National CFE Honour Roll writers in BC share their stories
CPABC congratulates the 251 BC candidates who successfully wrote the Common Final Exam (CFE) in May 2024 and extends special recognition to BC writers Emily Margaret Peters, Sophie Temirov, David Tran, and Mitchell Turko for making the National CFE Honour Roll. Emily was also awarded a CPA Canada Gold Medal for achieving the highest standing in Western Canada.
Here’s what the candidates had to say about the CFE experience.
Emily Margaret Peters Regional Gold Medallist
Employer: Oak Bay Marine Group (Victoria)
Job title: Intermediate Accountant
What will you remember most about your CFE experience? During Capstone 2, I had to go see a physiotherapist because I’d been sitting at my desk so much that I had pulled a muscle—a studying injury! It’s funny looking back on the situation, but at the time, I needed to heal quickly so I could sit for the three days of the CFE. Telling my friends and my physiotherapist how I sustained the injury was very memorable.
Tell us about a breakthrough or “aha” moment during your studies. Once I accepted that the study process would be a rollercoaster of emotions, successes, and setbacks, I was able to view the setbacks as learning opportunities. This mindset was helpful when trying not to spiral during the study process!
Any hobbies that helped you manage stress during your studies? Running with my amazing run club and taking cold ocean dips with my friends kept me going during my studies. Both the exercise and the community were so necessary and appreciated.
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies? I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful support system. My partner Andrew supported me in many ways, even if it just meant giving me space when I had a five-hour case to write. My close friends and my running community kept me grounded and were so understanding when I had to say “no” to things. My parents hosted me for a week during my final study push. My coworkers were also very supportive, especially my mentor, Lucas Gilmour, CPA, who listened to my concerns and questions and gave me valuable advice.
Sophie Temirov
Employer: TELUS (Vancouver)
Job title: Financial Analyst II
What will you remember most about your CFE experience? I’ll never forget all the support I received from my family, friends, and colleagues during my CFE experience!
Tell us about a breakthrough or “aha” moment during your studies. A big breakthrough for me was developing a strong case-writing strategy by debriefing my outlines and time allocations. Planning wasn’t something I focused on in the other CPA PEP modules, but seeing the benefits that a strong outline had on my case-writing across all three days was a lightbulb moment.
Any hobbies that helped you manage stress during your studies? During my studies, I took up journaling to track what I did each day and how I was feeling. If I saw a trend of being stressed over a few days, I knew it was time to take a longer break. The day before the CFE, I read over my journal entries to reassure myself that I’d put in all the work needed to be ready for the exam.
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies? I’d like to thank my TELUS family who supported me throughout this journey. Special thanks goes to my mentor, Matt Murray, FCPA, FCMA; as well as Tyler Friend, CPA; Colleyna Jhong, CPA; Amy Bonner, CPA, CA; Jill Miller-Barone, CPA, CA; Blake Wuhr, and all my other team members. I’m so grateful for their encouragement, belief, and advice. I’d also like to thank my family and friends, who made sure I took breaks, got me out of the house, and celebrated my successes every step of the way. I don’t know what I’d do without them.
David Tran
Employer: RHEI (Vancouver)
Job title: Senior Financial Analyst
What will you remember most about your CFE experience? One thing that I will remember from my CFE experience happened on the first day of the exam. I had assumed that, since the exam was entirely electronic, I wouldn’t need any pencils. However, I soon discovered that a pencil was required to fill in my identification details on the exam sheet. Fortunately, the person sitting next to me was incredibly prepared—they had brought along 10 pencils, just in case nine of them failed!
Tell us about a breakthrough or “aha” moment during your studies. A significant breakthrough in my studies occurred when I started delving into the enabling competencies book. It helped clarify various concepts I had been grappling with, and suddenly, everything seemed to fall into place.
Any hobbies that helped you manage stress during your studies? Maintaining a consistent exercise routine played a crucial role in managing stress during my studies. Keeping up with regular physical activity not only helped me stay healthy but also provided me with the mental clarity and discipline needed to tackle the rigorous demands of the CPA program.
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies? I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my manager and director, both of whom are CPAs, for their unwavering support throughout my journey. Their guidance, advice, and encouragement were invaluable as I navigated through the complexities of the CPA program.
Mitchell Turko
Employer: Hazelwood (Nanaimo)
Job title: Accountant
What will you remember most about your CFE experience? One moment that stands out is when my laptop froze during the exam—it felt like the longest 45 minutes of my life! But in all seriousness, the sense of relief I felt upon finishing the final day was extraordinary. I could tell that everyone who completed the CFE that day felt immense pride in their accomplishment.
Tell us about a breakthrough or “aha” moment during your studies. I wouldn’t say I had a specific breakthrough moment during my studies. Instead, I developed strong habits over the weeks I spent preparing for the CFE. After I failed my first practice exam—which, to be quite honest, terrified me—I focused on improving my test-writing skills by practising under test conditions, addressing each assessment opportunity, and reviewing feedback on every case.
Any hobbies that helped you manage stress during your studies? I struggled with studying alone all day, so I made a point of socializing with family and friends during my free time. I also stayed active by playing sports and going to the gym, which helped me recharge. Finding balance allowed me to fully focus and put in 100% of my effort when it was time to study.
Who would you like to thank for providing support during your studies? I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my family, friends, and colleagues for their unwavering support throughout this journey. Above all, my parents’ encouragement has been instrumental in reaching this milestone, and I’m grateful for their guidance and love. Finally, I’d like to acknowledge the accounting program faculty at Vancouver Island University. The exceptional professors do an outstanding job preparing students for CPA PEP, and their dedication is greatly appreciated.
Photo of Emily Margaret Peters by Jesse Hlady Studios. Photos of Sophie Temirov and David Tran by Kent Kallberg Studios. Photo of Mitchell Turko by HA Photography.
A version of these profiles will be published in the January/February 2025 issue of CPABC in Focus.
