Global events and advances in technology, have impacted societies and affected organizations of all sizes. As a result, there is a need for highly skilled, qualified accountants and financial advisors able to understand and face the world’s complex challenges. They are critical to help organizations manage their resources and develop plans for future success.

The Graduate Certificate in Accounting at McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies offers you a graduate-level credential that demonstrates the skillset and professional competencies needed to work and support any type of organization. For those seeking a professional qualification, it is also the first step toward gaining a CPA designation.

Anas Gatbach
Academic Program Coordinator

This program is a good fit for you if you are:

• An accounting professional planning to pursue your CPA designation
• A professional in accounting or finance preparing for a more senior or managerial role

The program is designed to enable you to:

• Apply current financial accounting practices
• Understand the process of financial reporting
• Perform the duties and responsibilities of an auditor
• Apply the basic principles of tax law
• Determine accounting income, working capital, and flow of funds
• Perform cost accounting, including cost/volume/profit relationships
• Make decisions related to business operations, including investments and financing
• Apply fundamental corporate finance theory, including capital budgeting, firm value maximization, risk, and return.

Classes are offered in person once a week for 13 weeks and are generally held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Some classes may be offered on Saturdays during the day. Courses can be taken in the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer sessions.

1. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an approved university with a minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.0 in the last two years of full-time academic studies.
2. If your CGPA is lower than the above requirement, please submit the following for consideration with your application:
   
   a) Letter of Intent: 1 to 2 pages in length, single-spaced, written in English or French, addressing the following:
   • your knowledge that would be pertinent to the program
   • your interest in the field of study and the reasons for applying
   • plans for integrating the training into your current or future career
   • description of your professional experience and its relevance, if applicable, to the program
   • awards received or other contributions
   • any additional information relevant to your application
   
   b) Curriculum Vitae
   
   c) Two letters of reference, signed and on letterhead. At least one should be from a current or former employer.
   
   d) GMAT and/or GRE test score results (optional)
    
3. Applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency.

Career opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• Accounting and business planning
• Tax planning and preparation
• Controllership services
• Auditing
• Management consulting
• Financial planning
• Retirement planning
• Estate planning
• Succession planning
• Systems advice and implementation
• Business start-up advice