Strategic Education Advisor (Contract)

Support Future CPAs. Drive Educational Excellence. Make a Meaningful Impact.

CPA Ontario is not like other organizations

We operate at a rare intersection, both regulator and membership body, responsible for upholding the integrity of the CPA designation while supporting more than 105,000 members and 19,000 students across the province. Our work sits between business and the public interest, between the evolving demands of industry and the standards that make trust possible.

Careers built here tend to look different because the work itself is different. You are not simply contributing to an organization. You are helping shape a profession that touches nearly every sector of the economy at a moment when expectations, technology, and the nature of work are all being rewritten.

About This Opportunity:

Reporting to the Director, Pre-Certification Education, Program and Operations, the Strategic Education Advisor provides strategic, operational, and analytical support for the delivery and administration of the CPA Pre-Certification Program and the continued development of the new CPA Professional Program.

Acting as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert, the role supports program and examination delivery, operational planning, stakeholder engagement, reporting and analytics, budgeting, process improvement, and issue escalation management. Working collaboratively across teams, the Strategic Education Advisor identifies opportunities to enhance the student experience, improve operational effectiveness, and support the successful execution of key educational initiatives.

This position is a full-time contract for an estimated 16 months duration, until December 2027.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Provide Strategic and Operational Advice
  Serve as a trusted advisor to the Director by preparing briefing materials, business cases, and recommendations while identifying operational risks and supporting the implementation of the new CPA Professional Program.
• Manage Student Experience and Complex Escalations
  Investigate and resolve complex student issues, providing recommendations on policy interpretations, accommodations, and exceptional cases. Analyze student feedback and trends to drive improvements while supporting communications related to programs, examinations, and student-facing initiatives.
• Lead Data Analysis and Process Improvement Initiatives
  Support operational performance reporting, analyze key business data, and ensure data integrity to support evidence-based decision-making. Partner with stakeholders to improve business processes, systems, workflows, and reporting capabilities, including supporting Salesforce enhancements and testing activities.
• Support Financial Planning and Stakeholder Engagement
  Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial monitoring activities by analyzing expenditures, revenues, and variances. Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and participate in committees, working groups, and special projects to advance organizational objectives.

To Be Successful You Need:

• A CPA designation and a post-secondary degree or diploma in Commerce, Business, or a related field; an MBA is considered an asset.
• A minimum of five years of experience in professional education, ideally within the CPA profession or a similar credentialing, regulatory, or post-secondary environment. Experience with competency-based education, program delivery, candidate support, learning design, and supporting senior leaders is preferred.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with experience analyzing data and preparing reports to support decision-making.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, competing deadlines, and changing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage confidential information and effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
• A collaborative, relationship-focused approach, with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive working relationships across teams and stakeholder groups.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; experience with education or learning management platforms is an asset.

Salary Range:

• The starting annual salary range for this position is between $82,900 - $103,700 per annum, based on your qualifications, experience, and internal parity. Exceptions may be considered with further review.

Why Join CPA Ontario?

• We support your well-being through industry-leading benefits, mental health resources, savings programs, and a sustainable approach to how work gets done.
• We are committed to inclusion as a core part of how we operate, not as an afterthought.
• We have a hybrid working environment, with three days a week on-site, complemented by 2 days of remote working. We are intentional about that: the work we do benefits from being together. We want those days you work from home to be comfortable and offer a one-time bonus towards a home office when you start.
• We invest in your growth through learning and professional development opportunities, stretch projects, secondments, and genuine paths for career progression.
• We move quickly. The pace reflects the profession we serve; it can be demanding, but the work matters, and the team around you is invested in the same outcomes you have.

We appreciate your interest in CPA Ontario and this position

At CPA Ontario, we are committed to building high-performance teams. Our selection process is thorough, fair and run by humans. All suitable applications are reviewed by someone on our Recruitment team, and if your qualifications and experience meet the requirements of this role, we’ll be in touch. We encourage you to set up CPA Ontario job alerts for positions that align to your experience and career goals.