Controller's Operational Skills Program (May 2026)

CPD Hours: 25 | Ethics Hours: 4

This Executive Program is sponsored by:

 

 

 

 

Early Bird Close: March 06, 2026
Registration Close: April 03, 2026

Seats Available: 17

Member Price: $3,350.00
Non-member Price: $3,350.00


Delivery Method: In-Person

Start Date: Tuesday, May 05, 2026 01:00 PM
End Date: Friday, May 08, 2026 12:00 PM

City: Canmore
Venue: The Malcolm Hotel

 

Schedule

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

May 05, 2026 | 01:00 pm - 06:00 pm (MT)
May 06, 2026 | 08:30 am - 04:15 pm (MT)
May 07, 2026 | 08:30 am - 04:15 pm (MT)
May 08, 2026 | 08:30 am - 12:00 pm (MT)

Important Deadlines

  • Early bird price $3350, available until March 06, 2026.
  • Regular price $3650, available from March 07 to April 03, 2026.
  • Registration closes on April 03, 2026.
  • Malcolm Hotel room block closes April 03, 2026.

As a Controller, you are expected to be the financial expert in your organization. You are relied upon to produce, analyze and interpret the financial data that will be used by the executive team to make key financial decisions. To excel, you must continuously demonstrate leading edge knowledge and keen business acumen.

The Controller’s Operational Skills Program is designed to enhance your role on the management team by sharpening your skills in risk management and controls, ethical leadership, planning, budgeting and forecasting, performance measurement approaches and financial reporting. You will explore ways to maximize the effectiveness of your accounting department through staffing and structure, policies and procedures, and process and quality management. You will gain insights into performance enablers for success, with a focus on information management and human resources management, and an eye towards trends in Controllership.

The Program

This is an in-residence program, and although not mandatory, participants are strongly encouraged to stay on-site. The program cost includes course materials and some meals. The accommodation costs are separate, and will be paid directly to the hotel. See the section below on Accommodation for more information.

 

Following are the Pre-Work items for this course:

  • Change Management Simulation: As part of the course, you will complete an online change management simulation that takes approximately 1 hour. A registration link will be sent to you in April via email. You will need to complete the simulation prior to the course. Further details will be provided in the email.
  • Pre-Reading: the pre-reading for this course will take approximately 2.5 hours. The materials will be uploaded at least a month prior to the course. You can access these materials in the course listing through your Learning Management System profile at:  https://learn.cpaalberta.ca/.
  • Participant Profile: Please fill out the Participant Profile located here: https://learn.cpaalberta.ca/. While this is optional, it is a valuable opportunity to establish connections with like-minded CPAs and stay connected to your cohort beyond the course.

 

Program Content

  • The Controller’s Role
     a. A framework for effective Controllership
     b. Risk identification, management and controls
     c. Planning, budgeting and forecasting
     d. Performance monitoring and reporting
     e. Financial standards and statutory reporting
  • Running an Effective Accounting Department
  • Organizing an effective accounting team (including people and process)
  • Purchasing and payables
  • Credit, billing and collections
  • Inventory planning and management
  • Cash planning and management
  • Performance Enablers and the Way Forward
     a. Brief introduction to managing change
     b. Information technology – today and tomorrow
     c. Controller’s role in HR management
     d. Emerging issues and trends
     e. Personal life skills, action planning and closing

Approximately half of the total program time is allocated to group activity and discussion to build a high level of engagement, sharing of participants’ ideas and general networking. 

 

Who Will Benefit

Are you responsible for management and financial reporting? Do you want to build upon your operational skills and knowledge of Controllership? Do you want to gain more confidence and be more effective in your role? If you answered “yes”, and if you are either an aspiring Controller or an existing Controller, then this is the program for you.

 

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 to make the accommodation arrangement 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 at malcolmhotel.ca for accommodations:

  • Exclusive Room Rates: Access preferred rates through our room block, available until April 03, 2026, or until sold out.
  • Book Early: Space is limited—please book promptly after registering.
  • Room Block Code: Watch for a welcome email from our team, which includes the room block code.
  • Confirmation: You will receive a 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 3.5 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/.


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 Controller’s Management and Controller’s Operational Skills Program, participants will receive the CPA Alberta Controller’s Executive Program Certificate of Completion.

 

CPA Alberta Controllership Executive Program Certificate

The CPA Alberta Controllership Executive Program Certificate is a two-component curriculum designed to provide you with the foundation for success. The Controller’s Management Program will focus on management soft skills, while the Controller’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 components 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.

Seats Available: 17

Member Price: $3,350.00
Non-member Price: $3,350.00


Delivery Method: In-Person

Start Date: Tuesday, May 05, 2026 01:00 PM
End Date: Friday, May 08, 2026 12:00 PM

City: Canmore
Venue: The Malcolm Hotel

More Information

More Information
Competency Leadership and Professional Skills
Start Date May 5, 2026, 1:00:00 PM
End Date May 8, 2026, 12:00:00 PM
Instructor Tammy Towill
Venue The Malcolm Hotel