Pamela Steer
President & CEO, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA)
As the world of work continues to change and becomes more complex, Canada’s Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) remain a steady guiding force.
AI, geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory shifts, and evolving trade dynamics are reshaping the future of work and making business more complex—driving organizations to rely on the trusted expertise of accounting professionals to interpret information and guide critical decisions.
“The CPA designation reflects a broad and integrated skill set that includes accounting, audit, strategy, governance, finance, and business,” says Pamela Steer, president and CEO of Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada). “That combination equips CPAs to help organizations navigate complexity, manage risk and make informed decisions.”
Critical role of CPAs
CPAs work in virtually every sector of the economy, from public accounting firms to private companies, the public sector, crown corporations, not-for-profits, and financial institutions. Many also serve in executive leadership roles such as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or Chief Executive Officer (CEO), where their financial expertise supports broader business strategy and organizational performance.
Their responsibilities extend far beyond traditional accounting functions. CPAs are involved in financial reporting and analysis, audit and assurance, tax planning and compliance, risk management and internal controls, strategic financial planning and capital allocation, and corporate and regulatory compliance.
CPAs bring not only technical expertise, but also a strong commitment to ethics, integrity, and the public interest. That combination is what makes the profession so essential—and why continuing to invest in the strength of the CPA community is so important for Canada’s economic future.
“What many people may not realize is how deeply CPAs are involved in strategy and decision making,” says Steer. “They help organizations evaluate investments, assess business risks, guide mergers and acquisitions, and design sustainable growth strategies.”
CPAs also play an important role as organizations adapt to technological change and economic uncertainty. They help businesses interpret regulatory changes, navigate complex tax rules, strengthen financial resilience, and provide the reliable information that investors, governments, and the public depend on.
As emerging technologies like AI become more widely adopted, CPAs are also helping organizations build trust in these systems through independent assurance—providing oversight that complex technologies are designed and operating as intended.
Future proofing the profession
Like many professions, accounting is also navigating changing workforce expectations and a highly competitive talent environment. At the same time, organizations face expanding reporting expectations as demand for transparency in areas of sustainability, governance, and risk disclosure grows.
“While strong financial expertise remains foundational, today’s CPAs are expected to move beyond the numbers—bringing strategic insight, risk awareness and a broader business perspective to decision-making,” says Steer.
To help CPAs stay ahead of these shifts, CPA Canada continues to invest in professional development, tools, and thought leadership, including expanding learning opportunities, supporting innovation in the profession, and strengthening capabilities in areas such as data, technology, and strategic leadership.
Be part of the community and become a member
CPA Canada’s new flexible membership model connects CPAs across the country and is designed to support CPAs at every stage of their career. Members can tailor their access to align with their evolving needs.
Membership benefits include new annual credits redeemable on CPA Canada courses, events and tools, up to 20 hours of complimentary annual professional development, a digital and print subscription to Pivot magazine, and access to CPA Canada’s national Tax 360™ community, which includes core tax intelligence from Wolters Kluwer CCH® library.
“CPAs bring not only technical expertise, but also a strong commitment to ethics, integrity, and the public interest,” says Steer. “That combination is what makes the profession so essential—and why continuing to invest in the strength of the CPA community is so important for Canada’s economic future.”
CPA Canada invites Canada’s CPAs to be part of the national community by taking advantage of the new flexible membership model starting April 1. Learn more by visiting: https://www.cpacanada.ca/my-cpa-canada/join.
