Develop a solid accounting foundation and the professional skills required to succeed.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The Accounting Post-Grad Certificates from the School of Continuing Studies have received CPA Ontario Recognition. Read more.
Excelling in an accounting position requires much more than just technical knowledge. In fact, many top employers believe that emotional intelligence, critical thinking, communication, and business acumen are equally important skills to have. Accounting professionals who master these key competencies routinely receive the best job offers and promotions throughout their careers.
If your goal is to become a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), we can help you. Our Post-Graduate Certificate in Accounting will deepen your understanding of accounting while simultaneously sharpening your critical thinking, communication, and management skills.
Designed in consultation with senior industry executives, thought leaders, and prominent York University academics, the Certificate will equip you with relevant and in-demand knowledge and all course content will be immediately applicable in the workplace. The program culminates with a unique final capstone course where you will apply your knowledge to real-world business challenges, so you’ll be prepared for your next job interview.
The Post-graduate Certificate in Accounting will qualify you for roles in the accounting and finance fields, to get the necessary industry experience before you ultimately achieve the CPA designation.
Program Delivery
Our flexible accounting education is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of students. The entire program can be completed in just one academic year of full-time study, which is considerably quicker than comparable certificates. You will also benefit from studying alongside a network of peers who are completing the program on the same schedule.
Need a break from your studies? You can always transfer to the next cohort.
In Ontario, gatherings are restricted, and no university is offering classes in person for the foreseeable future. We have been successfully delivering many of our courses online for years. So please know that you will not be compromising on your learning experience.
When the situation changes and it is once again safe to offer face-to-face instruction, full-time programs will make the transition back into the classroom.
Until then, this program will be offered in our “live online” format which offers students the structure and group interaction of a face-to-face experience without travelling to York’s campus. Our live online classrooms enable students to hear and interact with the instructor and other students like in a normal classroom. Course materials and assessments vary by course but students can expect online articles, videos, practice opportunities, discussion boards, etc to help learn the content.
Please note that each lesson is recorded so students can review them multiple times to ensure they meet the learning objectives.
Preparing for your CPA designation.
The Post-Graduate Certificate in Accounting is the first step towards becoming a practicing Chartered Professional Accountant. Step two is applying to the Post-Graduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Accounting, an accelerated program that continues your CPA preparation and provides valuable training in accounting and finance. Both certificates can be completed in less than two years of full-time study.
Once you’ve earned your certificates, you are now ready for the graduate level CPA Professional Education Program (PEP). Unlike students who complete college accounting programs, you will be fully prepared for graduate level courses as a result of your university training. With your York education and the CPA PEP under your belt, you will then go on to write your CPA Final Exam and receive your designation.
For a full list of our accounting courses and their respective CPA preparatory course equivalencies, please click here.
“I chose the Post-Graduate Certificate in Accounting at York due to its fast-track ability in order to get my CPA. The most rewarding aspect is the tight knit class that we had. Small classes help for better learning. I learnt a lot about the business world in general and how to relate in it. It was like a crash course in ‘How to be Successful'”
- Ari Rubin, Graduate
Who should take this program?
College or university graduates outside the field of accounting who are looking to add to their resume with the goal of:
Launching a career in finance or accounting
Seeking the Chartered Professional Accountant designation
Enhancing and validating their accounting acumen
Adding a post-secondary accounting credential to support their plans for career growth
Earning a Canadian accounting credential from a respected institution
“For someone already working in the field, pursuing an accounting certificate may be an ideal way to demonstrate a personal desire to contribute more to the organization or aspire to a more senior position. An accounting certificate from a respected institution, combined with relevant practical experience on your CV are important considerations in the job selection process.”
Nadine Petsche – Director, Accounting Policy and Financial Reporting, Office of the Provincial Controller Division, Ontario Treasury Board Secretariat
Graduates of the Certificate in Accounting are prepared for a wealth of different career options within the industry. Please see below for the anticipated educational, certificate, and work experience requirements for each position type.
Senior executives from many of Toronto’s leading organizations help us ensure that our graduates have the skills and knowledge that employers value most, including the following:
Gary Spraakman, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, York University
Allister Byrne, Former President & CEO, Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators (CICBV) retired
Edward Jonasson, CFO, Xagenic Inc.
Tom Kofman, CA, CPA, Chairman, M Partners Inc.
Tara Lenaghan, MBA, FICB Head, Global Learning & Development Operations, KPMG International
Andrea Linhofer, Partner, Deloitte
Grant McEwen, CPA, CA, SVP & CFO, Chubb Insurance
Nadine Petsche, MBA CPA CA, Director, Accounting Policy and Financial Reporting, Office of the Provincial Controller Division, Ontario Treasury Board Secretariat
Drew Stewart, Head, Capital Markets & Product Operations Accounting, BMO
Susan Wolcott, Thought Leader for CPA Canada, Accounting Instructor, and Independent Scholar
Supinder has 17 years’ experience working as a Financial Controller in various manufacturing industries from packaging, refinery services, lumber and door opening solutions in North America. He has been teaching since 2007 with CPA Ontario and is currently teaching at York University Schulich School of Business in the BBA and MBA programs and with the York University School of Continuing Education. He teaches Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, Finance, Audit, Capstone, Accounting Information Systems and Tax. Supinder holds the following designations: an undergraduate BBA degree from Schulich, an MBA from Warwick University, CPA, CMA In Ontario and CCP in Canada.
Syeda Fahmida Habib, DBA, MBA, M.App.Fin
Dr. Syeda Fahmida Habib is a passionate, student-centered educator with 24 years teaching experience at University/College level. Her core area of teaching has been finance and banking. Fahmida has also taught accounting, marketing and general management courses. She has been involved in text book writing, curricula, course material and assessment development as well as managing teaching teams. Fahmida has authored a textbook on Islamic Finance and Banking for Wiley Publishers in 2018. She completed her DBA from SMC University, Zurich and has a Masters in Applied Finance from Macquarie University, Sydney plus an MBA, majoring in marketing.
Fahmida believes that learning happens when the material is adapted to the learner’s abilities and interest. She has had great rapport with her students and colleagues. Fahmida has worked with mature multicultural student groups and strives to instill in her students her own passion for life- long learning and learning beyond borders. She also encourages them to work professionally, independently, in teams and contribute to their workenvironment, their societies and to their families.
Dorjana Nano, PhD, MFin, BA
Dorjana is a highly committed and passionate educator holding a PhD and a master’s degree in Finance, and Bachelor in Accounting. Having 14 years of teaching experience in universities and professional experience in accounting, finance and marketing with leading International companies. Have been published tens of articles in prestigious research journals. Skilled in teaching, mentoring, research, communication, public speaking and problem solving. Awarded academic title “Docent” for high academic achievements, High Commendation for exceeding the goals beyond expectations and listed on the Dean’ Honor list for great academic results.
Sue-Ann Maislin, M.Ed
As a leader and the owner of S.A. Maislin Consultants, Sue-Ann is passionate about partnering with individuals and organizations to create healthy, sustainable and high-performing
workplaces. As a business professional, she can attest to the importance of professional competencies such as emotional intelligence and communication skills, as well as thinking and problem-solving skills for career success. Sue-Ann designs and facilitates educational programs that address relevant workplace issues, including business communication, mental health in the workplace, team building, time management, resiliency, respect and professionalism in the workplace, coaching and feedback, as well as leadership development programs for new and emerging leaders.
Sue-Ann played a leading role in the research and development of ‘The Mental Health Leadership Certificate Program™, supporting effective and informed response to mental health and performance issues, in partnership with Queen’s University Faculty of Health, Morneau Shepell and Bell Canada.
Adam Prokop, MBA, MSc, MFin, CPA, CMA, CAIA
Adam has taught and developed accounting, finance, general business, mathematics, supply chain, and operations courses for several years across Canada. He has worked in various sectors including finance, energy, real estate, and government. He currently works as a senior risk analyst and consultant in the real estate industry, as well as a corporate trainer specializing in technical skills development.
Adam holds the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) designation, the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from McMaster University, a Master in Finance (MFin) from Queen’s University, a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Organizational Psychology from University of London, and a Master of Science (MSc) in Supply Chain Management from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Irma Spahiu, PhD, LLM, MIM
Irma Spahiu is an academic and a lawyer with expertise in Administrative and Regulatory Law. She has a Master of Laws and a PhD in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, and a Master in International Management from the University of Montesquieu-Boardeaux IV. She currently teaches law-related courses at the U of T and UOIT. Her recent teaching experience and practice includes areas of access to information and privacy rights, with a focus on Canadian and European legal frameworks.
The School of Continuing Studies has a student record review process of students that have completed courses in the previous semester. Students who have successfully completed all the program requirements are eligible to graduate. Students are not required to formally apply to graduate.
Students will have their course grades reviewed by the Program Manager as they approach the end of the program. Students should expect to receive their Certificates in August/September by mail.
Students enrolled in all of our Certificate programs have access to the York University Library. The School of Continuing Studies will provide you with the library application form.
It is wise to budget approximately $150 – $200 per course. All the books and reading materials will be available at the York University bookstore. You can also order your books online at http://bookstore.yorku.ca/
If you would like to visit the bookstore in person, store hours are as follows:
Students in a cohort travel together through the program, learn through shared experiences as a group, and complete courses in a designated sequence.
The cohort model provides an opportunity to network and build professional relationships that may extend beyond the program. Therefore, the courses cannot be taken at your own pace.
- Ari Rubin, Graduate
“For someone already working in the field, pursuing an accounting certificate may be an ideal way to demonstrate a personal desire to contribute more to the organization or aspire to a more senior position. An accounting certificate from a respected institution, combined with relevant practical experience on your CV are important considerations in the job selection process.”
Supinder Babra, MBA, BBA, CPA, CMA, CCP
Syeda Fahmida Habib, DBA, MBA, M.App.Fin
Dorjana Nano, PhD, MFin, BA
Sue-Ann Maislin, M.Ed
Adam Prokop, MBA, MSc, MFin, CPA, CMA, CAIA
Irma Spahiu, PhD, LLM, MIM