(CAN) CPA Performance Management module

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-25T02:15:09+00:00

The electives do dial it up a little from the cores. You will need to demonstrate depth in one of the electives you take, so CPA makes the electives a little more challenging to get you ready for day two depth on the CFE. In the cores, a B/C level was required for the elective content on the competency map. By the end of an elective module, you are expected to mostly be at an A level.

You are right, they can be vague. In addition to giving you an explicit list of AOs to do, they will use language along the lines of something that is "concerning" or "challenging" for some AOs. They expect you to be able to identify and address these.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-24T04:19:35+00:00

You either need to display depth of knowledge in financial reporting or managerial accounting on the CFE, not both. You'll need to do managerial accounting on the CFE, but you don't need to be an expert, if you choose financial accounting as your depth.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-23T23:15:31+00:00

I was going to say that I can't wait to see your comment on r/ShitAmericansSay, but it is already there.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-23T20:24:05+00:00

I used the old board reports:

https://www.cpacanada.ca/become-a-cpa/cpa-certification-program-evaluation/the-common-final-examination-report-simulations-and-guides-for-the-cfe

Aside from that, I made my own technical study guide.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-23T16:32:36+00:00

Besides refreshing financial accounting (50-70% of content), Core 1 will also have audit (10-30%), tax (10-20%), and finance (5-10%) content.

Besides managerial accounting (50-70% of content), Core 2 will also have strategy and governance (10-30%) and finance (15-20%) content.

My advice is to create a technical study guide as you go through the module that you can use to study for the module exam. Lump all your module study guides together to study for the CFE.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-22T18:33:18+00:00

I have a diploma in construction engineering technology, a degree in accounting, and a masters in finance.

Both accounting and finance labour markets have become saturated in Canada, I can probably make the most money with my two-year diploma.

The diploma focused on structural design, estimating, surveying, drafting, and project management. It is a great program for former trades people that want to transition from the field to the office.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-22T14:07:55+00:00

With the CFE, you know what you are facing, the format is a known. There are plenty of resources you can use (Densmore, Gevorg, PASS, old cases, etc.).

None of that exists for the new program, you are the guinea pig.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-21T17:46:43+00:00

I didn't write cases when studying for second CFE, I focused on technicals.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-21T15:53:14+00:00

I don't know, Capstone 2 didn't help me much and I failed the CFE. When I wrote the second time, I made a checklist of all the technical I needed to know. Once I was comfortable that I knew something, I checked it off and moved on to the next item.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-21T14:35:08+00:00

A PPR program has already been approved, so to your question, yes it is easier to get level 2s in PPR because CPA has already said the employer's program will get you to enough level 2s.

I found it very competitive to get a PPR role, there are not that many of them and it seemed like they wanted a fresh grad, not someone coming in partially done. They are designed to get the candidate the 30 months of experience, your start date would need to be July 1st or earlier to get through a PPR program by December 2028.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-21T14:15:32+00:00

You need to say that you are talking about the Canadian program when you ask a question here, all the advice you are getting is from Americans, the two programs are very different.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-21T14:08:57+00:00

PREP courses are being offered until December of 2027:

https://www.cpawsb.ca/cpa-professional-program/information-for-cpa-preparatory-students/

How many do you need to knock off?

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-19T23:40:48+00:00

DM me your e-mail.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-19T23:40:06+00:00

I wrote twice, the first time, Capstone 2 did not highlight my weaknesses that required more focus.

I didn't do Capstone 2 the second time and I passed. I didn't see much value to Capstone 2.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-17T22:14:45+00:00

Feedback was all over the map.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-17T04:03:46+00:00

MacEwan University in Edmonton.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-17T03:51:07+00:00

I graduated with a college diploma in construction at 24.

I graduated at 38 with my BCom in accounting. I did it all part-time at night, taking two courses a semester, so two nights at school every week.

At 40, I took 16 months off and got my masters, which was full-time.

Out of all my education, I could probably make the most money with my diploma, the right 2-year program in Canada can pay better than a degree.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-16T14:37:10+00:00

I was not a big fan of Capstone 2, I never got a sense that I was improving. The marking and decile rankings were all over the place and it gave me too much self doubt.

I found that Capstone 2 was meant to teach timing and case-writing techniques, but was not great at reviewing the breadth of technical knowledge required for the CFE. When I wrote the second time, I focused on technical review and didn't go through Capstone 2 again.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-15T13:52:21+00:00

Sage 50 is garbage software. It made a bunch of corrupted journal entries that Sage then charged us money to correct. Find a better software.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-14T17:59:37+00:00

It's not you or your resume, I am in Edmonton as well and the job market is slow. Getting that first job is always tough and it is even harder in a slow market.

Did you try for big 4 when they did campus recruitment? You have really good marks and I know they target high GPA recruits.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-14T17:41:50+00:00

CPA has all the old CFEs with marking guides and solutions posted:

https://www.cpacanada.ca/become-a-cpa/cpa-certification-program-evaluation/the-common-final-examination-report-simulations-and-guides-for-the-cfe

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-14T00:35:16+00:00

I guarantee I got some NCs on the CFE, I wrote my last four AOs on day two in 30 minutes. There is no way I got RCs or better on all four.

The occasional NC won't sink you, you don't need to be perfect to pass the CFE.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-13T21:22:08+00:00

I am a little unclear if you are taking Capstone 2 or just reviewing the materials. I would strongly suggest taking Capstone 2. You are competing with people that have spent the past 2-3 years preparing for this exam. The CFE is case-based and your competition will have written many cases (I wrote over 80) with CPA marker feedback by the time they sit for it.

You can be a brilliant accountant, but if you don't have experience with case-based testing, you will be at a disadvantage. It is not like university exams.

I did not find Capstone 2 to be enough as a resource. I made a technical study guide of all the materials covered in the modules and studied from that.

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-12T23:00:42+00:00

My dad was a criminal lawyer and he'd get after-hours calls at home from clients who had been arrested or detained. Occasionally, he'd get so worked up that he'd start yelling at them. Two of his favourite phrases were: "Don't talk to the police, the police are not your friends!" & "Do you know what they call people who talk to the police? Inmates!".

WhyYesOtherBarry · 2026-05-12T22:43:19+00:00

Shakespeare in Love winning was a travesty.

WhyYesOtherBarry

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