John Liu CPA, CA, ICD.D
Calgary
Executive experience
- Chief Financial Officer, STEM Collegiate Edmonton (2023 – Present)
- Director of Finance and Operations, STEM Innovation Academy (2023 – Present)
- Owner, Liu Group of Companies (incl. John Liu Professional Corporation) (2010 – Present)
- Chief Financial Officer, Westmount Charter School (2012 – 2023)
Directorships
- Alberta College of Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutic Technologists (2021 – Present)
- Supply Chain Canada, National (2016 – 2021)
- Calgary Police Commission (2014 – 2018)
- Alberta Association of Police Governance (2014 – 2018)
- Brickburn Funds Inc. (2014 – 2016)
- Norfolk Housing Association (2013 – 2016)
Designations and education
- ICD.D Designation received (2017)
- CPA, CA Designation received (2011)
- BComm. University of Calgary (2008)
Candidate statement
As a seasoned executive and corporate director, I have worked across a broad range of sectors—including public service (K–12 education, post-secondary, justice, and health), non-profit leadership (affordable housing and regulatory governance), and private enterprise (both publicly traded and privately held companies). This multi-sector experience enables me to integrate proven practices from each, and it would be my honour to bring that perspective to CPA Alberta.
Key career highlights include:
- Number of CEO hires: 7
- Number of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures: 6
- Number of clean audit opinions as CFO or board member: 49 of 49
- Number of CPA candidates taught via CPA Western School of Business: 1,000+
If elected to the CPA Alberta Board, I will bring a pragmatic, steady-handed approach—prioritizing long-term stability, prudent financial management, and regulatory integrity. It would be an honour to serve our profession, helping to guide the profession forward while preserving the credibility and confidence that Albertans rightly expect of CPAs.
What do you see impacting the CPA profession, and how can CPA Alberta best respond?
Today, our profession is being shaped by three major forces:
(i) economic instability,
(ii) fast-moving technology, and
(iii) shifting workforce expectations.
Alberta’s resource-tied economy is not immune to volatility (fluctuating oil prices, global and provincial trade uncertainties, and unprecedented population growth). Public institutions and businesses alike are under pressure to deliver accurate, ethical financial reporting. CPA Alberta must protect the public by holding members to a high, consistent regulatory standard.
AI and automation are changing how accounting work gets done; CPAs who don’t adapt will be left behind. CPA Alberta must continue promoting tech-focused upskilling and ensuring CPAs as leaders in managing digital risks.
New generations entering the workforce are not just looking for jobs; they seek purpose, flexibility, and equity. CPA Alberta must consider how it recruits and retains future CPAs—through outreach that reflects beliefs and values.
How do your skills and background position you to positively contribute to the CPA Alberta Board and lead the governance of the profession?
I bring over 30 years of overlapping governance and executive experience, having served both as CFO on the executive team and as a Board Director; this dual perspective allows me to navigate both management and boardroom priorities with balance, sound judgment, and a strong appreciation for diverse viewpoints.
Additionally, my experience serving on Council of the Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists (ACMDTT)—which oversees the MRT and ENP designations for radiation and electroneurophysiology technologists in Alberta—and as Vice-Chair of Supply Chain Canada (National), which confers the SCMP designation, will allow me to hit the ground running as a board member of CPA Alberta.
CPA Alberta has identified the following desires for this year's candidates; I meet all of these:
- Governance: Decades of board service, including regulatory roles and oversight of complex transactions.
- Strategic leadership: Led CEO hiring, succession planning, and multiple M&As.
- Post-secondary: 10 years as a CPAWSB facilitator, supporting over 1,000 candidates.
- Public sector: I lead finance and compliance for six publicly funded institutions in Alberta.