What the GDA can do for you

“Specializing in accounting and achieving my CPA designation was the best decision I ever made for my career. The job market is incredibly competitive. To excel and advance you need an advantage. With an accounting focus you get more than just a deep understanding of the financial and reporting function of a business. You learn how to analyze businesses and evaluate their health. You learn proper corporate governance, and leadership, becoming a more well-rounded business professional.”

Rose Thuringer
Director, Strategy & Transformation, PwC Canada

“During my GDA program, I had the opportunity to strengthen my network of fellow accountants, many of whom I continue to maintain professional relationships with to this day. When I encounter complex challenges requiring insight from other finance and accounting professionals, I still rely on this network for their valuable advice, leveraging their diverse experiences and expertise.The GDA program equipped me with the necessary tools to take the CFE through an expedited pathway, enabling me to obtain my CPA designation and advance my career trajectory more swiftly.”

Dylan Hewko
Vice-President, Finance & Administration, Canadian Premier League

“The GDA program excited me, knowing I would be in an environment with classmates all working towards the same goal of becoming a professional accountant. Becoming a CPA is one of the best ways to become a great business leader. The exposure to different industries working in professional services, to different business functions working on an industry finance team, and to business leaders as a strategic advisor provided unique and valuable experiences. I have been fortunate to fill all of these roles in my career by building off the foundation formed through the GDA and pursuing my CPA. The GDA provides graduates with a strong differentiation and I know it would be a stand out qualification if I was reviewing candidates for a position. The course content is delivered in a way where graduates think critically to understand and apply the material, not just consume it. By completing the GDA, the baseline starting my career as a CPA was to succeed not survive, and carrying that confidence when facing new challenges was invaluable.”

Derek Nicholson
Chief Financial Officer, PIANO PIANO Restaurant & Food Group

“The GDA program served as a powerful launchpad for my career, equipping me with essential skills in leadership, problem-solving, client engagement, and time management that fuelled my early success. The foundation I built during those formative years remains invaluable, as I continue to draw on those insights and experiences in my current role. Although I’ve transitioned from accounting to technology strategy, my foundational accounting knowledge and CPA designation have significantly shaped my career path.”

Liz Toniolo
Associate Vice President, Strategy & Technology, Konrad Group

“While many of my peers on the job market have undergraduate degrees from top-tier business schools, not as many applicants have completed a graduate-level program like the GDA. This has allowed me to set myself apart in job interviews. At both of the companies I have worked at in my professional career (EY and the Toronto Blue Jays), I have worked alongside fellow GDA graduates. This has provided a level of comfort and familiarity that has accelerated my ability to build relationships.”

Josh Hoffman
Director, Finance, Toronto Blue Jays

“The best networking the GDA could offer was bringing together a diverse cohort representing the entry cohort at Canada's top public accounting firms. Establishing early connections with these future colleagues was key to developing my network from the beginning.The 13-week intensive program, filled with bright minds, was the perfect preparation for the frenetic pace at the start of my career. Balancing rapid learning with networking and accomplishing tasks is what can truly set you apart in your career, and the GDA provided the ideal environment to learn how to do this.”

Blake MacDonald
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis, Atlas Corp.