The Organization:
Summit Search Group has been retained by CPA Manitoba on the recruitment of their next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). CPA Manitoba is the professional regulatory body for the CPA profession in the province of Manitoba. CPA Manitoba has the responsibility to regulate all matters including competency, professional conduct, discipline and the provision of professional services by its members, candidates, professional corporations and firms. CPA Manitoba is an influential, future-focused professional body that plays a vital leadership role in shaping the province’s business and regulatory landscape and is home to a thriving and diverse community of over 9,000 members and candidates. The organization stands at the heart of Manitoba’s professional community, partnering with industry, government, education, and communities to elevate the CPA designation and strengthen public trust in the profession.
As CPA Manitoba continues to innovate, modernize, and lead within a changing national and provincial environment, it offers a remarkable opportunity for an inspiring and strategic leader. The next CEO will join a respected organization with tremendous momentum, a strong reputation, and a passionate team that is dedicated to the success of the profession. This is a chance to guide an organization through a period of change and make a lasting impact on both the profession and the public it serves.
The Position:
Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides strategic, operational, and regulatory leadership to advance the mandate of CPA Manitoba. As the primary steward of the organization’s purpose, protecting the public through effective regulation, the CEO ensures that all programs, policies, and organizational activities uphold the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, fiscal responsibility, and ethical conduct.
The CEO serves as both an internal leader and an external ambassador: strengthening core operations; supporting and guiding a seasoned senior management team; aligning strategy with resources; and representing Manitoba’s interests within a national landscape undergoing significant redefinition. The role requires disciplined execution, governance maturity, financial expertise, and the judgment to balance competing priorities in a structurally complex environment.
The ideal candidate is a principled, strategic, and forward-thinking leader who brings a deep understanding of the CPA profession and a strong commitment to public protection. They are an experienced senior executive, who excels at linking strategy, operations, and financial stewardship, and who can confidently navigate complex regulatory and governance environments. A skilled relationship-builder, they listen deeply, communicate with clarity, and foster trust with the Board, staff, members, candidates, and external partners.
The successful candidate will inspire confidence, strengthen organizational cohesion, and guide CPA Manitoba through an important period of transition, modernization, and opportunity.
Strategic & Governance Leadership:
- Partner with the Board to set organizational direction, shape long-term strategy, and ensure alignment with CPA Manitoba’s public-interest mandate.
- Provide transparent, timely reporting to the Board, ensuring directors have the insight needed to make informed decisions.
- Strong knowledge of governance practices, board–CEO–management responsibilities, and the ability to navigate multiple perspectives.
- Represent CPA Manitoba provincially and nationally, advocating Manitoba’s priorities in a shifting national structure.
- Translate strategy into operational plans, measurable objectives, and clear resource implications.
Regulatory Oversight and Public Protection:
- Lead regulatory processes, including complaints, investigations, standards enforcement, and compliance activities, to address emerging risks and increased caseloads.
- Ensure compliance with the CPA Act, by-laws, and Rules of Professional Conduct, maintaining rigorous regulatory integrity.
- Strengthen public trust by reinforcing the privilege of self-regulation and communicating CPA Manitoba’s role transparently.
- Prepare for the integration of new technologies, AI-driven tools, and evolving business models that impact professional practice.
- Oversee accreditation, continuous professional development, and public practice registration processes.
Financial & Operational Stewardship:
- Ensure budgets are established with clear priorities that align with strategy and operational capacity.
- Lead financial planning, budgeting, and performance management to ensure organizational sustainability.
- Optimize internal operations, administrative systems, and organizational processes for efficiency and accountability.
- Lead and mentor a cohesive senior leadership team, reinforcing clarity of roles, internal trust, and collaborative culture.
- Ensure effective talent development, succession planning, and a high-performance workplace environment.
Stakeholder, Member, & Community Engagement:
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with members, regulators, government partners, Indigenous communities, post-secondary institutions, and the business sector.
- Navigate national and interprovincial discussions with nuance, ensuring Manitoba is a respected and influential voice.
- Communicate effectively through community events, stakeholder meetings, and public forums to advance the visibility and reputation of CPA Manitoba.
- Reinforce the CPA brand through strategy, member engagement, and community outreach.
Qualifications:
- CPA Designation is required.
- Senior leadership experience with responsibility for strategy implementation, operations, team leadership, and performance management.
- Proven financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, financial sustainability, and linking strategy to resources.
- Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors, with deep understanding of governance roles.
- Demonstrated ability to lead in environments with complexity, ambiguity, and diverse stakeholder expectations.
- Track record of relationship-building across government, regulators, professional bodies, and internal teams.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to listen deeply, synthesize diverse viewpoints, and communicate transparently.
- Experience leading organizational or regulatory change initiatives.
For more information, or to submit your resume, please reach out to Matt Erhard at Summit Search Group, matt.erhard@summitsearchgroup.com
Summit Search Group has a strong commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. We strive for continuous development, modeling, inclusive behaviors and proactively managing bias throughout our process.
