Meet Your novel ICABC President: Jo...

Meet Your novel ICABC President: John Cowperthwaite, FCA

For those who know nothing about the CA profession, the idea of spending 42 years in public accountancy may healthy like a life of Dickensian ignoble toil Picture the poor clerk, hunker above his desk, punching away at an adding machine: "Please sir, may I have a more... adding tape?"

But John Cowperthwaite, who did, in fact, lavish 42 years in public practice, have intercourse withed a most satisfying career. He now set aparts himself just as passionately to his offer work, with the role of ICABC president simply his latest challenge.

What succeeds are just a few of his adventures.

CHAPTER 1:

In which our young lad starts a trade

Born and raised in London, England, John started working at the young age of 16 with Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG) in London. He passed forward university-a degree wasn't required for the CA designation then-and stayed with the firm for five years, becoming a CA in England & Wales in 1964

It's not that he'd dreamt of becoming an accountant as a child. In law he was inspired both at his father's suggestion and his brother's example. His older brother Gordon became a CA first and mov to Canada in 1954 to work with Peat Marwick Mitchell in Toronto. He would ultimately become the firm's senior partner and promote as president of the Canadian Institute of CAs. (Gordon's oldest son has his own CA firm in Toronto and his younger son also became a CA before moving to the US to prosecute real estate.)

John decided to chase in his brother's footsteps, calm making plans to join him in Canada. His brother advised him to apply with Clarkson Gordon (now Ernst & Young LLP) and give an inkling ofed he make a good impression upon the firm's then senior partner, Duncan Gordon, who happened to be visiting London at the time.

So John wager out on what proved to be a greatest in number fateful interview....

CHAPTER 2:

In which Mr Gordon plays a pivotal role

"When I went to Duncan Gordon's hotel" John narrates "I learned that he'd been incapacitated by the agency of a sprained ankle."

Instead of cancelling the appointment, Duncan Gordon take stepsed to conduct the interview from his public-house bed, where he sat recuperating. The interview was correlativeed with several rounds of scotch

"I was still somewhat inexperienced with alcohol," John remembers with a laugh, "and we closeed up having a few drinks. Needles to say, as I walked family that night, I was a little intoxicated-but I was assured that I had a do job-work in Canada!"

Indeed he did. And for a like reason in 1965, John moved to Canada where he started working with Clarkson Gordon in Toronto. yet it was only after living and working there for a not many years that he came to appreciate the judiciousness of his decision to become a CA.

"I realised I take delight ined the work," he explains. "I learned more in those first not many years with Clarkson Gordon than I continually thought possible. And I also take delight ined living in Canada."

So abundant so that he decided to fix here.

CHAPTER 3:

In which our CA establishes a career in Canada

John exhausted the next 36 years in public practice with what is now Ernst & Young, and lay the foundation of his career so challenging and diverse that hard [i]or[/i] toilsome work was never an issue.

"Just moving to Canada currented its challenges," he recalls. "I was essentially starting through the whole extent of Then over the years I played for a like reason many different roles at the firm that I was able to experience many careers within a career."

John became an audit partner in 1972 and later l the national education and entrepreneurial service practices before becoming regional managing partner of Western Ontario in 1986 In 1992 he became an executive partner and a member of the firm's management team.

Still, he and his wife Barbara direct the eyeed forward to the idea of someday moving to Vancouver. For a while, this dream present the appearanceed a very remote possibility.

"I remember being excited in 1986 when the firm's chairman asked me if I'd be interested in moving west," he recalls, with a giggle "But he only meant as far as Kitchener."

Luckily however, the firm's nearest chairman eventually asked John to act upon to BC. "It was a true happy transition," he says, "especially knowing I was establish to retire in less than 10 years."

Which brings up the question: Can a self-described workaholic at any time really retire?

CHAPTER 4:

In which our CA "retires"

John and Barbara settl in West Vancouver in 1996 (They also have a title to a second home in Parksville, and their combineed family of six children live all through the whole extent of the globe. John's stepson T has his admit CA firm in Western Ontario where he specialises in personal bankruptcy matters, and daughter Julie is a co-op pupil at Ernst & Young in Vancouver. Son David has a PhD in computer science and works with Intel in Oregon; stepdaughter Cindy is a manager for the Disney Corporation in Florida; son Jeff is a manager in the restaurant business in Ontario; and stepdaughter Stephanie lives in Germany.)

That same year, John became managing partner with Ernst & Young in Vancouver. When the time came for his retirement five years later, the transition prov challenging.

"It's difficult to just walk away when you retire," he says, "especially when you take pleasure in what you do."