Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Pre-Approved Rotational Program

Develop Your Career as a Chartered Professional Accountant

The Sun Life Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Leadership Program is a learning path designed to help you reach your full potential. Prepare for the CPA PEP exams with a motivated peer group and make the most of exam support, study leave and incentives for progression towards your professional designation.

Choose the Sun Life CPA Pre-Approved Rotational Development Program

With us, you can gain meaningful and relevant work experience through a series of three, one-year rotations across various business units within our Finance and Accounting functions.

  • Gain 36-months of pre-approved CPA work experience to develop the critical technical skills and competencies necessary to obtain your CPA designation (pre-approved by CPA Ontario)
  • Benefit from comprehensive rotation experiences to sharpen your ability to ask the right questions, analyze situations and determine the relevant facts for effective problem solving.
  • Explore multiples lines of business, such as Distribution Finance, Individual Sales Reporting, Group Retirement Services, Regulatory Reporting, Management Accounting, Investor Relations and Capital Management, IT Finance, Corporate Finance, Corporate Tax, and Internal Audit.

Sample Journey

  • Rotation 1: Internal Audit
  • Rotation 2: Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis
  • Rotation 3: Investor Relations

How do I apply?

Sun Life recruits for our new graduate programs every August-September. Opportunities to apply are activated each August. Please review the job posting for current program details at that time.

Please apply online through our student career page.

Join our LinkedIn group to stay up to date!

Eligibility

Candidates must be currently enrolled in an accredited accounting, commerce, or business undergraduate program at a post-secondary institution with a strong academic record while meeting all pre-requisites for entry into the CPA Professional Educational Program (PEP) as of start date.

Successful candidates will demonstrate the following:

  • Strong understanding of accounting principles and concepts.
  • Strong interpersonal, team building, and leadership skills.
  • Highly motivated, self-starter.
  • Strong work ethic and professionalism.
  • Commitment to learning and self-development.
  • Demonstrates analytical, problem solving, presentation and conceptual thinking skills.
  • Well-rounded experiences in academics and extra-curricular activities.

A program centered on your growth and development.

What participants and alumni are saying

Justin Lau

  • Rotation 1 – Canadian Tax
  • Rotation 2 – Financial Reporting and Analysis (MD&A)
  • Rotation 3 – Corporate Accounting Advisory

“When I reflect back on why I chose Sun Life’s CPA Leadership Program, I’d say there were two main reasons.

The first reason was that I always had an interest in the financial services industry, and it’s where I wanted to end up after obtaining the CPA designation. Given that Sun Life is a leader in the financial services industry and I could earn the CPA designation through the CPA Leadership Program, it was the perfect opportunity to kickstart my career.

The second reason is the culture. I met a Sun Life representative at a CPA Ontario networking event and we connected really well. Throughout the rest of my time in university, he acted as an informal mentor and role model to me, taking time from his busy days to have coffee chats/lunch with me. To me, that spoke volumes about Sun Life’s culture and it was something I wanted to be a part of.

I currently work as an Associate Director, supporting the Private Fixed Income origination teams and portfolio managers. I love this role because the work is interesting, challenging, and rewarding. I also get to work with many different teams across the organization.

Ivan Choi

  • Rotation 1 – Financial Operations Planning and Analysis
  • Rotation 2 – Group Benefits Reporting and Analysis
  • Rotation 3 – SLC Management Derivatives Accounting

“I chose Sun Life’s CLP because I was interested in the CPA Preapproved rotations available at SunLife where I would be encouraged to obtain my CPA designation in a diverse environment which would provide numerous transferable skills to different roles in the future. I knew Sun Life was the right fit for me after completing an 8 month co-op term and getting to know the amazing people that I would get to work with, directly and indirectly. I believe Sun Life fosters a wonderful environment that encourages growth and development and the experiences that I have had throughout the program will enable me to grow my career in the financial industry.

I look forward to my future at Sun Life and seeing where the skills, experiences and relationships that I have gained throughout the CPA Leadership Program will take me!”

Rohan Shah

  • Rotation 1 – IT Finance
  • Rotation 2 – Investment Solutions

“I chose Sun Life's CLP because - of the amazing growth opportunities, tight-nit community with the cohorts, and the support they provide throughout the CPA journey. Furthermore, the company's friendly and supportive culture was something that I deeply valued and it stood out to me while beginning my job search as a new grad.

I look forward to continuously develop my skill-set, develop lasting connections, and grow as a leader as Sun Life.”

Jerina Prabaharan

  • Rotation 1 – Corporate Tax

“I chose Sun Life’s CLP because after my experience during my co-op, I knew the company was a great fit. Everyone is very supportive with my career growth and provide many learning opportunities that align with my interests. With such a welcoming environment, I am able to reach out to different teams to better understand the business and gain a breadth of knowledge on different functions in finance.

I look forward to developing my skillset and gaining new perspective from individuals with different backgrounds as I work towards obtaining my CPA.”