Advanced Data Management Certificate Program

Do you have the knowledge and skills to lead in today’s digital-first world? Learn to analyze data, reduce risk and solve complex problems to further your career in this online program for CPAs in industry.

Event Details

Jointly Presented By:

CPA Canada, KPMG Canada, and Simon Fraser University’s (SFU’s) Beedie School of Business (Executive Education)

Location and date:
Online (English) On-Demand Event

Take your career to the next level

The skill requirements for accountants are changing. Expectations for mid-level staff now include advanced model creation and analytical skills to help create relevant and clear data for decision makers. CPAs are becoming required to understand how to utilize software and systems in a more advanced manner, to ensure long-term sustainability of the profession.

The Advanced Data Management Certificate Program (ADMCP) will teach skills that benefit those in finance and accounting roles, from analysts to senior managers, or those who want to take on the responsibilities of working with and analyzing data. The ADMCP can also act as a pathway for professionals wishing to explore data analyst roles.

Honing the critical skills learned in this program, such as data-driven decision making and critical thinking, is key to advancing your career to more senior levels such as director and CFO. According to the most recent Future of Jobs Report from the World Economic Forum, these skills are among the top 5 emerging skills employers identified as being in high demand in Canada.

Why take this program?

This program is the only one of its kind specifically targeted to CPAs and other financial professionals.

  • Build the skills needed to evaluate complex information, create persuasive visualizations, and support best practices in digital security.
  • Gain proficiency in advanced data manipulation to create improved financial models for high-impact results, while learning how to protect digital assets and develop effective dashboards.
  • Understand the power of tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Python, R, and SQL, and data governance topics associated with tools and technology that are becoming increasingly important.
  • Learn from our reputable partners featuring instructors from Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business (Executive Education) and KPMG.
  • Participate in a cohort model with other students in the program, allowing for networking opportunities and collaboration with peers and subject matter experts.
  • Benefit from receiving university credit.

What’s next? Book your free consultation with our learning advisors!

For a free consultation, contact our CPA Canada Learning Advisors. They are here to understand your learning goals and help you meet them.





Facilitated Timelines

The ADMCP is a facilitated program. Each course is designed to be completed in six consecutive weeks, with one module per week, and students are to complete each course during the respective timeframe. To support your successful completion in the courses, a facilitator will be available each week during the designated six-week time frame to answer questions during a live Q&A or provide additional support in completing the weekly activities. Completion of course work and access to facilitators will only be available during the specified timeframes. Facilitators will not be available outside of these timeframes. The certificate of completion will be awarded once all module quizzes have been passed.

2024 program (you may click each to find out more):

Introduction to a Data Analytic Framework: March 4, 2024 – April 14, 2024
Visual Storytelling with Data: April 29, 2024 – June 9, 2024
Data Governance: Risk Strategy and Data Privacy: July 8, 2024 – August 18, 2024
Business Intelligence, Automation and AI: September 9, 2024 – October 20, 2024
Applied Accounting Analytics: November 4, 2024 – December 15, 2024

2023/2024 program:

Introduction to a Data Analytic Framework: June 19, 2023 – July 30, 2023
Visual Storytelling with Data: August 14, 2023 – October 1, 2023*
Data Governance: Risk Strategy and Data Privacy: October 16, 2023 – November 26, 2023
Business Intelligence, Automation and AI: December 4, 2023 – January 28, 2024**
Applied Accounting Analytics: March 4, 2024 – April 14, 2024

*No facilitation the week of August 28.
**No facilitation the weeks of December 18 and December 25.

Registration for each course or program closes 10 days prior to the start date of the full program or each course.

Frequently asked questions and additional information

Please click “frequently asked questions” and “session descriptions” at the bottom of the page to learn more. For more detailed program information, please contact our learning advisors to receive our full FAQ brochure that covers the course structure, facilitated session format, technology requirements, preparation tips, and more.

Early bird discount: A 15 per cent early bird discount is available to anyone who purchases the full certificate between now and January 15, 2024. Just use ADMCP15 at checkout.

Additional options and pricing may be available. See pricing and registration for more details.



$6,250

125 CPD hour(s)
Pricing & registration

More Details:

Session Descriptions

Introduction to a Data Analytic Framework

You will learn:

- how data analytics can be applied to your work and improve organizational strategic insights using CRISP-DM and other data analytics frameworks.
- how to prepare data through cleansing and normalizing techniques
- how to analyze data and apply modelling techniques with basic statistical concepts.

Visual Storytelling with Data

You will learn:

- how to effectively tell the story of data through visualization (charts, graphs, etc.)
- how to present visual data in mobile, laptop, and desktop formats
- how to effectively communicate your data story to stakeholders

Data Governance: Risk Strategy and Data Privacy

You will learn:

- how to differentiate between privacy and governance – and why that matters
- how to understand the types of issues that arise from poor data practices and failures – and prevent them
- how to develop a Governance Plan for your organization

Business Intelligence, Automation, and AI

You will learn:

- how to track, measure, and improve business intelligence processes and projects in your organization
- to use software tools and query languages
- to identify risks and opportunities in using business intelligence, machine learning, and artificial intelligence for decision making in your organization

Applied Accounting Analytics

You will learn:

- to apply previous course learnings to solve real-world business problems
- to build an innovative use-case that is grounded in analytics, business intelligence, good governance and data visualization
- to communicate the implications of your innovation in improving practices and how the results of your work are transferable to other clients, organizations, or industry.

Frequently asked questions:
1. What is the difference between the ADMCP and the Data Management Foundations Certificate?

The Data Management Foundations Certificate is an introduction to Data Management, the skills learned in this program are a recommended foundation for the more in-depth Advanced Data Management Certificate Program (ADMCP)

Eligible for 33 CPD hours, the Data Management Foundations Certificate consists of five courses that combine theory and practice and is designed for CPAs with at least five years of post-qualification experience covering:

  • Data preparation: Cleansing, modelling and dashboards
  • Introduction to Power BI or Tableau Desktop
  • Introduction to data analytics
  • Decision making and critical thinking
  • Decision Making and Critical Thinking in a Data-Driven World
2. Who is this program for?

This program is for CPAs and non-CPAs looking to build their knowledge in data analytics, data governance, systems, coding, modelling and dashboarding. Targeted toward analysts to senior manager roles in accounting and finance, this course allows you to become more proficient, build upon technology capabilities to stay competitive, and develop skills to advance or shift your career focus to data analyst roles and responsibilities, or even build the skills needed to achieve more senior positions like director and CFO. Building this foundation will sharpen skills in complex problem solving and analytical thinking that are increasing in demand among employers today. Building these critical skills is key to advancing your career to more senior levels in your organization, having honed data-driven decisions making and critical thinking.


3. How long does it take to complete the full program?

The program is designed to enable students to complete all five courses within one year. Individual courses are designed to be completed within six weeks following the format of one module per week through the facilitated sessions.


4. What are the prerequisite requirements for the program?

Previous data cleansing knowledge is required. We recommend the Data Management Foundations Certificate. Additional prerequisites may include other data cleansing courses, programs or equivalent real-world data cleansing experience.

Students should already be comfortable using a data analytic tool (such as Power Query or Power BI) to perform the following:

  • text, numerical and date manipulations, data type changes
  • append, join, union and aggregate operations
  • data filtering and splitting, grouping and ranking
  • pivoting and unpivoting data, data calculations
  • troubleshooting and problem solving

In addition, a well-prepared learner will have:

  • basic statistics knowledge (able to calculate the mean, median, standard deviation; understanding of distributions)
  • basic visualization building (create basic visualizations: bar, column, map, pie, treemap)
  • basic data model and dashboarding (build basic models based on cleansed data set, create simple interactive dashboards which allow for filtering and drill downs)

While the focus is on the Microsoft suite of products, this program is designed to be tool agnostic, meaning, you can use your preferred tool, software and/or method to complete the activities. This is not a software tutorial program. It is expected that you have a good command of at least one tool.


5. What are the technology requirements for the program?

The ADMCP is delivered by a platform called Canvas, an online learning management system used by Simon Fraser University. Access to Canvas requires a personal computer and internet. Further, to complete activities, it is recommended for students to have access to Microsoft Office. While the program is designed to be tool agnostic, the following lists the recommended programs and those required for some modules:

  1. Word and Excel: Can be used for all Courses. Power Query within Excel can be used to solve some activities in Course 1, 2, and 4.
  2. Power BI: Recommended for visualizations and data analysis in all courses
  3. Tableau (optional): Alternative program introduced for visualizations
  4. SQLite (online) or equivalent: Required for Course 4 – Module 2
  5. R and R studio or equivalent: Required for Course 4 – Module 3
  6. Python: Required for Course 4 – Module 6

As many work laptops prevent employees from installing non-work-related programs for security purposes, we recommend using your personal computer or getting approval ahead of time to be ready for each course. Where available, cloud versions of the software are posed as an alternative tool.


6. Are the ADMCP courses credit or non-credit?

ADMCP courses are non-credit but may have the opportunity to be applied toward credit in a graduate certificate program at SFUs Beedie School of Business. To be eligible, you must first be accepted into the Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics at SFU.


7. Is there any financial assistance or grants available?

Additional options and pricing may be available. Grants and financial assistance may also be available. For a free consultation, contact our CPA Canada Learning Advisors.

You may also be interested in:

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The ability to tell a powerful story with data can take your organization to the next level. Learn how to communicate the right strategic message using the top dashboard tools and techniques for data visualization.

Data is the underlying infrastructure that helps support analytical decision making. In this course, you will cover the important legal, regulatory and organizational requirements that manage risk and help facilitate best practices in data governance and privacy.

Discover new strategies to optimize decision making and drive success as a CPA. Learn how to apply business intelligence methodologies, tools and processes that support effective reporting and cross-functional collaboration in your organization.

It’s time to incorporate more data analytics into your work for a significant, lasting impact. Learn how to apply broad and in-depth strategic analysis using tools and processes that are grounded in real-world data.

Contacts

Please contact:

Member Development and Support
Tel: 1-800-268-3793
Email: [email protected]