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CPA Program

Our comprehensive Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) training and mentorship program provides our CPA students with the resources and support they need to succeed. With over 90% of our CPA candidates passing the Common Final Exam (CFE), we’re confident that the choice to article with DMCL is one you won’t regret.

The CPA certification program consists of education, a period of meeting relevant experience requirements and the CFE. When you begin the CPA Program at DMCL, you’ll be paired with a CPA mentor to support you throughout your designation. Next, you’ll be given comprehensive training to cover all aspects of your development.

At the same time, you’ll begin your relevant work experience. As a mid-sized accounting firm, we fall into the sweet spot of being big enough to have a diverse clientele and service offering, while being small enough that our team members aren’t siloed within one specialty. As a result, we’re able to provide our students with relevant experience in multiple industries and file types, creating more opportunities for you to learn and grow while discovering your specific interests.

Once your education and relevant experience are complete, you’ll move on to the last stage of our CPA program that provides rigorous preparation leading up to the CFE.

There’s a saying, ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ When you choose to pursue your CPA designation at DMCL, you can be confident that you’ll be surrounded by a supportive team each step of the way.

CPA Modules

The CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) requires candidates to complete six modules: two core modules, two elective modules and two capstone modules.

CPA Paths

In order to complete your relevant experience requirements, you’ll need to choose a CPA path. DMCL offers two paths pre-approved by the CPA certification program: External Audit—where you’ll work in one of our public company audit teams; and Assurance, Compilation, Tax (ACT)—where you’ll be placed in one of our private enterprise teams. For students unsure about which path they’d like to pursue, we also offer a hybrid opportunity where you can gain experience in both audit and private enterprise.

The third CPA path we support is the Experience Verification Route (EVR). This is a self-directed route where candidates must determine how they’ll demonstrate the required relevant competencies.

External Audit
  • A suitable path for students interested in public company audit.
  • Candidates must complete at least 1,250 chargeable assurance hours, of which a minimum of 625 must be in the audit of historical financial statements.
  • At the end of the 30 months, candidates qualify for licensure in audit upon certification.
  • This is the most common path chosen at DMCL as we’re one of the most recognized firms in Canada providing public company audits.
Assurance, Compilation, Tax (ACT)
  • A suitable path for students who are interested in private enterprise or taxation.
  • Candidates must complete 425 assurance hours to meet the depth and breadth requirements for CPA certification at the end of the 30 months.
  • Candidates under ACT will not be qualified for licensure in audit or review on certification. Qualification for audit or review license would require bridging.
Experience Verification Route (EVR)
  • A suitable path for students who may have experience from a previous employer (i.e., private practice) or are looking for an alternative to traditional CPA paths.
  • This is a self-directed route where candidates must determine how they’ll demonstrate the required relevant competencies.
  • Audit and review hours are not required.
  • Candidates under EVR will not be qualified for licensure in audit or review on certification. Qualification for audit or review licenses would require bridging. If this is desired, DMCL’s pre-approved external audit path is recommended.
Supporting Your Success

We recognize that the journey to becoming a CPA is tough, but we’re here for you with the support you need.

Mentorship & Training
  • On your start date, you’ll be assigned a dedicated CPA mentor who will guide you and provide you with support for the duration of your program
  • All of our CPA students are given access to Densmore’s CPA PEP training resources and the Densmore’s CFE Prep course
  • You can be confident you’ll get a top-notch training experience through our pre-approved CPA program
  • You’ll also have access to additional internal and external training courses to support your career development
Fees
  • Financial support through our pre-approved program and CPA modules
  • Paid CPA PEP fees
  • Paid Densmore fees
  • Paid CPA registration fees
  • Paid annual membership dues
Time Off
  • Our students are given the day off to write each of their CPA module exams
  • Our students are given a two-month CFE leave to prepare for their exams
CFE Prep
  • Each CFE writer is paired with a DMCL CPA mentor for the duration of their leave
  • We provide an extensive in-house CFE training program that includes prep courses, boot camps, writing workshops and practice exams. The program is led by DMCL staff who have previously marked or written the CFE exam. The program provides practice exam feedback and top tips from previous CFE markers
  • All writers are sent to Densmore’s onsite CFE Prep course
Testimonials
Recruitment Timeline

The CPA student recruitment season is a fast-paced and exciting time to get to know us—and for us to get to know you. Amongst all the activities, keep track of these important deadlines (2023/24 recruitment timeline coming soon).

Outside of Spring and Fall Recruit, be sure to check our career opportunities as we also hire throughout the year.

Applications Open
TBD, 2023
Application Deadline
TBD, 2023
Interview Period
TBD, 2023
Offer Acceptance Deadline
TBD, 2023
Our Recruitment Process
1Application
CPA candidates will submit their application (resume, cover letter, transcript and—if you wish—a video).
2Screening
If selected, you’ll be contacted for a phone screen that will take place with a member of our HR team.
3Interview
If you showed potential during your phone screen, you’ll be invited to an interview. Our interviews are approximately 30 minutes and will be conducted by HR and a manager or partner from one of our audit or private enterprise teams. We’ll ask you behavioural and situational questions to gain a better understanding of your experience, and then we’ll give you an opportunity to highlight your accomplishments and interests, along with any expectations you have for the role.
4Second Interview
Fall Recruit Interview Process only
If you left a good impression during your interview, it’s likely you’ll be invited (along with other candidates) to a second interview in a less formal, social setting. You’ll find this interview to be similar to a networking cocktail party hosted at a restaurant. This gives you the opportunity to speak with more DMCL managers and partners, and it gives us an opportunity to get to know you better in a casual setting.
FAQs

Scroll through our frequently asked questions and answers below to learn more about applying with us, what to expect during the selection process and how we support your CPA journey.

Where does DMCL have offices?

Visit our Contact Us page to see our office listings.

How would you describe the culture at DMCL?

DMCL fosters a culture of learning, growth and fun. At our firm, relationships are highly valued and most importantly our staff; partners, managers, and accountants all take an interest in your career progression and provide you with valuable feedback. Mentorship is huge at DMCL, students are surrounded by team members that follow an open-door policy and are easy to approach. As a part of our growing team, you can expect continuous support in your path to becoming a CPA.

Does DMCL participate in any community engagement or social initiatives?

During the year, DMCL is actively involved in community initiatives such as supporting the Salvation Army, Food Bank or participating in a Shoreline Clean-up. Each year, our staff also look forward to tax parties, CFE write/results day and social Fridays (usually with an optional beer or glass of wine!). Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic hosting mental health and wellness initiatives such as online Yoga, Mindfulness Seminars have been super important in lieu of in-person events.

What are you looking for in an articling student (ideal candidate)?

DMCL looks for well-rounded candidates. We value self-motivated individuals with great interpersonal skills who bring a diverse range of experience, perhaps in customer service or in retail as well as participating in their community. Overall, an individual who demonstrates a willingness to learn, displays a positive attitude, and is not afraid to ask questions will always catch our attention. Previous accounting-related experience is an advantage but isn’t essential. We want you to help you progress through the CPA program, so an individual who demonstrates that they can juggle work with their studies is well placed for success. Technical skills will be taught but it’s the soft skills you bring that ultimately help you become successful.

What are some events DMCL hosts?

DMCL participates in a variety of different events throughout the year. This year, we’ll be hosting an open house and providing school information sessions. We’re also actively participating in career fairs, student club events at local schools and CPA hosted events.

Who should I address my cover letter to?

Cover letters are a great way to stand out and to provide us with insight about your interests and aspirations. If you’ve written a cover letter as part of your application, please address it to Ananda Lavingia, HR Advisor.

What’s a typical day like for an articling student?

Every day is different. It is a fast-paced, dynamic work environment with exposure to our varied clients and industries. For the first couple of months, the expectation is that students embark on an exciting journey to learn and understand DMCL’s systems, clients and navigate the ways of the firm. Mentorship, training and on-the-job learning is provided by managers and colleagues; you are always learning. We make sure our students get exposure to all sections in preparing a file and developing their knowledge with the aim that they learn how to prepare all sections of the file independently.

Ready to take the next step?