The Presenter’s Kit
High Schools and CEGEPs
(pre-university programs)
Propel your passion!
The Quebec CPA Order’s Presenter’s Kits have been prepared to help members present the profession
to high school and pre-university college students.
The goal? Provide you with the key to conveying a positive image of CPAs as trusted, internationally
recognized financial leaders in senior management, advisory, tax and auditing roles.
The Order is pleased to have professionals like you to meet with young people and foster their interest in
our profession. Your involvement helps spread the word about the CPA designation to the next
generation.
Presentation
Average duration: 60 minutes.
Here is an overview of the points to cover (time allocation is an estimate only):
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Introduction (5 min): Introduce yourself and briefly describe your career.
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Perception VS reality (5 min): Discuss the myths surrounding the profession (Boring job?
Isolated position? Ask the students to express their preconceptions. Explain the difference
between a bookkeeper (technical background) and a CPA (management background).
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Where CPAs work (15 min): Present the various areas in which CPAs can specialize and where
they can work (industry, accounting firm, public sector). Being a CPA is a gateway to the
business world and limitless employment opportunities.
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Compensation (2 min): Using the statistics in the PowerPoint presentation, discuss the salary
and the main factors of rises: experience and level of responsibility. Tell the students that these
levels are average salaries that can vary according to region, employer, size of workforce,
workplace (unionized or non-unionized), etc.
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CPA path (10 min): Run through the various steps involved in becoming a CPA. Briefly discuss
the in-depth knowledge they will acquire through practical experience. Tell the students that they
can begin a paid period of practical experience as soon as they earn their bachelor’s degree and
that this is a job with real responsibilities. Practical experience can be completed in any Canadian
organization, as long as it instills CPA competencies and has been approved by the Order.
Presenter’s Kit - High Schools and CEGEPs (pre-university programs)
© All rights reserved. Ordre des CPA du Québec
Page 2
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Financial statements and quiz (10 min): Give a practical example of a CPA’s work with a fourquestion quiz. Explain in simple terms what are financial statements (this concept is very abstract
for them) and the concept of “revenue recognition,” using a community centre as an example.
The quiz questions are basic but unfamiliar to students. Encourage the students to try even if
they’re unsure of the answers!
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CPA Foundation scholarships (1 min): Encourage the students to apply online for one of the
CPA Foundation’s 50 annual scholarships of $500. They are awarded to college students on the
basis of academic results, community involvement and, of course, interest in the profession.
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Questions and other personal stories (12 min): Depending on the students’ interests, come
back to your personal experience; tell a few stories that will bring the profession to life, etc.
Some tips
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Tell your story. Students enjoy hearing about real-life stories and experiences (a CPA’s typical
day, quality of life, etc.)
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Use plain language. Students who have never studied business administration know very little
accounting terminology.
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Ask questions and encourage the students to participate. They know more than they think about
business administration and Quebec businesses!
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Be dynamic and passionate. This is an excellent opportunity to show students how enthusiastic
you are about your profession and unmask their preconceptions.
Brochures and promotional material
Contact us ahead of your presentation to receive brochures characterizing the profession and explaining
the steps required to obtain the designation, as well as promotional items. Hand them out at the end of
the presentation to keep the students from getting distracted during the session.
Presenter’s Kit - High Schools and CEGEPs (pre-university programs)
© All rights reserved. Ordre des CPA du Québec
Page 3
Questions from the students
If they have questions after the presentation, the students can get in touch with us through our contact
info on the back of the brochure. They can also “like” our Facebook page “Devenir CPA” to learn more
about the profession and enter our contests!
Feedback
We’d like to hear about your experience so that we can improve the materiel and help you prepare
presentations that convey a dynamic profession! Send your comments or suggestions to
lrobert@cpaquebec.ca or phone us at 514 288.3256 [2227].
Tell us about the strengths and weaknesses of:
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The presenter’s kit
The PowerPoint presentation
The students participation
The brochure and promotional items
Presenter’s Kit - High Schools and CEGEPs (pre-university programs)
© All rights reserved. Ordre des CPA du Québec
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