This document discusses Paul Young's career path and decision to become a CPA. It outlines his educational background in business administration and choice to major in accounting. It then explains why he pursued the CPA designation, noting that it would provide a recognized credential required for many senior jobs and allow him to continuously learn. The document describes Paul's subsequent career spanning over 25 years working for small businesses, a Big 4 accounting firm, and Fortune 500 companies, leveraging his CPA designation across financial, operational, and consulting roles. In summary, it states the CPA opened more career doors, allowed expansion into other areas, and taught important skills like critical thinking and judgment.

1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME
TO BE CPA?
PAUL YOUNG CPA
MAY 1, 2017

2. PAUL YOUNG - BIO
• CPA, CGA
• Financial Solutions
• SME – Business Process Changes
• SME – Risk Management
• SME – Close, Consolidate and Reporting
• SME – Public Policy
• SME – Financial Solutions
• SME – Supply Chain Management
• Academia – Advance Accounting, Public
Finance and Advanced Management Systems
Contact information:
Paul_Young_CGA@Hotmail.com

3. 1987 – FINAL YEAR HIGH SCHOOL
Accepted - Niagara College -3-year
Business Administration Program

4. AFTER 1ST YEAR
• What do chose as major?
• Marketing
• Information
Technology
• Accounting
Accounting Why?
• Decisions are based on numbers
• Can always merge IT with my
accounting skills
• Can always look at other
opportunities outside of
accounting, i.e. sales, general
management, etc.

5. WHY CPA
• I needed a designation that would be recognized
• Many senior jobs required people with professional accounting designation
• Rigorous program that would allow me to learn on the job as well as take courses as part of my overall
training and skills upgrading.

6. CPA AND MY CAREER
• 9+ years working for Small Business
• Exposure to full set of books
• 1 ½ years working for Big 4 CPA Firm
• Billable hours
• Supporting client succes
• 17+ years working for Fortune 500 companies
• Financial Planning & Analysis
• Business Process Changes
• Financial Solutions
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Audit
• Tax Planning

7. SUMMARY
• CPA has open more doors that is closes for me
• CPA allows to expand into other areas that leverage my accounting, finance, audit and tax
skills/knowledge
• CPA taught me key skills: critical thinking, judgement, time management, analytical