Dates and location
Hours
Dates and location
Hours
Description
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Get up to speed in an hour on critical topics for CPAs such as AI, Ethics, Finance, Cybersecurity, Audit, Tax, Sustainability and more.
- Convenient 60-minute audio courses in our new app.
- Flexible format allows you to listen and learn on the go at your own pace.
- Relevant and trending topics affecting CPAs to help you stay at the forefront of the profession.
This audio session explores the dramatic trajectory of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) from its origins as a fur trading monopoly, to its transformation into a retail giant, and ultimately, its decline under private equity ownership. Through the lens of corporate governance and financial strategy, CPAs will gain insight into how board-level decisions, financial indicators, and strategic foresight (or lack thereof) can shape the fate of an organization. The course uses HBC’s 350-year history as a case study to highlight the importance of financial literacy, risk optimization, and long-term planning in corporate leadership.
Lessons Covered:
- Quick History of Hudson’s Bay
- Hudson’s Bay in the Modern Day
- The Impact of the Pandemic
- What Boards Should Look At?
- Meaningful Ratios
- Conclusion: What’s Next?
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Key Takeaways
Upon completion of this course, learners will:
- Understand the historical evolution of HBC and its strategic pivots over centuries.
- Learn how financial ratios (e.g., debt-to-equity, liquidity, efficiency) serve as vital signs for organizational health.
- Explore the impact of private equity ownership on corporate sustainability and stakeholder outcomes.
- Recognize the importance of board independence, strategic foresight, and enhanced financial reporting.
- Identify red flags in corporate strategy, including over-reliance on acquisitions and underinvestment in core operations.
- Discover how boards can use financial statements to drive strategic discussions and anticipate downturns.
Who Will Benefit
This course will benefit CPAs, those who serve on boards, financial leaders and auditors who need to interpret financial data for strategic decision making, risk management and organizational resilience.
How to Access the Course
New mobile learning! Download Blackboard Learn from your app store (iOS or Android). Learn more.
To access the course on your computer please visit our BlackBoard site, and log-in using the same login and password used for the Registration Portal.
Please allow up to 15 minutes after registration for the course to appear on your BlackBoard page.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal and all other CPA Ontario PD policies can be found here.
Speaker(s)
Rob DeRooy, Vice President of Governance & Strategy at Governance Solutions, is a highly respected consultant who regularly performs board and CEO evaluations, governance audits and best practice reviews in addition to facilitating strategic planning and thinking sessions. A faculty member for both The Directors College and The Professional Director Certification Program®, Rob is a skilled presenter and passionate about sharing his governance expertise. Prior to joining Governance Solutions, Rob had a 20+ year career as a senior executive, serving both as a CEO and a board member on several boards. Having been on both sides of the table gave Rob the opportunity to see where the “bright red line” between the Board and Management should be and how to best keep it in place.