CFO's Leadership Program (March 2027)

Program Schedule

This program will be offered as an in-person session, delivered over four days (times may be slightly adjusted):

March 17, 2027 | 09:30 a.m. - 04:15 p.m. 
March 18, 2027 | 08:30 a.m. - 06:15 p.m. (1:1 coaching sessions: 3:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.)
March 19, 2027 | 08:30 a.m. - 04:00 p.m. (1:1 coaching sessions: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.)
March 20, 2027 | 08:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

*All times listed above are based on the local time in Alberta.

Important Deadlines

• Early Bird Registration: $3,350 until January 15, 2027; $3,650 thereafter.
• Registration Closes: February 16, 2027
• Malcolm Hotel Room Block Closes: February 16, 2027 (subject to availability)

Overview

The role of the Chief Financial Officer continues to evolve. Beyond technical expertise, today’s CFOs need to make strategic financial decisions in a changing dynamic environment. This necessitates inspired, authentic leaders capable of solving challenging problems as a valued member of the C-suite. From supporting strategic decision-making through to strong financial stewardship, there is a need for the CFO to demonstrate expertise in a broad range of areas, including regulation, globalization, technology, risk, transformation, stakeholder management, reporting, and talent management. In short, they need to be truly effective leaders.

The CFO’s Leadership Program is an intensive and interactive program that blends best practices, case studies, group discussions and role-play to allow participants to advance their leadership skills to move from the technical aspects of being a finance professional, to being a strategic partner. This program concentrates on areas where CFOs have told us they feel they need the most help.

• Leveraging strategy to get results
• Communicating and persuading others
• Leading & influencing across all stakeholders
• Leading culture and change

In this program, you will gain critical insights into leading practices in management and leadership, and have the opportunity to apply tools and skills to your work context, share experiences with your peers and take away actionable goals.

Special Features

• Leadership Assessment: Each participant is involved in two Leadership Assessments to help frame your role as a CFO today and provide an opportunity for individual growth.
  *360 Degree Leadership and Organizational Assessment
  *360 Degree Assessment of Strengths and the Role of a CFO
• One on One Coaching: Each participant recieves the exclusive opportunity of having a session with a professional exectuive coach. This session allows for exploration on ways to improve your leadership capacity. 
• Data-backed approach:  This program uses up to date, verifiable research and theories using relevant casework. 

Program Content

How to be a Strategist

• Learn how to shift from the operational phase to the strategic phase to tap into the different perspectives of all stakeholders to influence desired results
• Learn how to help your team execute better by being a better strategist
• Explore the gap between corporate strategic goals and the day to day operations in rapidly changing environments
• Understand how the role of the CFO impacts the development and sustainability of a positive corporate culture
• Discuss tools and techniques for how to drive change

Communicating and The Art of Persuasion

• Learn how to convey complex financial results and business performance to drive actionable outcomes through powerful presentations
• Receive feedback on a live presentation that will enhance your specific style
• Learn the latest techniques for powerful presentations
• Understand how to frame the organization both internally and externally
• Explore impacts on communication from core drivers such as globalization, technology, and multi-generational workforces

Leading & Influencing

• Learn how to develop a more effective leadership style to help lead your organization through globalization and growth
• Learn how to give & receive effective feedback
• Learn how to plan for your own succession
• Understand and explore when pay for performance is the right tool to drive performance and when it can impede desired results
• Best Practices on Creating and Sustaining Resilient Leadership
• Learn tips about how effective executives manage their personal well-being
• Explore the best practices for managing daily tasks interactions and relationships
• Learn how to build ‘executive presence’ to be yourself while inspiring others
• Learn how to position yourself to have the greatest strategic impact both currently and in the future with the senior leadership team, other key stakeholders in the organization and with the Board

Negotiations

• Learn how to enhance your ability to negotiate and build consensus at the C-level
• Understand your negotiation style and its impact
• Explore various approaches to negotiations for success in today’s business environment
• Review techniques and tools for internal and external negotiations

Pre-Work

This program contains pre-work that should be completed before attending the live classes. The approximate pre-work time required for this program is 5 hours. Note that the pre-work hours are already included in the total CPD hours listed for the program. Please click the image below to watch a brief pre-work introduction video.

Who Will Benefit

This course is for you if you:

• Direct, or wish to direct, the finance and administration areas of your organization.
• Provide, or are seeking to position yourself as counsel to the CEO and the Board.
• Wish to expand your knowledge and develop your leadership skills as they apply to strategy execution and talent management in the finance and administration area.
• Want a unique opportunity to go beyond focusing on what you are doing as a leader to truly understand how you are being a leader.

Accommodation

Although not mandatory, participants are strongly encouraged to stay on-site. We have negotiated special rates with the program facilities - note that the cost of the accommodation is separate from the program fee. You are responsible for booking the accommodation yourself. Please contact the hotel directly as directed upon confirmation of registration. Attendees will pay for their accommodation fees directly to the hotel upon checkout.

Pre and post-program dates are not always guaranteed at the same negotiated rates, and rooms outside the conference dates may not be available during peak periods.

Visit the Malcolm Hotel website (malcolmhotel.ca) for accommodation:

• Room Block Code: Watch for a welcome email from our team, which includes the room block code.
• Exclusive Room Rates: Access preferred rates through our room block, available until February 16, 2027, or until sold out.
• Book Early: Space is limited—please book promptly after registering.
• Confirmation: You will receive confirmation from the hotel at the email address provided.

Terms & Conditions

Course Withdrawals

A full withdrawal or refund, minus an administration fee of $100, will be granted if the withdrawal request is received more than 30 days before the start date of an executive program.

If a withdrawal or refund request is received 15-30 days before the program start date, an administration and/or material fee of $1000 will apply for live virtual offerings and an administration and/or material fee of $1500 will apply for in-person offerings.

Refunds will not be granted if the written withdrawal/transfer request is received 15 days or less before the program start date.

*Some exceptions may apply and will be reviewed individually.

Please note that if the original payment was received greater than 180 days prior to the refund request, a refund to a credit card is not possible. A store credit will be issued for the total refunded amount.

Transfers

A transfer is permitted, minus an administration fee of $100, if the withdrawal request is received more than 30 days before the start date of the executive program.

If a transfer request is received 15-30 days before the program start date, an administration and/or material fee of $1000 will apply for live virtual offerings and an administration and/or material fee of $1500 will apply for in-person offerings.

A transfer request will not be granted if the written withdrawal/transfer request is received 15 days or less before the program start date.

Please note that if payment was received greater than 180 days prior to the refund request, a refund to a credit card is not possible. A store credit will be issued for the total refunded amount.

Participant Substitutions

Participant substitutions will only be accepted up to 30 days prior to the executive program start date. No substitutions will be accepted within 30 days of the first date of the Executive Program. Additional fees may apply. To request a substitution, please email pdregistration@cpaalberta.ca and include the course information, name of the original registrant with CPA Alberta ID and the name and CPA Alberta ID number of the replacement participant.

Participant No Shows

Attendance will be taken during the executive program. If you do not attend, you will be listed as absent, and you will not receive a certificate of completion.

Extenuating circumstances

Exceptions to withdrawal, transfer, or no-show policies may be considered under extenuating circumstances. These are situations that are unforeseeable, unavoidable, and beyond the control of the registrant. All requests for exceptions must be submitted in writing to pdregistration@cpaalberta.ca and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Attendance Policy

To receive CPD credit for in-person courses, your name must be on the registration list, and you must be present when attendance is recorded by the instructor, otherwise, there is no way of verifying whether you have attended a course or received the product. If your name is not on the registration list, you will not be permitted entry into the course.

Failure to attend an in-person course on the scheduled date, without prior notice, will be treated as a forfeiture of registration and will result in the loss of eligibility for a refund or transfer.

Completion and Certificate of Completion

Upon completion of all learning activities, a certificate of completion will be available to download through the Learning Management System. For in-person courses, conferences and executive programs there will be a delay in accessing the certificate of completion, as CPA Alberta verifies attendance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many CPD Hours are associated with this program?

There are up to 28 CPD Hours associated with this program. 

Is there Pre-Work associated with this Program?

There are approximately 5 hours of pre-work time required for this Program. These pre-work hours are already included in the total CPD hours possible.

How and where do I access the Pre-Work for this Program?

All of the pre-work, instructions on completion, accommodation information and agenda can be found through the CPA Alberta’s Learning Management Portal: https://learn.cpaalberta.ca/.

What are the unique features of this Program?

There are a variety of unique features:

• Each participant is involved in two Leadership Assessments.
• The assessments help frame not only your role as a CFO today but also provide an opportunity of individual growth. One-on-One Coaching.
• The exclusive opportunity to have a session with a professional Executive Coach to explore ways to improve your leadership capacity.
• The use of up-to-date verifiable research and theories with casework.

Is there a Certificate available with this Program?

All participants will receive a downloadable certificate via CPA Alberta’s Learning Management Portal. Upon completion of both the CFO’s Leadership Program and CFO’s Operational Skills, participants will receive the CPA Alberta CFO Program Certificate of Completion.

CPA Alberta CFO's Executive Program Certificate

The CPA Alberta CFO's Executive Program Certificate is a two-component curriculum designed to provide you with the foundation for success. The CFO's Leadership Program will focus on management soft skills, while the CFO's Operational Skills program will focus on core technical and operational skills.

You can choose to complete only one of these programs, but if you complete both courses, you will receive a certificate upon completion. Note that these programs can be completed in any order as they focus on separate and distinct skills.