Source: Rachel Lee, Co-President of Ivey Accounting Club
Think about your favorite skyscraper piercing the city skyline, the game-changing startup that captures your imagination, or the charitable organization making waves in the community. Regardless of what came to mind, beneath the surface of these ventures lies a common foundation: numbers. These are numbers skillfully crunched by professionals with three powerful letters after their names — CPA. With three Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) in my immediate family, I have gained a unique appreciation for the value of this designation, a value that deserves more recognition within the Ivey community at Western.
If you’ve seen The Wolf of Wall Street, The Big Short, or even Ozark, accounting is always quietly pulling the strings behind the chaos, the profits, and, yes, sometimes the crime. Yet despite its vital role, it’s often dismissed as a static, “pencil-pusher” profession. I had the pleasure of speaking with Rachel Lee, a current HBA2 student who is passionate about redressing this outdated perception. As an aspiring CPA, and Co-President of the Ivey Accounting Club, Rachel began her AEO journey with the Western Accounting Association, where she connected with like-minded peers, tackled the learning curve of the industry, and gained the support needed to navigate her CPA ambitions. Describing the club as “corporate fun,” Rachel says it’s the perfect place to “build camaraderie with people who share similar career ambitions and mindsets.”
Especially at Ivey, where the spotlight is often on finance and consulting, IAC shines light on accounting as not just a viable career but a dynamic and rewarding one. IAC’s mission is clear: to provide academic, social, career, and networking opportunities for HBA students interested in accounting. In a field where your network really is your net worth, IAC facilitates personal connections with professionals in industry and public. Rachel acknowledges how intimidating it can be to press send on that first cold email or LinkedIn message. IAC helps ease those nerves by giving students direct access to firm representatives, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed until graduation. From summer student panels and mentorship programs to CPA nights, IAC equips students with a competitive edge in service lines like assurance, advisory, and tax. The club also challenges the common notion that the “Big Four” are the only routes to success, paving the path to middle-market firms and non-traditional CPA journeys.
But IAC is not just for those with accounting firmly in their sights. Rachel urges students to leverage it as a point of personal and professional exploration. Whether through exclusive coffee chats or professional development workshops, the club offers opportunities to build your network and break the ice in a field that might seem daunting -- and the club’s diversity reflects this. For example, one of IAC’s VPs is currently studying in Western’s faculty of Law, using the club to diversify their expertise for a future in practicing tax law.
Looking ahead, the IAC team is excited to implement a mentor program for HBA1 and HBA2 students, as well as host info sessions tailored to AEO students, offering personalized advice for those just beginning their journey. Rachel also recommends getting involved with the Western Accounting Association as a launchpad. For those even earlier in their path, CPA Ontario’s High School Ambassador Program (HAP) or Post-Secondary Ambassador Program (PSAP) are fantastic ways to get a head start.
So, debit: an investment in yourself, credit: your human capital!