Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

IQALUIT
Iqaluit professional Susan Nichols works at the same desk and does the same tasks today that she did last month in her role as manager of financial reporting for the Government of Nunavut's Department of Finance, but there is one thing that is different about her today. That is, the three letters added to the end of her name professionally--CGA.

Susan Nichols, manager of financial reporting at the Government of Nunavut, receives her Certified General Account (CGA) designation certificate from Jim Martin, education chair of the NWT and Nunavut CGA Association. - photo courtesy NWT and Nunavut CGA Association

Nichols was one of three accountants who became official members of the NWT and Nunavut CGA Association this year, after receiving her Certified General Accountant (CGA) designation at a Sept. 29 ceremony.

While Nichols was already working in the accounting field 12 years ago when she decided to pursue the designation, overseeing accounting functions for an engineering firm, and is now acting director of financial reporting in addition to managing the department, the CGA designation will have an impact on her career, she said.

"Technically, you should be (a CGA) to be in this position," Nichols said. "And it will certainly make a difference if I choose to move up to director level.

CGA students in fairly remote communities in the NWT and Nunavut are able to secure their designation because of the distance learning platform of the CGA program, Jim Martin, chair of the CGA association's education committee, told News/North.

"The distance learning platform of the CGA Program is an excellent fit for our Nunavut students as they are able to access professional level accounting training irrespective of the location of their workplace," he stated. "Our Association  looks forward to continuing to work with the Nunavut Arctic College and other partners in Nunavut to provide expanded learning opportunities for Nunavut students interested in pursuing career paths in accountancy."

Arvind Vashishtha of Inuvik, who was also awarded his CGA designation last month, said he took advantage of the long-distance learning platform to never miss a lecture because they were always available online.

"I like the online lectures because you don't have a chance to miss a lecture," he said.

Vashishtha, who is a project engineer for the GNWT Department of Transportation, was already a designated civil engineer, and pursued CGA designation "to increase the breadth of (his) expertise," he said.

Vashishtha was also national recognized by CGA Canada, for being among the top 10 scorers across the country for the CGA program this year.

The NWT/Nunavut CGA Association now has 122 members.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.