expand my knowledge of the company,” says Sarah.
Sarah also recognizes the importance of effective communication. “This skill is not emphasized enough, I think. To shine as a CPA, you have to be able to listen, understand, and relate to people,” she says.
Sarah credits the CPA designation for providing her with the skills to pursue a career she adores. “The CPA designation is the catalyst that kick-started my career,” says Sarah. “At 27, my designation backs up what I am saying. It has given me the competencies to lead with confidence, regardless of my age.”
Many professionals base their career choices on their favourite courses in university. Not Vicky Cato CPA. When accounting challenged her, she decided to pursue it as a career.
In Vicky’s first year at SAIT, she had to take four electives as part of her Business Management program. “I did well in all the courses, but accounting was the hardest,” says Vicky. “In my other classes, I could work moderately hard and get As. In accounting, I’d work my butt off and get a B or a C.”
So what did Vicky do? She majored in accounting, of course!
Fast forward to her last year in university, and she was unsuccessful in Advanced Financial Accounting, the last course she needed to complete her degree. “Eventually, I retook the course, passed, and got my degree with honours!” she recalls proudly. “Success tastes so much sweeter when you work really hard for it…. I am motivated by challenge. I want to be in a role where I am continuously learning and growing.”
Recently, Vicky was promoted to the role of CFO at PinkWood Ltd., where she started in 2020 as an Accounting Manager. Her new role caused her to look inward and ask herself how she can continue to excel professionally.
“One strategy I use is to talk to people and get feedback. I didn’t realize how important it is to have a mentor outside of the CPA program…. Someone who is a few steps ahead of you, and who will challenge you and be honest with you,” says Vicky, whose current mentor has been in leadership for more than 10 years.
Becoming a CPA has accelerated Vicky’s career growth; yet, after university, she was on the fence about pursuing the designation. “Then an opportunity for a promotion came up at a previous company, and they wanted a CPA for the role. That’s when I started seeing how the designation can make a difference,” says Vicky. “Yes, it is possible to become a CFO without a designation, but it may take longer. The CPA designation proves that you have the qualifications, so you don’t have to spend years in a position you don’t love. It opens doors.”