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www.casb.com
The CA School of Business is Western Canada’s education program for obtaining a CA designation. The program consists of online modules alongside three years of practical experience in a CA training office. After successful completion of the six consecutive modules, final examination, and on-the-job training, students are eligible for CA membership.
In order to be accepted into the CASB program, all students must meet the following requirements:
Students will also need to obtain employment with a CA Training Office. For other admission categories for the CA School of business, click here.
CASB’s program emphasizes student involvement and participation and comprises six learning modules, all led by trained facilitators who are also practicing CAs. There are five eight-week modules to help you develop the technical and pervasive competencies required by CAs, and one module to help you prepare specifically for the UFE. CASB students role-play as they learn. At the beginning of the program, you’ll be introduced to Vision Windows Limited (Vision), an organization that’s grown from a one-person operation to a company contemplating listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Throughout Vision’s life, many CAs have been involved in its affairs in different ways, in public practice or otherwise. CASB wants you to experience involvement in all capacities and you’ll assume many different roles as you progress through the modules, including being an employee or manager of Vision; an employee of one of the public practice fi rms engaged to complete a wide range of services for the business and its owners; or an auditor from CRA. Facilitators play the role of managing partner, manager, or supervisor to the student within the framework of the module.
CASB’s first generation of educational programming introduced students to Parkhurst & Loewen Chartered Accountants, where they role-played being employees of a public practice firm providing a broad range of professional services to clients. CASB’s next generation program expands that perspective, introducing students to Vision Windows Limited (Vision), an international organization that’s grown from a one-man operation to a company contemplating listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In the Vision simulation, students assume roles working within and outside of the company.
Throughout its life, many Chartered Accountants have been involved in Vision’s affairs, each in different capacities. Not all were in public practice. We want our students to experience that involvement! As you progress through the modules, you will be challenged to consider the users’ levels of knowledge and their objectives in order to understand your role or perspective. Your role could be that of an employee or manager of Vision, an employee of various Public Practice Firms engaged to complete a wide range of services including assurance, compilation, consulting, taxation, or valuation services for the business and its owners, or an auditor from CRA, to name a few.
Download the CASB Modules description.
Vision incorporated by Hans Supeene. Company expands to three divisions: vinyl-clad windows, metal doors, greenhouses and greenhouse windows. As with most companies, cash flow issues arise and numerous personal and corporate tax matters require attention. Company and external accountants prepare and discuss adjusting journal entries as well as analyzing and discussing the presentation of selected financial matters. Company faced with many decisions- hiring new external accountant, buying or leasing assets, allocating costs to the three operating divisions, having an audit or review engagement performed.
Hans has received a number of offers to buy Vision. He engages a CA Firm to provide him with a valuation report and determine the tax effects of each offer. Due to the poor economy, the intended purchaser is unable to complete the transaction. Hans is approached by two of his managers (Elmer Hughes and Arnie Chan) who express interest and are successful in completing the purchase of Vision. Hans and his family contemplate the tax consequences of moving to Belgium. The new owners of Vision are eager to expand the business. A third shareholder who has experience in strategy is added and a potential acquisition, Western Homes Centres Inc. (Western), is identified. Parkhurst and Loewen are engaged to complete the audit of Western.
Completion of the audit of Vision and the acquisition of 80% of the shares of Western. Vision purchases 100% of Dante Windows Limited, a UK company. With the added subsidiaries there are many consolidation and foreign currency issues requiring careful attention. With an expanded accounting department, more attention is being paid to variance analysis, the need to acquire new software and the adequacy of the company’s disaster recovery plan. With the larger employee and management group, management is considering the potential tax consequences of issuing stock options.
Vision’s controller, Denise Charron, moves to England to run Dante Windows Limited. The new controller’s first job is finalizing the financial statements in preparation for the year-end audit. Both Western and Vision are experiencing operational and financial challenges as evidenced by Vision’s loss. The three shareholders realize they will not achieve their goal of taking Vision public unless more attention is focused on governance and strategic planning. In conjunction with making improvements in governance, Vision is considering a number of new investment opportunities including due diligence on another acquistion to further its expansion. As Vision is unable to secure financing with its bankers, it focuses attention on short-term cash flow management and approaches Brennan Brothers, a venture capital group, to provide additional financing.
Management of Vision explore financial reporting, financing, taxation, regulatory and governance issues associated with a potential initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange. As an Associate, students are exposed to a variety of topics including the identification and audit of related parties, information technology controls, tax planning, accounting for pension plans, segment reporting requirements, financial instruments accounting standards, and international financial reporting standards.
Module six is a two-week, face-to-face session held in late July, specifically designed to help you prepare for the UFE. In module six, you also get access to www.UFEPrep.com, which provides materials to help you improve your case writing abilities.
Once you’ve successfully completed the six CASB modules, you’ll proceed to the UFE, a three-day, competency-based evaluation using a five-hour comprehensive case simulation as well as a number of multi-subject simulations. Th is national UFE ensures all Canadian CAs meet the same high standards – standards recognized nationally and internationally.