Tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Megan Evans and I'm from Birch Hills, Saskatchewan, just south of Prince Albert. I started at the University of Saskatchewan at Edwards in my Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Accounting, and then I came back for the Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) program as well.

Why did you choose MPAcc over the CPA path route?

I chose the Master of Professional Accounting program over the CPA path, first because I wanted to be able to focus on school separately from work. I also have always wanted to further my education with another degree, as that was important to me too.

What is something you wish you knew coming into the MPAcc program?

I remember driving to MPAcc on the first day and thinking, wow, I don’t know anyone starting the program, who am I going to sit with? And as soon as I walked in, everyone was just so excited to be there and ready to learn and meet new people. It’s important to know that everyone is excited to be there, and everyone is a little bit nervous too!

Something else I wish I knew what that it is stressful, of course, as you’re doing a master’s program over two summers, but that it’s definitely possible. There’s lots of time to do other fun things during the summer too, and it’s a great couple of summers!

Who or what would you say inspired you to pursue the CPA designation?

At first, I didn't know what I was going to do when I came to Edwards. I thought I was going to get a management degree and then continue with that. But when I took COMM 201 Intro to Financial Accounting in undergrad, the professor in that class was inspiring and I just fell in love with accounting. That's how I ended up where I am. As I continued with the degree and networking and meeting other people, I started to learn more about the industry and the career and was excited to start.

 What skills have you taken from the MPAcc program into your career?

I think the biggest one that I look back on is that MPAcc is quite busy and can be a little bit stressful, and it’s important to stay organized and on top of things. This skill of organization is helpful now in my career as it also tends to be busy, and staying on top of everything is important. MPAcc also has a lot of communication aspects, including a few group projects with various deliverables. Having those skills now in my career is helpful in everything I do, such as presenting to boards and communicating with other team members.

What did earning the Governor General's Gold Medal mean to you?

It was an honor to be recognized as the Governor's General Gold Medalist. It was exciting to be able to represent Saskatchewan on the national stage. It was rewarding to be able to look back on everything that I had done over the past years, including undergrad and the MPAcc program, and just knowing that it paid off. All the studying and everything, but also knowing that I was able to have fun throughout my MPAcc summers. I always took time to go out and do different things with friends and different people in MPAcc, and knowing that even though I wasn't studying all the time, I still was able to be successful, I was proud of that as well.

How did your routine as a student help you achieve the Gold Medal?

I was organized, and I like lists and staying on a schedule. During the CFE study period specifically, I would study 8am to 5pm. Throughout studying and during MPAcc, I would ensure to wake up at the same time every day, even if we didn’t have class in the morning, and I always started studying at the same time, and ensured I took breaks throughout the day. When I was studying, I stuck to the same strategy throughout undergrad and MPAcc.

How did your Edwards School of Business faculty support you in your goal?

The faculty were helpful, and everyone was super supportive. I’m a person that asks a lo of questions, and I don’t let anything sit with me without completely understanding it, so every time I asked questions, they were helpful and answered everything. I found this helpful to allow me to continue to learn more.

What advice would you give to future MPAcc students?

To future MPAcc students, I would say that get ready for a summer of working hard, but also having a lot of fun. The summer will be busy; you have many classes squished into a short period of time, but there will be so much time for doing other things. There are so many fun things to do in Saskatoon during the summer. Take the time to stick to a schedule and make lists, and do the studying that works best for you, but don't stress so much that you don't have time to do those fun things. Those are the things that are going to make you ready to learn every single day and come refreshed and relaxed.

What do you like about your work?

I enjoy the variety of work that I do and the types of clients that I work with. I do lots of different audits, compilations, reviews, and some tax work. I enjoy the different complexities and challenges that come with each of those things. The different clients I work with are not-for-profits and small businesses. With not-for-profits, it's nice to feel that sense of giving back to the community and helping that organization out. Small businesses are often owner-managed, and their business is important to them so being able to help them with that is very nice.

What are your career goals as a CPA?

My career goals as a CPA are that I would like to continue working in public accounting as I enjoy the industry and the types of work that I do. I would also like to reach the partnership level one day.

More importantly though, I would like to be able to give back to the community. I feel like many people have helped get me to where I am today, so being able to give back in various ways, such as sitting on a board or other volunteering, is important to me too.

One of Canada’s oldest business schools, the Edwards School of Business offers graduate programs to advance or change your careers, including the Master of Professional Accounting. Visit the Master of Professional Accounting program page to learn more or chat with a program advisor.

 

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