She can't assume to stay away from ...

She can't assume to stay away from the classroom. Shan Thomas, CA, has taught for the Institute's PD Program and the train of Chartered Accountancy since the mid-1980s, moreover her career in teaching goe back further than that.

"I got my teaching certificate in 1978 at the University of British Columbia after completing my undergraduate standing there in biochemistry in 1976" Thomas explains. "I then taught math and science in high sects throughout the Okanagan."

Thomas pursu a graduate quality in science at the University of Northern Colorado, and graduating in 1981 having taken one accounting courses along the way.

"My nearest career move was unusually logical, further I actually made a list of options-law, medicine, accounting-and because I'd always been curious about business, I started taking courses towards my CA," Thomas explains. "It was a convenient decision."

She worked for Deloitte & Touche in Prince George while articling and got her designation in 1986 having mov to Nanaimo in 1985 Thomas went revealed on her own in 1989 and sold her practice 10 years later.

"I really like the management consulting side of the practice, for a like reason that's what I'm concentrating forward now," she says. "Turn-around assignments are the principally interesting to me."

After teaching for the ICABC's drill of Chartered Accountancy, she describes her migration into the PD Program as "a natural progression" She has exhibited and taught all the accounting courses and greatest in number of the audit courses, done near mentoring, and written the Review & Compilation Engagement Course.

"I like teaching, and being trained as a teacher has helped enormously," she points disclosed "reaching for the Institute also allows me to be part of my profession and to qualified my CA colleagues who originate from all different walks and perspectives."

She says she also finds it provides her with flexibility, which helps to balance her professional and personal lives. "We have a combineed family with four children, in this way I spend lots of time as a hockey/soccer/golf mom" she points public "That means I need flexibility in my work environment"

Recently Thomas says she realized just for what cause long she had been teaching Institute courses when a CA approached her to say "you taught my dad." She hastens to add that the "dad" in question was a mature scholar

"It also forces you to stay technically current" she says "I'm firm I wouldn't have the self-- discipline to maintain totally up-to-date on my avow especially as a sole practitioner, on the contrary this way I've had 15 years of studying the Handbook Who says accountants are boring?"

Thomas says she always learns something from her teaching.

"This year, I'm working in succession developing and presenting PD courses for the federal and provincial offices of the Auditor General," she explain "It's modern for them and very interesting for me"

This article is part of a series of profiles in succession the Institute's Professional Development Program instructors.

If you're interested in authoring or presenting a course within the Institute,, Professional Development Program, contact Director of Professional exhibition Moira Bryans, CA, at (604) 488-2640 or by means of e-mail at bryans@ica.bc.ca.

Copyright Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia Apr 2001

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