Meet Sushmita Dey, a Finance Global Payroll Manager at Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions. Originally from Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Sushmita’s journey to earning her CPA designation highlights her adaptability, determination, and passion for professional growth.
Why CPA?
When Sushmita moved to Canada in early 2023, she realized the importance of an additional qualification to support her career aspirations in a new country. “Considering I am a Chartered Accountant from India, CPA was the obvious first choice,” she explains.
A New Learning Experience
For Sushmita, the format and design of the CPA program was a surprising change. “It was entirely different from the usual exam format for Chartered Accountants in India,” she recalls. Adapting to this new approach became an exciting challenge for her.
Finding Fun in the Program
What Sushmita enjoyed most about the CPA program was its innovative structure. “The format and design of the course were fun and exciting to adapt to,” she shares.
Overcoming Challenges
One of the biggest challenges Sushmita faced was the concentration required to write long cases. “The 4-5 hours needed to write a case was something I initially struggled with and wished wasn’t part of the program,” she admits. However, her perseverance and dedication helped her overcome this hurdle.
Advice for Aspiring CPAs
Sushmita’s advice to future CPAs is simple but effective: “Practice, practice, and practice as many past cases as you can—I solved all cases from the last 10 years.”
A First in the Family
As the first CPA in her family, Sushmita didn’t have a close role model to inspire her. Instead, her family’s motivation and positive attitude played a crucial role in helping her achieve this professional milestone.
Reflecting on the Journey
Sushmita’s overall experience with the CPA program was both challenging and rewarding. “As a Chartered Accountant from India with 12 years of experience in finance and audit, I found the CPA program to be quite different from any other exams I’ve appeared for,” she explains. Resources like Knotia, D2L, old practice cases, and CPA guidance videos close to exam dates were instrumental in her preparation. “Overall, it was a wonderful way of challenging myself and evolving as a winner,” she adds.
Beyond the Numbers
Sushmita’s mornings start with getting her child ready for school. When she’s not working, she enjoys visiting Crystal Crescent Beach, indulging in chocolate ice cream, and watching a wide range of Bollywood and Bengali movies. Sushmita plans to visit Banff, her top travel destination.