CPABC in Focus January 2014 | Page 29

What do you like to do when you’re not working? Running. I did my first half marathon in Victoria in 2013. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? Find what your weaknesses are and set goals for how you’ll overcome them. CMA Executive Program Award Recipient This award goes to the candidate who obtains the highest grade in the CMA Executive Program. The recipient for 2013 is: Make the grade on your uFe exaM The Uniform evalUaTion (Ufe) is sepTember 9-11, 2014 Get the expert coaching you need to successfully write the UFE exam from a Chartered Accountant and experienced UFE consultant. Alan Le Couteur, CPA, CMA Birthplace & current city of residence: Vancouver, BC. Employer & position: BC Hydro; manager, portfolio & commercial management. What’s your favourite memory of the CMA program? Moderator Paul Levie, CA, CMA (Hon.), explaining why logic is a terrible basis for trying to understand tax rules. What do you like to do when you’re not working? Spending time with my son Owen, snowmobiling, and trying out new and ever peatier scotches. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? Watch out for hidden assumptions! Most of the mistakes I make are because of an assumption I’ve made about some aspect of the issue in question—it could be the nature and function of a piece of equipment, expectations about future pricing or costs, the impact of a policy or regulation, or understanding the perspective of someone involved in a decision. Spending time thinking about and stating the assumptions I’ve made helps clarify areas of potential confusion or business risk. What’s your greatest personal accomplishment, other than earning your CMA? Becoming a father in the middle of the CMA Executive Program and still retaining some level of sanity. UFE CasE Writing: a gUidE to EssEntial CasE Writing skills For thE UniForm EvalUation JAson FlEminG improve your