37 Canadian Accounting Consultants in Canada

Team 79 Poster

Team Reflection

This reflection explores how Canadian Accounting Consultants (CAC) can enhance their corporate social responsibility strategies. While the company already excels in following several Aim2Flourish global goals, there is always room to build on existing successes and achieve new ones. This report will present our recommendations and highlight the significance of these initiatives.

Through the interview that was conducted with Adele Harraway, we were given a chance to see the practices and innovations of Canadian Accounting Consultants. With the knowledge that we learned within the classroom regarding the seventeen different SDG goals, we were able to apply that to what we discovered about CAC through the interview as well as with personal research. Using other concepts such as sustainability and triple bottom line were we able to properly assess whether or not they were aligned with these practices which they were. From their very structured hiring standards that allow for diversity and equality, minimized use of excess paper waste, to their donations to specific charities, we concluded that Canadian Accounting Consultants care about more than just their company, but for others that surround them as well.

We were initially shocked after reviewing the interview that an accounting company was able to align itself with such goals. Just from previous views, we thought that companies that revolved around accounting would primarily focus on clients and other concerns such as raising their revenue. However, after this new and profound experience with aim2flourish, it is clear that there are many ways for even companies like these to make a huge impact on the people, community, and environment.

Recommendations

To further strengthen its impact, Canadian Accounting Consultants (CAC) can consider expanding and refining its current strategies.

Enhance Digital and Technological Competencies- CAC’s dedication to a paperless, cloud-oriented framework is progressive; however, to maintain a competitive edge, they should consider further investments in cutting-edge technologies such as AI-powered matching algorithms. These innovations could enhance the precision of candidate-employed pairings and accelerate recruitment procedures, thereby providing an even more seamless experience for clients. The adoption of these tools may necessitate collaborations with technology firms or the provision of AI training for existing personnel.

Improve Environmental Sustainability Initiatives: While turning a paperless company lessens CAC’s carbon footprint, the organization may go further in pushing environmental sustainability. This may range from carbon offsetting initiatives, facilitating company-wide events on sustainable living, to including sustainability measures in their annual reports. Collaborating with environmental organizations or seeking certifications in sustainable business practices, such as B Corp, could significantly amplify CAC’s positive environmental influence.

Strengthening Community Participation and Giving: Although CAC already actively contributes to health-related charities, it is in a position to make a greater social impact with the creation of a more formalized corporate social responsibility program. CAC can set aside a percentage of its profits for community projects or establish a scholarship program targeting underprivileged accountants-to-be. Additionally, by creating volunteer activities or designed “give-back days,” .

Executive Summary

Canadian Accounting Consultants  is a recruitment firm established in 2010, dedicated to connecting CPAs with potential employers in Canada. Founded by Adele Harraway and Bill McNeil, CAC has grown into a team of six professionals committed to making a positive impact in the accounting sector. CAC’s approach focuses on aligning its business practices with four sustainable development goals: good health, gender equality, good jobs and economic growth, and climate action. The company makes donations to multiple organizations, and takes part in hiring practices that emphasize skills over gender. Additionally, CAC operates a paperless business model, therefore utilizing cloud technology to minimize paper consumption and reduce its environmental footprint. The founder, Adele Harraway, draws inspiration from her experience in the accounting industry as her motivation stems from her passion for helping others, fulfilling careers and creating a change in her community. She stays determined and focused through integrating her father’s emphasis on resilience in a male-dominated industry and is constantly pushing herself to be the best she can be. The company’s impact has created long-term benefits for the community. By helping clients secure better jobs that best match their personality and providing support and guidance to all clients their services build a better environment for all. In addition, the organization focuses on a skill based hiring strategy that promotes diversity and reduces gender biases. In regards to business benefits, increased client happiness, smoother operations, and brand reputation has all improved due to CAC’s effective business strategy. By prioritizing skill over demographic in hiring, CAC creates a diverse, high-performing team that approaches each problem with a variety of viewpoints. In summary, CAC shows a strong commitment to social responsibility, promoting gender equality, prioritizing climate action, and approaches the recruitment strategy in a different light. The organization’s unique business strategy differentiates themselves from their competitors while contributing to societal goals and ensuring steady growth for the future.

Conclusion 

Canadian Accountant Consultants (CAC) highlights how a business, even a profit driven environment, can embrace corporate social responsibility (CSR) to make an authentic impact. CAC’s commitment to community, diversity, and sustainability aligns with the triple bottom line. By committing to the actions of being paperless, cloud based functions, skill focused hiring, and philanthropic approaches, CAC upholds the commitment to positive change next to their business goals. This reflection backs up that typical view that for-profit businesses are solely just that and sheds light on the potential of what businesses can become if they follow sustainable practices. By adopting this framework, CAC sets itself apart in a competitive market by showing that social responsibility can coexist with profitability. CAC’s way of being reveals that ethical business practices are not only achievable but also valuable assets that enhance the business’s image. CAC’S commitment to corporate social responsibility plays a bigger part and that is that any business has the potential to make a positive impact. Ultimately, as more companies see the importance of CSR adopting CAC’s actions it can help their business in the long run.

Individual Reflections

James Angelo Gonzal

Initially, I was very skeptical about the COIL program for a few reasons. Working with people who I know nothing about and who are from around the world raised some concerns regarding productivity and efficiency. However, after this experience, I was wrong to be skeptical. After meeting and communicating with the team, it was clear to me we were all just another group of extraordinary, hard-working people who cared about getting whatever work assigned to us finished. Some of the potential issues such as the different time zones and schedules were not as big of a concern I thought it would be because we were all able to effectively communicate what worked for each of us and what didn’t. Everyone would be actively engaged and participate in our meeting calls and even in the group chat as well which made it feel even more like working as a team. If I knew I would be working on another assignment with this same team, I would have no objections to doing so. Overall, I think this was a great experience for me and I hope the same for everyone else.

Megan Harraway 

At the beginning of this program, I was both excited and nervous to work with strangers essentially on a project that heavily relies on my course grade for my international business class. I went into this program having the idea that this would not be an easy project, especially due to time zone differences, language barriers, and that potential for unresponsive group members. After working through this project and having the time to reflect on myself, my group members, and the project as a whole, I have to say I am very pleased with the way we successfully completed this project. I was lucky enough to be placed within a group of nice, hard-working, and motivated individuals whose main focus was to learn more and push towards success. Without the support from such an amazing group of individuals, this project would’ve been a whole lot more difficult. Therefore, I am very appreciative to have such wonderful groupmates, and if I were to work with them in the future, I would be pleased.

Judith Xitlali Garcia

Coming into the COIL program, I felt a bit nervous and excited because I was going to meet other students from various places on Earth and I was going to be able to work with them.  I was a bit nervous at the thought of potentially being paired up with people who would be inactive. As the project goes to an end, I am very proud of the things we have all accomplished and that was possible by effectively working together. Potential issues such as time zone differences were not a problem since we would all communicate through the chat that we created. We all collaborated and always felt open to share our ideas. Overall, this experience has shown me the importance of collaborating across cultures and helped me become more confident in my ability to work through other virtual environments even if it’s other challenges.

Cora Bellissimo

When I initially heard about this program, I was excited. I thought it was a very unique and different experience as I have never heard about this ininvaitve before. When starting I did have my doubts when learning we would be working with other students around the world. I was skeptical as to how we would all come together to create a final project. Time differences, language barriers and communication issues were concerns that filled my head before starting. Throughout this process our team worked extremely well together. All of my concerns immediately went away as our team communicated through apps via Whatsapp and Google Meet. We met with each other weekly through video calls and divided our work equally. I am extremely happy with the completion of this assignment and felt that everyone worked hard to meet strict deadlines. If I had to chance to work with this group again, I would be delighted to without a doubt. Everyone was extremely pleasant and shared a common goal of being open to leaning more and creating a successful outcome.

Nuhansi Thathsarani

First, it has been interesting and exciting to take part in this experiential group project as part of our team’s assessment into Canadian Accounting Consultants (CAC). This Group project is the first project I did with international students who participated. Initially, I was very excited and Asking about this COIL Project made me anxious because Concern’s effectiveness came when I worked with people from all over the world that I didn’t know anything about. Through our conversation with Adele Harraway, I was able to become familiar with CAC’s story and obtain initial understanding of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. This gave me an interesting viewpoint on how companies in traditionally profit-driven businesses can make a significant impact. At first, I did not have basic knowledge about this COIL project, but I understood about this program because all the information was exchanged with the team members through google meetings once every week. And we all exchanged information through WhatsApp as well. I think all my team members had great interest in doing this project. Even though international students from three countries participated, even though the timings were different, everyone willingly participated in the meeting calls and did the assignment, so it was possible to finish it without a rush until the end. So finally, it was a great experience when working with international students for me. If I get to work internationally in the future, this will be a nice experience for me.