CONGRATULATIONS UFE WRITERS

BDO is very pleased to congratulate all 126 successful Uniform Evaluation (UFE) writers at our firm - from our Vancouver office to Prince Edward Island. They are one step closer to achieving the highly regarded Chartered Accountant designation.

Further, we would like to recognize Sunny Cheung, the recipient of the 2011 CICA UFE Honour Roll and BDO Canada Honour Roll Recognition Award.

We appreciate the hard work and dedication that all 126 writers put forth, and we look forward to their continued success as valuable members of our firm. Congratulations!

SUNNY CHEUNG

1. What was your overall UFE experience like - from the training program and your UFE buddy to the exam itself? How long was the entire process?

I was in the Masters of Accounting program (MAcc) at University of Waterloo, which enabled me to bypass CKE and SOA. As a result, I only had to concentrate my effort on preparing for the UFE. In August, I began the UFE process by attending the Densmore training program sponsored by the firm. The program was extremely helpful as it provided invaluable info, which helped me understand how to approach the UFE and structure an effective study plan. After the training, I studied with my study group, writing cases and marking each other’s practice exams, but the most important part was making sure we were positive about the exam and everything was on the right track.

2. Did you feel well-supported by BDO, your colleagues and your UFE buddy? Were you satisfied with the training and support you received from the BDO community?

The support and training I received from the firm was excellent. All the staff members in the firm, from partners to colleagues, were very supportive, giving insightful advice to prepare me for the exam. I especially appreciated that the firm provided additional cases in August that were marked centrally. This was very helpful as we were able to gauge our performances from markers outside of our study group.

3. How did you feel when you discovered you placed on the UFE Honour Roll?

I was very surprised since I was only aiming to pass and never imagined that I would be one of the top scorers in Canada. I felt great pride in my accomplishment. It is really an incredible honour and I am thankful to everyone who supported me during the process.

4. When and how did you decide to pursue a career in accounting? Were you influenced by anyone specifically?

I made my decision to pursue accounting in high school because it is a threshold to the business world. I believe that becoming a CA is an excellent entry point for my professional career. It will not only equip me with the tools and experience to make sound decisions, but being a Chartered Accountant is also one of the most respected designations in the world and will give me numerous choices in my career path.

5. What is next for you? What do you want to accomplish in the next five to ten years? In what practice area would you like to work?

For now, I will focus on completing all the required practical experience hours to obtain the CA designation. The CA title will offer multiple opportunities in my career - which specific path I should take, I have not made up my mind yet. One thing I am sure of is I will use my professional skills to add value to the tasks I have on-hand. Learning is a life process and I will continue to explore and meet the challenges in various fields in the business world.

6. Do you have any “words of wisdom” for our future UFE writers?

My most important advice: keep yourself in the best psychological state during the exam days. The UFE is designed to put the writers in a stressful situation during the 13 hours of writing time and one must be strong, not only in writing skills, but excellent in mental health in order to get through it. Do whatever will make you feel comfortable during the studying process.

BDO congratulates all of our successful candidates who successfully completed the UFE this year and reached a milestone in their professional careers. Their ongoing dedication and hard work make them valued members of the BDO community.