Tiffany Schell CPA, CMA
Edmonton
Professional career
- Managing Director, Strategy & Finance, West Wind Consulting (2009 – Present)
- Executive Director, Economic & Fiscal Policy, Government of Saskatchewan (2020 –2021)
- Executive Director, Corporate Services & Senior Financial Officer (SFO), Government of Alberta (2018 – 2020)
- CPA, CMA (2015)
- MBA (Finance & Economics), York University, Schulich School of Business (2007)
- Honours BA (Geography & Sociology) with distinction, University of Toronto (1998)
Board experience
- Board Vice Chair, Selections Career Support Services, Edmonton, AB (2023 – Present)
- Chair, Governance Committee
- Chair, Audit & Finance Committee (1 year acting)
- Member, Human Resources Committee
- Member, Nominations Committee
- Board Member, CPA Alberta Edmonton Chapter, Edmonton, AB (2018 – 2021)
- Chair, Speakers Committee
- Chair, Sponsorship Committee
- Member, Logistics Committee
- Board Member, CKUA Radio Foundation, Edmonton, AB (2018 – 2020)
- Member, Audit & Finance Committee
- Member, Governance Committee
- Board Member representing Rogers Communications, CTCC, a federal telecom consortium including members: Rogers, TELUS, Shaw, Bell, etc., Ottawa, ON (2006 – 2009)
- Member, Public Policy Working Group
Volunteer experience
- CPA Recruitment (e.g., PRO Dinners), CPA Alberta, Edmonton, AB (2024 – Present)
- Financial Literacy, CPA Canada, Edmonton, AB (2021 – Present)
Member / Participant
- Edmonton Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), Edmonton, AB (2023 – Present)
- Edmonton Women in Finance (EWF), Edmonton, AB (2018 – Present)
- ATB Entrepreneur Events, Edmonton, AB (2018 – Present)
Candidate statement
As a CPA Alberta member for more than 10 years, a CPA Alberta volunteer for more than 7 years, and a board member for multiple boards, I can easily leverage my extensive board governance experience and strong strategic thinking capability to serve the CPA Alberta Board and membership. As a newcomer to the province in 2015, CPA Alberta was instrumental in my ability to build a professional network; access employment opportunities; build relationships with CPA Alberta members and staff; participate in professional development; and engage in rewarding volunteer opportunities.
In 2020, the CPA Alberta Edmonton Chapter responded to the pandemic and shifted member events from in-person to online. My team created and hosted CPA Alberta’s first online webinars – a proud innovative hallmark indeed. Adaptability, creativity, and innovation have been paramount for my successes in work and volunteer endeavours.
Having registered with multiple CPA bodies in Canada, I can attest that CPA Alberta stands above other bodies in membership supports and engagement. It would be my privilege to serve the organization that has contributed so greatly to my career and volunteerism. If elected, with an open mind and open heart, I commit to fulfil the mandate of the board, and support CPAs to the best of my ability.
Thank you for considering my nomination as a board member.
What do you see impacting the CPA profession, and how can CPA Alberta best respond?
Shifting labour force demands require CPAs to be increasingly innovative and adaptable. Although a number of pressures impact the CPA profession, the need for CPAs to develop soft skills (e.g., creativity, experimentation, curiosity, problem solving, communication, resilience) while embracing failure are fundamental to being innovative and adaptable.
The benefits of soft skills include:
- Mitigating inevitable disruptions by technology (e.g. AI and machine learning), advanced analytics (e.g., predictive and prescriptive), and data governance.
- Supporting value-added services, as expectations of employers and clients evolve to include more strategic advice and solutions.
- Navigating the universal “messy middle” of projects and careers where an individual feels “stuck” (i.e. the inevitable period requiring an individual to step outside their comfort zone to develop new perspectives needed for growth.)
CPAs have always been stewards of value, but value is expanding. Old value propositions included accuracy and compliance. New value propositions include trust, long-term viability, and navigating complexity. This shift creates opportunities for CPAs, if a willingness to stretch occurs.
CPAs have evolved from a tradition of technical and rules-based skills. Subsequently, the competency framework expanded to include strategy and leadership. CPA Alberta can best respond to the need for soft skills by embedding these competencies into the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) for new members and providing opportunities to develop or enhance soft skills for existing members.
How do your skills and background position you to positively contribute to the CPA Alberta Board and lead the governance of the profession?
My previous board positions provide me with extensive board governance experience and strong strategic thinking capability required for long-term planning and trade-off decisions. My board participation has included membership on the following committees: governance, audit and finance, nomination, and human resources. My philosophy of “live a life of purpose” has found me utilizing my talents as a board member for a professional organization (e.g., CPA Alberta Edmonton Chapter), a disabilities organization (e.g., Selections Career Support Services), an Alberta cultural institution (e.g., CKUA Radio Foundation), and a federal telecom consortium (e.g., CTCC).
My professional experience across industry, government, and academia, including partnerships with PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, and EY on technology transformations, business restructurings, and audits, allows me to support the CPA Alberta Board’s mandate while understanding the perspectives of diverse stakeholders. My professional accountabilities have required me to report to boards and/or board committees. As an inclusive leader, with intensive Indigenous training on Blackfoot Territory, my diverse background has supported organizations in:
- finance
- accounting
- economics
- compliance
- public policy
- analytics
CPA Alberta, CPA Canada, Beat the Street, and Community Living are amongst organizations I have volunteered with aligning with my passions for literacy, financial literacy, and advocacy of marginalized communities. My combined experience gained from boards, work, and volunteering allows me to positively contribute to the CPA Alberta Board.