Matt Bootle FCPA, FCA
Matt is a retired partner of EY who also served as Chief Accountant of the Alberta Securities Commission. He is an accounting and auditing expert in the global energy/power/utilities sector and known for his technical and standards expertise. His skill set combines accounting and law, with a particular emphasis on public company governance, financial reporting, and securities.
Matt has always been eager to share his expertise with others, and his generous sharing of knowledge with his CPA colleagues has strengthened the profession. A committed lifelong learner himself, Matt obtained an LLB degree as well as a Master’s degree in Adult Education. His interest in education was spurred by his early involvement in CA student education when he taught financial accounting topics to articling students, and later when he would teach all levels of professionals in his firm on accounting and auditing developments.
Matt has served the profession in a number of ways, including as a member of Council and the Professional Conduct Committee of a CPA Alberta predecessor body and he is currently the chair of CPA Canada’s Independence Standing Committee.
What was your initial reaction when you heard the news of receiving the LAA?
I am humbled by it yet thankful that my peers chose to recognize me in this way. I’ve had the great pleasure of working with a lot of CPAs over the years—I would have suggested many of those folks for this award before I would have considered myself. I must say, another initial thought was, “I’m not done yet!”.
What has driven your commitment to the profession?
I think we are a good group—it’s been pretty easy to associate myself with many other members in this commitment. I think respect for who we are and what we are trying to achieve, most notably in ensuring we serve the public interest, drives commitment.
Is there anything or anybody that was instrumental in shaping your career and/or your outlook?
That’s my dad for sure—he was a longtime Fellow of the profession in British Columbia, and he lived the values our professions strives for. He also took a five-year-old kid to the office one Saturday and sat him down with an adding machine and a fresh roll of tape and said, “Have at it”. I was hooked.