Richard Mussenden CPA, CA
Calgary
* Incumbent candidate
Professional career
- Partner, KPMG, Calgary (2017 – present)
- Partner, KPMG, Edmonton (2006 – 2017)
- Senior Manager, KPMG, Toronto (2004 – 2006)
- Senior Manager, KPMG, Kelowna (1996 – 2004)
- Assistant Controller, Far West Ind. (1995 – 1996)
- CPA (Illinois) (1998)
- CPA, CA (1997, BC; 2007, AB)
- BBA (with distinction), Okanagan University College
Relevant activities
- Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, CPA Alberta (2023 – 2026)
- Board Member and Treasurer, MUSC Youth Soccer Club (2018 – 2020)
- Board Member and Treasurer, Downtown Edmonton Association (2013 – 2017)
- Member, Edmonton Executives Association (2011 – 2017)
- Member, Business Advisory Committee, Okanagan University College (1999 – 2003)
Candidate statement
I have been an active member of the profession for more than 30 years. During the past three years, I have thoroughly enjoyed giving back to the profession as a CPA Alberta Board member, recently assuming the role of Chair of the Audit and Risk committee.
More than half of my career has been spent in Alberta, working in both Edmonton and Calgary, with a wide range of clients from across the province. I have reached a stage in my career where I can meaningfully give back to the profession by contributing my diverse skill set and experience.
As a Board member, I will continue to work tirelessly to support CPA Alberta to ensure we carry on serving all of our members, attracting new students to the profession, and protecting both the public interest and the integrity of the profession.
What do you see impacting the CPA profession, and how can CPA Alberta best respond?
I see two significant opportunities here: the first is attracting students to the profession. We need to continue working closely with educational institutions to emphasize the value that a CPA designation delivers and how students can leverage the designation into a wealth of professional opportunities.
We also need to actively communicate the benefits of the incoming CPA professional program and provide guidance to students and employers to improve their understanding of the benefits of the new program.
The second opportunity impacting the profession is continuing to address the uncertainty arising from the expiry of the Collaboration Accord and how it impacts the coordination of the profession nationally.
CPA Alberta will need to continue working closely with our other provincial counterparts and CPA Canada to ensure we collaborate on a national basis, continue to maintain interprovincial mobility, and ensure the CPA designation is unified across Canada.
How do your skills and background position you to positively contribute to the CPA Alberta Board and lead the governance of the profession?
Throughout my professional career, I have worked in industry as well as in public practice, from two-partner offices to offices with several hundred partners. I have also worked with publicly traded and privately owned clients across multiple industries. This diverse skill set enables me to understand and advocate for all CPA Alberta members, regardless of where they practise. My industry experience has given me insight into business trends and expectations influencing the profession and the importance of effective governance.
Furthermore, throughout my career, I have devoted significant time to coaching and mentoring CPA professionals. I believe connecting with CPAs at all stages of their careers is critical to the health of the profession and provides me with insights and perspective on what resonates with the next generation of CPAs.