The Institute offers a number of services and resources that may be helpful for members who are searching for guidance and information during the economic downturn. These include such diverse services as CA job listings, confidential counselling, and other information and assistance programs. This listing summarizes these services and provides links to the appropriate areas of the Institute’s website where more information is available.

Member Advisory/ Ethics Counselling - Free, confidential telephone consultations with one of the Institute’s Practice Advisors are available every day during business hours. Members can take advantage of this service which offers objective and thoughtful feedback on the Institute's Rules of Professional Conduct, accounting, assurance and reporting issues, practice management problems, ethical issues, or other related concerns.

Emergency Professional Assistance Program - This service provides a registry of members willing to provide temporary assistance to practitioners. Engagement terms are determined by the members or their representatives, if the member is unable to negotiate terms.

CA-Assist - Confidential, independent, professional counselling services are offered at reduced rates to those CAs and/or their immediate family members who require assistance in dealing with personal and/or work-related problems. Shepell-fgi, a leading provider of counselling and employee support services, offers this service which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CAreer Connection - This is a free and confidential way to search for great career opportunities, as the job posting section of the site targets CAs and is available only to members and CA students. For those looking to hire, this is an easy and cost-effective way to reach Ontario's CAs.

Membership Fee Reductions - The Institute offers deferrals or waivers of fees to qualifying members experiencing financial hardship in certain circumstances.

Practice Matters Resources - This section provides website links, online articles and publications, which offer useful background on ethical and technical considerations. For example, it would be helpful for members considering a new career direction, or having issues with clients in the current economic downturn.

Professional Development - The Institute offers Professional Development courses in various locations across Ontario that are useful in developing or refreshing soft skills and technical skills, as well as coping with change. There are also some courses that specifically deal with recessionary times; some examples of recent offerings include:

Addressing Fraud Risks
Reacting to Fraud
Business Valuations
CFO’s Role to the Board of Directors
Corporate Treasury Management
Discipline & Termination
Due Diligence for Acquisitions
Enough Bull – How to Retire Well Without the Stock Market, Mutual Funds or Even an Investment Advisor
Getting on Top of Risk Management
Growing Your Company in Turbulent Times
Management Discussion & Analysis
Managing a Company through Recessionary & Challenging Times
Managing Your Career
Practical Guide to Corporate Finance
Practical Tips for Controllers and CFOs
Practising Safe Tax
Risk Management in Financial Institutions
Selling More Effectively & Dealing With Difficult Clients
Strategic Value Analysis for Business Decisions – Large Business

Volunteer Opportunities - Find volunteer opportunities to match your interests and skills. Volunteering not only helps you give back to your community but can also provide you with new skills and networking contacts that can prove invaluable in making a career change.

District Associations (login required) - The Institute's District CA Associations (DAs) provide an opportunity for CAs to participate in activities and network in local communities. Again, this can provide excellent networking opportunities that may prove helpful in a career change or building a business.

CA Speakers Bureau - Promote yourself and your company or practice while also building the image of the CA profession by sharing your knowledge and public speaking expertise at events hosted by businesses, universities, public service organizations and other groups across Ontario.

Networking Events - Networking events provide great opportunities to meet other CAs, potential clients, employers and business associates. From time to time, the Institute receives notices of events being held by various organizations which might be of interest to members.

Global Financial Crisis (CICA Resources) - The Accounting and Assurance Standards areas of the CICA have developed information and guidance to help members and other leaders in Canada’s business and governance communities manage through these challenging times. From time to time, they offer free webinars as well that relate to the economic crisis. Some examples of webinars that have been offered recently include:
Managing Your Career to Remain Sharp in any Economic Environment;
Achieving Growth! Why Innovators will Rule in the Post-Recession Economy - and How You Can Join Them!; and
The Most Common Mistakes Managers Make in an Uncertain Economy.