Jenny Chan, a distinguished alumna of TIS, graduated from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA Canada). She currently serves as Vice-President of Client Finance at BGO, a role that reflects her deep expertise, trusted leadership, and strong commitment to client success. She also contributes to professional education as a CPA Common Final Examination Marker, helping train and evaluate the next generation of accounting professionals.
Beyond her professional work, Jenny is active in the community through leadership and mentoring. She serves as Co-Vice Chair of Women of Urban Development Institute (WUDI), a volunteer organization dedicated to elevating women in real estate, and mentors the Young Women in Business group at UBC.
We recognize Jenny as an outstanding alumna who truly reflects our vision: the courage to innovate, the passion to pursue excellence, and the character to embrace challenges.
What are your fondest memories from your time at TIS?
There were so many memories to be able to recount it all, but I think being part of the student council and travelling to the 2008 Beijing Olympics with my classmates were definitely some key highlights.
How did TIS prepare you for your studies and career in finance and accounting?
TIS taught me critical thinking skills and the ability to solve problems while under pressure.
Can you share a bit about your journey from TIS to the University of British Columbia and what motivated you to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce?
During my time at TIS, I knew that I wanted to pursue my studies in business as I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and I generally enjoy numbers.
What challenges did you face during your time at university, and how did you overcome them?
Being far away from home and in a new country was extremely challenging, as not only was I away from my friends and family, but it took a while to adapt to the people and navigate a new culture and social norms. I joined a lot of extracurricular clubs and worked part-time jobs to be able to build my network and establish myself in a new setting.
What was your experience like in seeking your CPA designation after graduation?
The CPA process in Canada is fairly extensive to first land a job offer at a public practice firm (especially for a Big Four firm) and then to obtain your CPA designation, as you need both the work experience and education to be certified. The recruiting process as a student is gruelling, where you have to go through numerous rounds of interviews during an intense recruiting cycle amongst thousands of other students in the country, and then once you land an internship or co-op, you need to be evaluated to be offered a full-time role. The CPA designation requires you to pass 6 distinct Professional Education Program (PEP) modules, a rigorous 3-day Common Final Exam (CFE), and obtain sufficient work experience to qualify. Once you obtain your CPA, you need to continue with ongoing professional development hours to retain the designation annually. It’s definitely not easy, but worth it in the long-run.
Being promoted to Vice-President of Client Finance at BGO is an impressive achievement. Can you describe your career progression to this role and what this milestone means to you?
It’s definitely a proud moment, especially since neither of my parents went to University given the environment and era they grew up in, but I also don’t put too much emphasis on titles and try to focus on building my teams. It’s been over a decade in my career to get to this point, which took a lot of hard work but also saying yes to opportunities as they came and meeting the right people. My career has not been a straight line, as I’ve pivoted from being an auditor in public practice, to being on the other side in industry, and even consulting where I was travelling every other week.
You also hold a position as a CPA Common Final Examination Marker. What has that experience been like for you? How has it contributed to your professional development?
Being a CFE marker has kept me up-to-date with the profession and issues/challenges that we could face, as the exams are case-based. It also always reminds me of the importance of mentorship and supporting the next generation of leaders that come after me.
What insights have you gained about the next generation of accountants through this role?
There’s a shift in companies where they’re no longer looking for technical accountants (AI can do a lot of it) and now looking for accountants who are business partners that can solve bigger problems and work well with other people.
What advice would you give to current TIS students who aspire to follow a similar path in finance or business? What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing young professionals in the finance industry today?
My advice to TIS students would be to talk to as many people as possible about their careers and find out about the unique stories, as everyone has a different path. It’s also great to be able to shadow someone in their job so you really know what the day-to-day would look like. AI is definitely a disruptor.
What role do you think education plays in preparing young people for leadership positions?
It’s extremely critical in providing an environment where each student can develop, grow, and take risks - as well as meet some of the most important people in their formative lives.
What makes you proud to be a TIS alumna?
I’m proud to have been part of the first graduating class at TIS (I believe we surpassed the performance of other schools in the Alberta curriculum), and I’m very happy to see that many of my fellow classmates have pursued amazing careers all over the world.
