Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Description
Join us in person for our inaugural two-day Small & Medium Practitioners Conference (formerly known as Practice Management & Tax) this Fall 2024. Network with accounting peers and learn live from industry experts about tax, tech and transformation. Stay ahead of the curve with emerging tech strategies, client best practices and new financial insights for tomorrow’s market.
Note: This registration does not include hotel accommodations. Please call the hotel reservations number (1-800-461-4393) directly and mention the conference and CHAR102224 to book a room.
If you can't attend in person, join us virtually here.
Group Discount: Register a group of 3-5 members and receive a 20% discount, or 6 or more to receive a 25% discount off (excludes Passport prices). Act fast, the sale ends October 15, 2024. Use discount code: SMPGroup at checkout.
Agenda
Small & Medium Practitioners Conference 2024 - Day 1 |
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Time | Event Details |
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | Networking & Breakfast |
8:45 a.m. - 8:55 a.m. | CPA Ontario's Welcome Remarks: Craig Smith EVP, Member & Student Services |
8:55 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Host Opening Remarks: Dishan Ratnajothi, CPA, MAcc, Head of Corporate Development AutoTrader.ca |
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
Opening Keynote: Fotini Iconomopoulos, Negotiation | Commercial Strategy | Communication & Leadership Coaching Topic: Say Less, Get More – Negotiating a Better Life Whether you are leader in a company, a team or yourself, the power of negotiation is all about communicating persuasively. Today’s workforce follows leaders who are able to persuade and inspire them to go along with their ideas based on understanding and trust. So, how can you make your voice stand out as someone with whom people want to engage? Become more influential day-to-day, and start achieving the results you want? Through interactive keynote followed by Q&A, expert communicator Fotini Iconomopoulos shares the principles of persuasion and negotiation, shows audiences how to use them to become the kind of leader that people want to follow. For small and medium sized businesses, conflict comes up on the daily but you can get ahead of it and manage it carefully whether it’s with the client or your team. Learn to use these skills in quick transactional conversations as well as long-standing relationships to maximize value for all. Key Takeaways:
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10:00 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. | Break & Networking |
10:10 a.m. - 11:10 a.m. |
Session 1: Kirsten S. Albo, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D. Founder ASK, KSA Consulting Inc. Topic: CSQM 1 Next Steps: Monitoring, Remediating and Evaluating Most firms have designed and implemented their system of quality management in accordance with the requirements of CSQM 1, but the journey does not end there. The standard also requires a firm to perform monitoring activities, remediate identified deficiencies, and evaluate its system of quality management. This session will use practical examples to provide valuable insights into establishing an effective approach for implementing these next steps of the standard. Key Takeaways:
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11:10 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. |
Session 2: Babar Khan, Board Member | Instructor | Cross Border Tax Professional | Tech Startups | CPA - USA & Canada | Deloitte Canada | University of Oxford Topic: Exploring ASPE Treatment of Tax Vehicles – 3840 and 3856 Financial Instruments The session will take an in-depth look at the Accounting for financial instruments under Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (ASPE), Section 3856, Financial Instruments, for private corporations. The session will start with an overview of the purpose and scope of standard, including different types of financial instruments and definitions. The session will then discuss the recognition, measurement, presentation, derecognition, and disclosure requirements. The session will also touch upon other issues such as Retractable or Mandatorily Redeemable Shares Issued in a Tax Planning Arrangement and those with related parties. This session will leverage various examples to explain the concepts. Key Takeaways:
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12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m. | Lunch & Trivia Games |
1:10 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. |
Session 3: Manu Kakkar, CPA, MTax, TEP, B.Sc.(Hons), President And Nadia Rusak, Canadian and International Tax Lawyer Topic: Fire-side Chat Discussion – Best Practices to Avoid Lawsuits & Successfully Deal with Clients’ Allegations Tax authorities have become increasingly aggressive in auditing taxpayers and challenging tax planning arrangements, even plans that are commonly considered standard. Targets of these audits include SMEs, family-owned businesses, estates and individuals. The tax authorities are testing the limits of their audit powers by demanding interviews of management employees and making broad requests for information and documentation. Further, there has been a significant increase in litigation activity, where tax authorities are denying objections and bringing more and more cases to court. This put taxpayers to the task of having to defend their structures at both the audit and reassessment levels. This presentation will focus on various aspects of audit, reassessment and objection process by identifying high-risk audit areas and exploring strategies to successfully defend a tax plan and avert potential litigation. The discussion will cover challenges commonly seen in “plain vanilla” structures, such as estate freezes, QSBC planning, purification mechanisms and trusts. Key Takeaways:
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2:10 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. |
Session 4: Julie Ruben Rodney, Founder & CEO of MaxPeople Topic: Enhancing Your Leadership in a Multi-Generational Workplace In today's diverse workforce, effective leadership requires an understanding of the unique perspectives and needs of different generations. This one-hour session will equip finance leaders from small to mid-sized practices with the skills to lead across generational characteristics while emphasizing the importance of avoiding stereotypes. Participants will learn how to recognize and address individual motivators and needs, fostering an inclusive and producitve work environment, regardless of generational differences. Key Takeaways
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3:10 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. |
Session 5: Narbe Alexandrian, CPA, CA, Founder & CEO @ Define Capital | Software Private Equity | Entrepreneur | Adjunct Professor @ Schulich | Advisor Topic: AI for Staff Shortages This engaging and timely session will cover current staffing challenges in the CPA Profession and provide an overview of staffing shortages and contributing factors. Through case studies and success stories, you will hear real-world examples of successful AI integration in accounting firms. Key Takeaways:
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3:50 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Break |
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Closing Keynote: Dr. Nick Bontis, Professional Keynote Speaker | Award-winning Business Professor | Professor of Strategy, McMaster U Topic: Work Smarter Instead of Harder Information bombardment is the single most damaging threat to your productivity — but, it doesn’t have to be that way. This enlightening and action-packed presentation will transform the challenge of information bombardment into a sustainable competitive advantage for yourself, and level up your leadership by working smarter instead of harder. Key Takeaways:
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5:00 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. | Closing Remarks - Host |
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. | Dinner & Cocktails |
End of Day 1 |
Small & Medium Practitioners Conference 2024 - Day 2 |
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Time | Event Details |
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | Networking |
8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Host Opening Remarks: Dishan Ratnajothi, CPA, MAcc, Head of Corporate Development AutoTrader.ca |
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
Opening Keynote: Jane Bowen, FCPA, FCA, Associate Teaching Professor Accounting Topic: Demystifying CAS 315 Revised with a focus on IT Obligations – Appendix 5 and 6 Understanding your clients’ business, including their technology is critical in a risk-based audit. We have applied the revised CAS 315, Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement, to many files now, and its application is improving. This session will look to demystify the implications of technology on the risk assessment process by discussing “why the understanding of our clients’ information technology is important”. With a focus on less complex entities which have less complex IT systems, you will come away with a better understanding of the expectations of CAS 315 related to information technology and its implications on the risk assessment phase of your audits. Key Takeaways:
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10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. |
Session 1: Armand Capisciolto, Chair of AcSB Topic: Application of Accounting Standards and Professional Judgement – Q&A with Host, Dishan Ratnajothi, CPA The application of principled-based accounting standards requires professional judgement. This session will cover how the AcSB considers professional judgment in writing standards and how you should interpret the standards in coming to your own conclusions. Key Takeaways:
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11:00 a.m. - 11:10 a.m. | Break & Networking |
11:10 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. |
Session 2: Jay Goodis, CPA, CA, CEO & Co-Founder of Tax Templates Inc. Topic: Canadian Tax Update In this session, Jay Goodis, CEO of Tax Templates Inc., will provide an update on the major Canadian tax changes in 2024 and their impacts on Canadian Controlled Private Corporations (CCPCs) and Canadian individual taxpayers. Jay will discuss the changes, their impacts, and tax planning strategies resulting from major changes such as the capital gains inclusion rate, the changes to the Alternative Minimum Tax, the Capital gains exemption increase, and more. Other critical changes in Federal and provincial budgets may be discussed along with recommendations for year-end remuneration strategies. By the end of this session, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge of the changes to these key tax calculations, be able to navigate the complexities of the updated tax landscape effectively and advise their clients or manage their affairs with enhanced expertise. Key Takeaways:
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12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m. | Lunch & Trivia Games |
1:10 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. |
Session 3: Jennifer Chowhan, Partner at Millard, Rouse & Rosebrugh LLP; Tiffiny Stewart, CPA, CMA| #TechNerd | Board Member | Advanced certified QBO & QBD; Gerry Anderson, CPA, President at Blue Canyon CPA Topic: Automation and Technology Solutions for SMPs – Panel Discussion Key Takeaways:
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2:20 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. |
Session 4: Michael Kulbak, MBA, CPA, CMA, Trust and Estate Professional Topic: Preparation For the Future - Succession Planning For Accounting Professionals Financial and legal professionals are in the midst of adopting the regulatory requirement that licensees in private practice must institute a client contingency plan for their professional practice. Eventually, this global and regional initiative will be a requirement for Canadian based accounting practitioners. This session will outline succession planning criteria and strategies to contemplate. It will specify items you should consider in your Power of Attorney document and will. Succession preparedness can be a key strategic advantage for your firm and for practitioners in achieving their retirement and estate planning objectives. Key Takeaways:
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3:10 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. | Break |
3:20 p.m. - 4:20 p.m. |
Closing Keynote: Linda Edgecombe, Keynote Speaker, Resiliency Expert, and Motivational Coach Topic: Get Ready to Shift or Get Off the Pot Learn how to become a change enthusiast in ever changing times. Drawing from one of her bestselling books, SHIFT...Or Get Off the Pot: 26 Simple Truths About Getting a Life, Linda Edgecombe shares ideas and solutions for “getting a life.” This eye-opening keynote presentation gets audiences thinking about three simple but life-changing questions:
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4:20 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks - Host |
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Networking |
End of Day 2 |
Why Attend?
Join CPA Ontario's Fall Small & Medium Practitioners Conference to stay informed, grow professionally, network, acquire knowledge, and stay updated with industry trends.
By attending this conference, you will:
- Stay up to date with the latest tax regulations, industry trends and best practices.
- Gain insights from industry experts covering topics such as tax planning strategies, compliance requirements, regulatory updates, technology advancements, client management and practice growth.
- Engage in discussions and share ideas with peers to hear what is working and not working.
- Enhance your skills, maintain regulatory compliance, and provide better service to your clients, ultimately contributing to your professional success.
Who Will Benefit
Small business owners and sole practitioners, accounting firms and CPAs working in post-secondary institutions. Current and aspiring professional practitioners interested in updating their knowledge on issues and legislation facing the accounting profession.
Speaker & Sponsor Forms
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Disclaimer
The views expressed in the course are non-authoritative and have not been formally endorsed by CPA Ontario and do not reflect the views of CPA Ontario. The information included in the course is for general information purposes only.
CPA Ontario, the presenters and the authors do not accept any responsibility or liability that might occur directly or indirectly as a consequence of the use or application of or reliance on this material.
How to Access the Conference
This is an in person conference. You must attend the full conference to receive verifiable CPD hours.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal and all other CPA Ontario Program policies can be found here.
Speaker(s)
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS | |
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Fotini Iconomopoulos, nicknamed “the negotiator” since childhood, is an expert communicator with a passion for helping organizations and individuals get what they want. For the last decade, she has been helping Fortune 500 clients and audiences to achieve their business goals, increase profitability, and create a competitive advantage. She thrives in empowering people to navigate high-stake scenarios, and always leaves her audiences with tangible actions to immediately help them tackle their next challenge. |
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Dr. Nick Bontis, an internationally recognized intellectual-capital expert, helps individuals and organizations navigate the new world of digital technology, industry disruption, and information bombardment. His dynamic and engaging presentations empower audiences to maximize performance and secure a sustainable competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business world. An award-winning tenured professor of strategic management at McMaster University, Bontis has won more than 12 major teaching awards and has been recognized as “faculty researcher of the year”, “one of the school’s most popular professors” by Maclean’s magazine, and “one of the top 10 lecturers in Ontario” by TVO. He is also a 3M National Teaching Fellow, an exclusive honour for top university professors in Canada and considered the “Nobel Prize” of teaching. |
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Jane M. Bowen, FCPA, FCA, has been involved in professional development and education for Members and students for many years. She currently lectures in financial accounting and audit at UOIT in Oshawa. She authors or mentors courses in this professional development program, and has contributed to CPA Canada publications: Guide to Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (GASPE); and Guide to International Financial Reporting Standards in Canada. Jane is currently the Chair of the CPA Canada Competency Map and often authors publications issued by CPA Canada’s Research Guidance and Support Group., addressing the implementation of new accounting and assurance standards. |
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Linda Edgecombe is an expert at shifting perspective. She is a highly sought after speaker, resiliency expert, and motivational coach who has spent 30 years researching, writing, and speaking about change resilience. Edgecombe’s high energy, laugh-out-loud presentations share simple, powerful tools to help audiences heal from overwhelm and exhaustion, and reconnect to what really matters. Her mission is to get people “fired up” and “ready to shift”, and she energizes every room as she leads people to loosen up, lighten the load, and laugh. |
FEATURED SPEAKERS | |
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Kirsten S. Albo, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D is the Founder of ASK KSA Consulting Inc. providing consulting and advisory services to small and mid-sized firms to help them conduct effective and efficient engagements and meet the requirements of being in public practice. Areas of practice include cyclical file inspections, external monitoring activities, file efficiency reviews and engagement quality reviews. Delivering professional development courses is a key component of her business as she develops and delivers specialized in-house training courses for the multitude of firms with whom she works. |
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Babar Khan is an experienced cross-border tax professional with over 14 years of experience in US & Canadian tax compliance and advisory work. He specializes in taxation for Expatriates, Business Travelers, High Net Worth Individuals and Owner-Managed businesses. Babar also teaches at Canada’s Schulich School of Business and CPA Ontario. Babar holds an MSc (Tax) from University of Oxford (UK), an MBA from Schulich School of Business and a BBA from University of Toronto. He is also a dual US and Canadian CPA. Babar also serves on the board of a UK based EdTech company. |
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Manu Kakkar, CPA, is President of Kakkar CPA Professional Corporation and has over 20 years of experience in taxation in both domestic and international, personal and corporate taxation as well as litigation support. He runs his own independent tax practice with offices in Montreal and Toronto with a team of professionals consisting of tax lawyers and tax accountants. His firm services a diverse client base which includes manufacturing, retail and distribution, construction, farming, real estate, athletes and artists, across Canada and the US. |
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Julie Ruben Rodney M.Ed., CHRL, Founder and CEO of MaxPeople, a leading consulting firm specializing in HR Services, Training, Recruitment, and Employment Law. Julie’s expertise in organizational behaviour, psychometric tools (DiSC, MBTI, McQuaig), dedication to developing new leaders and enhancing workplace culture has made her a sought-after speaker, and a respected voice in the HR community. Julie's cutting-edge insights help finance leaders navigate the complexities of leading a generationally diverse workforce by understanding individual motivators. You will gain tools to foster a collaborative and productive work environment. |
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Nadia Ruzak is a lawyer with extensive experience in Canadian and international business law, tax planning, and tax dispute resolution. Having spent over 10 years advising and defending some of the most sophisticated public companies and institutional investors operating in Canada and internationally, Nadia now devotes her practice entirely to private clients, including entrepreneurial businesses, private investment funds, individuals, families, and charitable organizations. She is a frequent speaker at the Canadian and international tax conferences, including CTF, APFF, IFA and ABA. |
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Narbe Alexandrian is the Founder and CEO of Define Capital, a private equity vehicle in the software space. Define Capital is a permanent capital corporation, focused on acquiring and operating profitable SaaS businesses in niche vertical markets. Prior to Define Capital, Narbe was the President and CEO of RIV Capital, a private equity and venture capital fund traded on the TSXV, TSX and now the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:RIV). Prior to RIV Capital, Narbe worked as a venture capitalist at OMERS Ventures, the largest venture capital fund in Canada, responsible for close to $1 billion in assets under management. In his role, Narbe is responsible for researching and executing investment opportunities in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sector. |
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Armand Capisciolto has served on the Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) since 2015, including as a member, Vice-Chair, and, now, Chair. His extensive experience as a standard setter also includes chairing the AcSB’s Private Enterprise Advisory Committee and membership on the IFRS® Accounting Standards Discussion Group. Armand’s breadth of standard-setting experience goes beyond the private sector, including past roles with the Public Sector Accounting Discussion Group and the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting Task Force. |
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Jay Goodis, CPA, CA, is CEO of Tax Templates Inc. He was recognized as an emerging leader by CPA Ontario in 2018 for his contributions to the CPA profession. Jay specialized in tax at both a national and a mid-market accounting firm where he completed tax planning and compliance for individuals, trusts, and private corporations. In public practice, he also led the rebuild of many internal operations leading to significant efficiencies, time savings, and superior recoveries. |
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Jennifer Chowhan, CPA, CA, joined Millards Chartered Professional Accountants in 2004 and became a Partner in 2018. She conducts audit engagements for a wide range of entities including private companies, public sector organizations and not for profits and assists with the application of professional standards. Jennifer looks to incorporate technology solutions into audit engagements to improve effeciency and effectiveness of audit procedures and staff and client experience. |
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Tiffany Stewart, CPA, CMA, runs a solopreneur, CPA practice with a passion for accounting and technology. She embraces cloud technology while still supporting clients that are unable to transition from desktop, yet. Tiffany is an Advanced Certified in both Online and Desktop and co-admin for an amazing FaceBook group dedicated to supporting all versions of Quickbooks. |
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Gerry Anderson, CPA, CMA, is president of Blue Canyon CPA, and a senior accounting and consulting professional and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience, 16 years working in both the public and private sector and 14 years running his own firm. His passion is helping small and mid-sized firms across Canada and the USA do more with less through technology and process so they can focus on what is important to their business and make better decisions. |
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Michael Kulbak, CPA, CMA is Managing Principal of Kulbak Trust Solutions a fiduciary firm that provides Professional Executor, Power of Attorney and Trustee Services. His areas of specialization include estate and trust planning, tax, administration and compliance. Michael has been a CFO, Trustee, Director, Officer, Treasurer and executive responsible for financial stewardship for a number of organizations and trusts. In these roles he was accountable for safeguarding assets, financial decision-making, tax planning, regulatory and statutory reporting. |
HOST | |
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Dishan Ratnajothi, CPA, MAcc, is an accomplished corporate development executive at Trader Corporation. With a proven track record of exceptional leadership in M&A, Dishan has a pivotal role in guiding complex transactions. As an Instructor at the Schulich School of Business, Dishan leverages his expertise to teach courses related to strategy, accounting, and finance. Recognized for his outstanding contributions, Dishan was honored with the CPA Emerging Leader Award in 2021. |