Q&A: Your questions about earning a CPA designation answered by a real-life Vancouver CPA

A career change doesn’t get much bigger than this.

Before moving to Vancouver from Japan, Yoko Ozaki spent over a decade in the Japanese military working as an officer supporting aircraft operations for high-profile government and royal passengers. Fast forward to today, and she’s a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) working in audit at PwC Canada’s Vancouver office.

Her journey is a reminder that there’s no single route to a CPA designation, and it’s a path that can provide exciting opportunities — some of which you may not have even imagined. If you’re interested in a career in the CPA world, you can do it too, no matter what your story is.

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We caught up with Yoko to answer some of the most common questions people have about becoming a CPA.

Q: Firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

A: Hi, I’m Yoko. Before I moved to Canada, I worked in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force for 12 years as an officer, and my previous world was all about aircraft operation and transporting Japanese VIPs such as the prime minister and the royal family members on government aircraft.

I moved to Vancouver in 2017 and started a completely new chapter of my life. Now I work as a senior assurance associate with PwC and I recently got my CPA designation in Canada.

Q: What made you decide to enroll in the CPA program?

A: Honestly, accounting was never part of my original plan. After I moved to Canada, I made new friends, and someone who I met through social media suggested that I consider accounting and becoming a CPA. At first, I thought, “Accounting? Me?” But I was open to new opportunities and trying something new. That one conversation changed my life.

Q: How did you stay motivated during your studies?

A: To be honest, there were days when I felt tired and overwhelmed. What kept me going was remembering why I started this journey — I wanted to build a career in Canada and to prove to myself that I could become a professional in a new country and in a new language.

Support is definitely important. A classmate or a friend can remind you that struggling doesn’t mean you are failing, it means you are growing. Sometimes what you need most isn’t another study guide. It’s someone saying, “You’ve got this. Keep going.”

Q:  What strength helped you the most during the CPA program?

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A: Resilience — I learned that I am more resilient than I thought! I didn’t pass a couple of exams in the CPA program on the first try, and there were moments when I doubted myself. But I kept going, and the experience showed me that I just needed a little more time.

Q: What’s the biggest benefit of earning the CPA designation?

A: Credibility and confidence. As a newcomer to Canada and someone who changed careers, the CPA designation helped me feel that I truly belonged in the profession. It also gave me more opportunities to connect with other professionals.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a new CPA?

A: One of my biggest challenges has been building my professional brand and figuring out what I want to be known for. I’ve worked with a wide range of clients, including public and private companies and government organizations. That experience has been valuable, but I need to decide where I want to focus in the future.

To help with that, I work with my career coach at PwC to review my experiences and identify opportunities that align with my long-term goals. That has given me confidence and clarity about my career path.

Q: What if someone’s not sure they’re qualified to start the CPA program?

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A: My advice is simple: don’t let fear make decisions for you. If you’re thinking, “My English isn’t good enough” or “It’s too late to change careers,” I would say your background is not a weakness. It’s the thing that makes your journey unique.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. If you are curious, willing to learn, and open to new opportunities, the CPA path can take you further than you expect.

Yoko’s journey is a good reminder that there isn’t just one way to become a CPA. And as her experience shows, it’s a path that can lead to possibilities you never expected and a rewarding career.

Head over to CPABC’s Become a CPA page to learn more or start your journey today.