Accountant / CPA
The CPA designation opens doors across every industry - one of Canada's most stable and versatile credentials.
Accountant / CPA Salary in Canada
Accountant / CPAs in Canada earn about $60,000 at entry level and around $140,000 in senior roles.
- Entry level: $60,000
- Senior level: $140,000
CPAs in senior corporate roles or at Big 4 firms earn at the higher end. CFOs with CPA designation earn significantly more.
About the Career
CPA demand is consistently strong across Canada - every organisation needs accounting and financial oversight.
Job Outlook
Stable demand. CPA demand is consistently strong across Canada - every organisation needs accounting and financial oversight.
How to Get There
- 4-yr BCom (Accounting) + CPA professional program (PEP; the new CPA Professional Program replaces it from January 2027) + supervised practical experience
- Time to career: 6-7 years post-Grade 12
Degrees That Lead Here
- Accounting – mid to high 80s at most programs; Waterloo AFM selects from the mid 80s up, with admitted averages usually higher
- Finance – high 80s to low 90s
Key Skills
- Financial Reporting
- Auditing
- Tax Preparation
- Data Analysis
- Professional Ethics
Typical Employers
- Big 4 firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG)
- Mid-size accounting firms
- Corporations & banks
- Government agencies
- Not-for-profits
High School Roadmap
- Excel in math. Take any accounting or business course available. Research the CPA designation.
- Join DECA. Take math and data management. Research Waterloo's Accounting & Financial Management program.
- Aim for 85%+ in math. Research the Big 4 accounting firms.
- Apply to accounting or commerce programs. Waterloo's AFM program is Canada's most respected accounting undergrad.
Top Universities for This Path
- University of Waterloo – Waterloo, ON
- Queen's University – Kingston, ON
- McMaster University – Hamilton, ON
- University of Toronto – Toronto, ON
- Simon Fraser University – Burnaby, BC
Insider Tips
- Waterloo's Accounting & Financial Management (AFM) program is the most respected accounting undergrad in Canada.
- The CPA designation is obtained after your degree through CPA's professional program - the current PEP is being replaced by a new four-module CPA Professional Program launching in January 2027.
- Big 4 firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) recruit heavily from Canadian university campuses.