It is true – many of us in public practice really do enjoy busy season! Part of it is knowing that the winter flies by and when things slow down, there is plenty of time to enjoy the summer and great weather! My husband Craig is a farmer, and although tax time overlaps with calving, work has generally complemented our farming business.

Balancing work with a family is always a challenge, however, when the kids were young I worked less, taking most summers off. Life is simpler in a rural community compared to the city. This enables us parents to attend school functions and music lessons, take children to appointments, and transport sports teams without all the city driving and stress.

Our youngest daughter Stacey is going into second year of business at Grant MacEwan, and worked on the farm this summer. Ashley is in her fourth year of business at the U of A, worked with us at the office again this summer, and is a valuable addition to the Wilde & Company slo-pitch team. Luke is now part of the CASB world and is articling in Edmonton. Jeff, a U of A mechanical engineer, is married to Deanna, a teacher, and both work in Edmonton. I really miss all the sports and music commitments with the kids, but have filled in the gaps quickly.

I received my Bachelor of Commerce from the U of A in 1982 and received my CA designation in 1986. However, CA’s are committed to lifelong learning, and annual courses in taxation, financial statement presentation, human resource management and other areas are routine. I also enjoy instructing for the ICAA, and have taught a variety of courses over the years, including the Municipal Audit Course annually.

An interesting form of professional development for me has been ‘test writing’ the UFE in June for the last 5 years. Representing the ICAA, this has been a very interesting endeavor as I have learned how rigorous the UFE process is. I am also very impressed with CASB as the program seems to mesh very well with the real world of accounting.

Although in public practice we are expected to know ‘something of everything’, my special interests are in the following:

• Farm business management and taxation, including intergenerational transfer of assets, estate planning, incorporation, and government programs.
• Municipal and School Division audit and accounting
• GST issues. In 1990 when GST was coming into effect, I instructed seminars across Alberta for Municipalities and School Divisions. It was very interesting learning all about this new ‘temporary’ tax and sharing this knowledge with others.

A good set of accounting records and reports are one of the best tools for successful management. One of the best investments a business can make is in having a knowledgeable accountant providing them with advice and keeping them out of trouble with CCRA!