Julie Oliver CPA, CA
Red Deer
* Incumbent candidate
Professional career
- Partner, MNP LLP (2009 – current)
- Various positions, MNP LLP (2005 – 2009)
- Bookkeeper, Sundre Contracting (2003)
- Staff Accountant, BDO (1996 – 2000)
- Chartered Professional Accountant (2000)
- BComm, University of Calgary (1997)
Relevant experience and professional background
- Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta Board member (2023 – 2026)
- Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta Practice Review Committee member (2021 – 2023)
- Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Board of Governors member, Audit Committee (2019 – 2025)
- Red Deer Downtown Business Association Board member and Treasurer (2014 – 2016 and 2019 – 2021)
- Co-founder and leader of a Business Women’s Networking Group in Central Alberta (2013 –2024)
- Junior Achievement volunteer for several years
Candidate statement
Throughout my 30-year career in accounting, I have been dedicated to quality, lifelong learning, and giving back. My skill set and governance experience can be utilized to give back to the members of CPA Alberta.
The last several years have been hard in Central Alberta, with the pandemic, economic strain, uncertainty, and significant changes for the members of our profession. There has been a notable strain on resources in public practice, which can impact quality of engagements. That is why my priorities on the Board continue to be protecting the public through education on emerging issues and fulfilling market needs through attraction and development of members.
Promoting the profession and ensuring high-quality resources are available to meet the needs of candidates and members is integral to achieving these priorities.
I hope this and the following information gives you some insight into who I am and gives you a sense of the interest I have in continuing on this Board.
What do you see impacting the CPA profession, and how can CPA Alberta best respond?
The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the profession has been immense already and is a trend to watch. It is important that CPA Alberta be aware of the long-term transformation that will result and properly equip members to manage the changes and support them as they respond to the changes.
Data security has also become an increasingly important related issue, and members need appropriate tools and education to successfully respond to this increased risk.
How do your skills and background position you to positively contribute to the CPA Alberta Board and lead the governance of the profession?
I have developed several skills and abilities and an abundance of governance and business-related experience that will continue to benefit the CPA Alberta Board.
Having served for one term already, I will not have any learning curve to get through; I can hit the ground running!
I am a strong and confident communicator; this includes giving unpopular opinions when needed to ensure the Board is taking a balanced look at things and ensuring our response to issues is practical.
I bring a public practice perspective, and, having lived and worked in rural Alberta and having provided small- to medium-sized clients with business advice, I also understand the perspectives of rural community members and those in business as well.
At MNP, I lead the Central Alberta team of 186 people in ensuring assurance engagement quality and professional accountability, as well as plan and deliver relevant, quality education, perform quality management inspections, and have assisted our firm with changes related to CSQM 1, CSQM 2, and CAS 315.
I am also involved in assisting smaller merged-in offices in other regions to adopt new methodologies and practices. As a result of all of these responsibilities, I am confident in change management strategies.
I have the strength, passion, energy, experience, and commitment to continue being a valuable member of the CPA Alberta Board.