A program to qualify internationally-trained accountants to Canadian standards at the Odette School of Business has won an award from the profession’s national governing body.

Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor received a CMA Canada National Recognition Award for its partnership of the University of Windsor and Certified Management Accountants of Ontario in the skills development program.

Since 2009, the program has received more than 234 applications, provided training to 70 women, and enjoyed a participant employment rate of 86 per cent.

Dean Allan Conway of the Odette School of Business says his faculty is “proud to be part of the success of these hardworking professionals who can now practise in Canada as fully qualified accountants with the prestigious CMA designation.”

The award recognizes a group, company or institution that has made a significant contribution to the overall development of CMA Canada’s growth and specifically to the discipline of management accounting.

Merv Hillier, president of the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario, says the program will have positive lasting effects in Windsor and in management accounting.

“The partnership that was developed three years ago between WEST of Windsor and the Odette School of Business has been an outstanding example of how we can work together to achieve the prosperous goals for both a city and province,” he says.

WEST’s executive director, Rose Anguiano Hurst, says her organization is proud of its role in bridging the knowledge of these finance professionals to Canada.

“We are thrilled of the success of the program participants and we are confident that the success of our clients will lead to growth and development of the local labour market,” she says.

The program is currently being adapted for expansion to other cities in Ontario and across Canada.