Marsha Janvier, CPA
Serving Indigenous Communities and Businesses in Saskatchewan
October 15, 2020
Public practice has always been a popular career path of CPAs and candidates. However, the services that firms provide have evolved alongside shifts in the business landscape. In addition to services like assurance and taxation, many firms have developed consulting, risk management, and IT divisions, for example. Some have also built specialized teams to serve clients with unique needs. Just like Marsha Janvier, CPA, you can pursue a career in public practice that you are genuinely passionate about.
“I want people to know that when they invest in me, they are investing in someone who has the knowledge and experience to deliver.”
Marsha Janvier, CPA is a newly designated professional accountant who provides audit, assurance, and consulting services to Indigenous communities across Saskatchewan as a part of MNP's Indigenous Services Team. The team is knowledgeable in the specific needs of Indigenous organizations, the history and culture of Indigenous peoples, and the roles that Indigenous values play in future planning, daily operations, and decision making.
Originally from La Loche, Saskatchewan, Marsha is Dene Métis. Although she did not set out to become a CPA, her goal was always to work with Indigenous communities on improving financial literacy. After earning her Business Administration Diploma from the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT), Marsha transferred into the Bachelor of Commerce program at the Edwards School of Business. While job searching, she learned of MNP's Indigenous Service Niche and felt it was the perfect fit for her career goals. She landed a summer internship before being offered a full-time position upon graduation. Marsha became a CPA this year, and she is well on her way to improving financial literacy and making a difference in Indigenous communities.
“I love that I get to work with so many different Indigenous groups. It has been a great learning opportunity. The more I understand the community and the financial dynamics, the stronger I become as a professional.”
Accounting and financial literacy enable prosperity and sustainable Indigenous economies. We need Indigenous CPAs, like Marsha, to work in our governments, businesses, financial institutions, and not-for-profits. Marsha feels that earning the CPA designation has helped her focus her career by working in a niche where she uses her skills to create a direct, positive impact and assist communities.
Marsha would like aspiring CPAs, and the public, to know that professional accounting is not the same thing as bookkeeping. The CPA Professional Education Program is a graduate-level program, and she deals with complex business issues, ensures adherence to the relevant accounting and assurance standards, and protects the public by maintaining the high ethical standards required of CPAs while meeting her clients’ unique needs.
“CPA helps you become a well-rounded professional - it helps to improve communication, problem solving and technical skills.”