CPABC in Focus March/April 2018 | Page 16

Cover Story

Congratulations ! Celebrating Our 14 Member Recognition Program Honourees

We are delighted to introduce you to the fellowship , honorary CPA , and award recipients of CPABC ’ s 2017 Member Recognition Program . The FCPA designation and membership awards recognize excellence among BC ’ s chartered professional accountants through their career accomplishments and / or their contributions to the profession and the community , while the honorary CPA designation recognizes non-members who ’ ve made a significant contribution to the accounting profession .

~ Early Achievement Award ~
The CPABC Early Achievement Award celebrates members who distinguish themselves early in their CPA careers through professional achievement and volunteer service , with an emphasis on professional accomplishment .
W . Mackenzie Kanigan , CPA , CGA Mackenzie obtained his designation in 2014 . Originally hired by the City of Kamloops as its accounting supervisor in 2013 , he was promoted to the role of financial planning manager in 2016 , assuming responsibility for strategic planning and budgeting . Mackenzie demonstrated leadership as a key member of the finance team that completed the City of Kamloops ’ 2016 year-end reporting and its five-year financial plan , which helped to support and strengthen the finance department during a challenging leadership transition . A leader and champion for his department ’ s modernization initiatives , Mackenzie educates staff , colleagues , and senior management about opportunities for innovation and fosters support for new processes . He has been singled out not only for his willingness to share information , but also for his efforts to co-ordinate and connect the city ’ s staff across two locations — efforts that have contributed to a healthy team environment . In addition to these accomplishments , Mackenzie is a strong advocate for ongoing learning . He has encouraged several City of Kamloops colleagues to pursue the CPA designation , and he continues to raise the profile of CPAs and demonstrate the training and experience CPAs possess . Mackenzie also volunteers with a number of community organizations . His current roles include serving as treasurer of Interior Community Services , a not-for-profit agency that provides supportive community programming ( 2013-present ), and as a board member of the Kamloops Sports Legacy Fund , an organization that invests in the local sports community ( 2015-present ).
Abigail Ma , CPA , CA Abigail obtained her designation in 2009 . Since 2015 , she has been the director of financial planning and analysis at BCLC in Vancouver , where she guides spending and business decisions , including corporatewide budgeting and forecasting . Previously , Abigail served in progressive management positions with BCLC ( 2013-2015 ) and in the audit and advisory practices of KPMG LLP
( 2006-2013 ). Abigail championed the forward-thinking redevelopment of BCLC ’ s business planning process starting in 2014 , transitioning the organization from an annual to quarterly forecast . This change has helped BCLC exceed its financial targets and has enabled the corporation to be more responsive to shifts in industry trends and new opportunities . In addition , Abigail has taken on greater leadership responsibility . In her first year of leadership , she improved employee engagement and job satisfaction scores by more than 20 % through initiatives such as team-building sessions and employee recognition . Moreover , through her commitment to relationship building and high standards , Abigail has established a strong level of trust between BCLC and its key stakeholders , showcasing CPAs as trusted business leaders . She currently leads a team of 22 . Abigail also lends her expertise to the community through volunteer service . From 2015 to 2017 , she served as treasurer for ArtStarts in Schools , a charitable organization based in Vancouver that works to expand the role of arts in education to benefit young people . Since November 2016 , she has also served as the national vice-chair of finance for Scouts Canada .
16 CPABC in Focus • March / April 2018