Building the CPA Pipeline: A Year of Strong Recruitment Engagement

 
By CPA Manitoba   |   May 28, 2026
 



Over the past year, CPA Manitoba has continued to strengthen its recruitment efforts across high school, post-secondary, and workforce audiences. Through these initiatives, we are increasing awareness of the CPA designation and reinforcing the future talent pipeline for the profession. This work is especially important as we prepare for the launch of the new CPA Professional Program in 2027, making sustained engagement with prospective candidates more critical than ever. 

Did You Know? 

  • We host or participate in nearly 70 recruitment events and activities across Manitoba annually. 
  • We conduct more than 275 virtual and phone consultations with prospective CPAs annually, providing personalized guidance on how to begin their pathway towards the CPA designation. 

 
Expanding Reach Across Manitoba 
CPA Manitoba’s recruitment team maintained a strong presence across the province, engaging students through career fairs, conferences, information sessions, and academic competitions. Efforts focused on learners in Winnipeg, as well as communities throughout southern and western Manitoba. 

Highlights include: 

  • Engagement with students and faculty across nine Manitoba post-secondary institutions through campus events and outreach. 
  • Participation in the inaugural Women & Girls in STEM, AI and Innovation Conference, connecting with more than 250 high school and undergraduate students to promote careers in accounting and finance. 
  • Sponsorship of the ConqHER Conference, the Asper School of Business’s inaugural women’s leadership networking event. 
  • Hosting the 2026 Brandon Student Member Mixer, connecting post-secondary students with local CPAs and faculty to provide real-world insights into the profession. 
  • Expanded high school outreach in rural communities, including Souris and Winkler. 
  • Participation in the Brandon Regional Career Symposium, engaging students in grades 8–12 from across western Manitoba. 
  • Participation in the Future Now Expo, Manitoba’s largest interactive career and education event for high school students.
  • Increased collaboration with Manitoba Start on ways to support newcomers with accounting and finance backgrounds on employment opportunities and pathways to the CPA designation. 

 
Strengthening Post-Secondary Partnerships 
Collaboration with Manitoba’s post-secondary institutions remains central to CPA Manitoba’s recruitment strategy. This year, we expanded our on-campus presence through initiatives such as monthly office hours at the University of Manitoba, providing students with direct access to information and one-on-one support. 

We also introduced new tools to better support students navigating the CPA pathway, including a dedicated webpage outlining qualifying course pathways across Manitoba institutions, helping students understand how their studies align with CPA program requirements. 

In addition, we worked closely with post-secondary partners to update CPA prerequisite course lists in preparation for the new CPA Professional Program. 
 
Get Involved 
Volunteers play a vital role in recruitment efforts as event participants, panelists, and competition judges, which helps bring the profession to life for future CPAs. 

If you are interested in supporting future recruitment activities, please update your volunteer profile in the CPA Manitoba member portal. 

For questions about recruitment, or if you’ve been asked to speak about the CPA designation, please contact us by email.