This document discusses professional opportunities for Indian chartered accountants in the information technology field in Canada. It outlines fields like IT auditing, information security consulting, and ERP application roles that chartered accountants can excel in. It emphasizes that accounting and IT knowledge combined creates a unique and in-demand skill set. It provides information on prerequisites like obtaining IT certifications in fields like CISA, CISM, and SAP before arriving in Canada to improve job prospects. Contact information is provided for organizations that can assist chartered accountants.

1. Professional Opportunities for Indian
Chartered Accountants in
Canada in Information technology
field
CA Ganesh Sharma
Director, BC Chapter of ICAI, Vancouver
DISA (ICA) CISA, CISM, CISSP, CIA, SAP Certified
Cell +1 778 839 2310
Email: sharmagds@yahoo.com

2. Fields in which Chartered
Accountants excel
• Information Technology Auditing - IT Auditor
• Information Security Consultant, very hot in current
market, demand likely to stay at least for a decade, if
not more.
• IT SOX Compliance Analyst
• ITGCs / ERP Application controls reviewer
• ERP Applications support head e.g. for SAP, JDE etc.
– One professional can handle multiple roles i.e. Internal
Auditor, IT Auditor, Information Security Consultant.
Multiple skills shield against potential lay-offs.

3. Business knowledge of Chartered
Accountants
• Chartered Accountants have knowledge and
better understanding of business process work
flows e.g.:
– Order to cash: the moment a sales order is received to
converting in cash
– Procure to pay: Placing purchase order for buying
goods and service to making payments to vendors
– Inventory Management
– Production, Etc.
• Chartered Accountants make effective and efficient IT Audit
professionals due to their accounting expertise unlike the
techies.

4. Accounting and IT Knowledge
combination – Unique skill
• Accounting and IT Knowledge combined
creates unique skill set not readily available
and generally in short supply in Canada
• Can work as a regular employees or as a
consultants – on a contract to contract basis
• Speaker got multiple job / consulting offers in
different cities in Canada after getting first
Canadian work experience

5. Prerequisites for getting consulting
opportunities / jobs in Canada
• Companies / Employers value IT certifications
• Obtain certifications while still in India:
– Start with DISA (ICA) – Post qualification diploma in IS
Auditing from ICAI. This is what speaker started with.
– Go for multiple certifications preferably in different fields,
e.g. in IT Auditing, Information Security, ERP Applications,
as possible
• CISA and CISM from ISACA www.isaca.org
• CISSP from ISC2 www.isc2.org
• CIA from IIA www.theiia.org
• SAP/AX ERP Applications http://cit.icai.org/
• Remember IT knowledge and its application is universal
– can be applied worldwide.

6. Information on IT certifications
• IT Certifications:
– Examination fees are very low
– Complete certifications before coming to Canada
– Studying in Canada is costly, avoids time wastage
– Experience requirements can be met after passing the
certification exams
– Easy to pass and helps getting jobs faster
– Logically related - one certification helps in passing
the next one
– One certification can be done in three-four months
time with proper dedication

7. Helping ICAI Members
• BC Chapter of ICAI www.icaivancouver.com, is
willing to help and guide members for any
assistance they may need.
• Contact:
Ganesh Sharma, Director, Cell +1 778 839 2310
sharmagds@yahoo.com,
Vijay Gupta, Chairman, Cell +1 778 316 4156
info@icaivancouver.com

8. Questions?

9. Thank you !
Material in this presentation has been prepared for informational purposes
only and is not intended to be relied upon as professional advice.
Views expressed herein are those of the speaker and do not necessarily
reflect the views of BC Chapter of ICAI, Vancouver.

10. Ganesh Sharma – brief profile
• Ganesh is fellow member of ICAI with global experience in Assurance & Business
Advisory services, External Auditing, Internal Auditing, IT Auditing, IT SOX
Compliance and Information Security with PricewaterhouseCoopers and
Multinational companies internationally.
• He holds multiple professional credentials CISA, CISM, CISSP, CIA, SAP Certified
Solution Consultant and Diploma in Information Systems Auditing DISA (ICA).
• Since 2011 he has been working with Teck Resources Ltd., (headquartered in
Vancouver), the largest Canadian Mining Company and is responsible for global IT
SOX compliance.
• Ganesh is founder member, Director and Convenor for BC Chapter of ICAI,
Vancouver, Canada and is responsible for organizing CPD seminars for the Chapter
members.
• Ganesh has travelled extensively including Australia, Europe, North America, South
America, Africa and the Middle East.