Selkirk College Students Make Career Connections with Local CPAs
By Kirsten Hildebrand
Students from the School of Business at Selkirk College recently got the chance to network with local accounting professionals, learning about career options in the finance and accounting industry.
Organized by the Selkirk College’s Business and Accounting Club, the event featured a question-and-answer session, and a networking lunch.
“These events are important for students wanting learn more about the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, and they’re also an important networking opportunity for us as people already working in the industry,” said Grant Thornton LLP employee Tara Perepolkin, CPA, CA. “Hopefully we can inspire students to pursue their CPA designation, and we also get a chance to identify some future candidates to work in our company.”
The event took place in early November at Selkirk College’s Castlegar campus. Approximately 40 students joined CPAs from Grant Thornton LLP, Kootenay Career Development Services, and the Kalawsky Group. Each represented a different industry: Public Practice, Not-for-Profit organization and Industry. Each CPA sat with a group of students to share stories about how they got into the accounting industry and the path their career has taken so far.
“It was great to learn about the opportunities in the industry, as we can hear about how the individuals overcame challenges to get to where they are today in their career,” said Bhavi Mashruwala, second-year accounting student at Selkirk College.
The Business and Accounting Club at Selkirk College hosts several events throughout the year, with a mission of creating an engaging culture within the School of Business student body. Career-focused events are of particular interest to students, as they plan either further post-secondary education or direct entry into the industry.
“This is the fifth year we have hosted the event, and it continues to improve. At the School of Business, we aim to prepare hundreds of new graduates each year with knowledge, skillsets and confidence to enter the workforce,” said Greg Dodd CPA, CGA, an Accounting instructor at Selkirk College.
The Chartered Professional Accountants’ of British Columbia, and the School of Business provided funding for this event.
Learn more about studying Business Administration at Selkirk College at selkirk.ca/business
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