Eilish joined GGFL as a co-op student from the University of Ottawa in 2014 and was hired in a full-time Staff Accountant role in 2016. She received her Chartered Professional Accountant designation in 2018 and was promoted to Supervisor in 2019. Eilish has extensive experience overseeing audits of various NPOs and registered charities, as well as managing assurance engagements for various companies in the real estate and construction industries.
Like most students looking into a co-op position, Eilish wanted to learn as much as possible during her work terms, so she investigated the experiences offered by small, medium, and multinational firms.
“I knew GGFL was right for me when I did the office walk-through after my interview,” says Eilish. “Everyone was so welcoming.” Her instincts were right. “The people here are supportive. They encourage you to ask questions and truly want to see you succeed. I was part of the team from the get-go.”
“I learned more in my co-op terms at GGFL than in my four years at University. You just can’t grasp the intricacies of an audit, for example, until you take on the file and actually do the work.” Also very useful was working directly with clients. “Dealing directly with the client allows you to see the impact your work can have. You can discuss clients’ objectives on a case-by-case basis and work with them to achieve their goals.”
Eilish’s advice for students coming in? “GGFL provides the opportunity to work with different partners and managers, which allows you to study their individual efficiencies and processes. As you progress in your experiences, you should take advantage of this exposure and develop your own set of best practices. In addition, you have the opportunity to work first-hand on a variety of accounting services. These learning experiences will help you broaden your knowledge and assist you in developing your career as an accounting professional.”
