TORONTO, February 3, 2011 − A new accounting internship program at York University will give students who are pursuing studies in accounting the skills and experience they need to work in the field after graduation.

The Certified Management Accountants Internship Program, established with seed funding from Certified Management Accountants of Ontario (CMA Ontario), is designed for students in the Bachelor of Administrative Studies Honours program with a specialization in accounting. Students will take on one or more full-time paid internship positions – ranging from 4 to 16 months in duration – between their third and fourth years of university.

The new internship program is offered through York’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and York’s Career Centre.

“Experiential education initiatives, like our internship programs, provide students with a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience where they can broaden their skills and explore career options,” said Jennifer Bramer, director of the Career Centre. “These programs also enable students to develop networks, which is increasingly important in today's dynamic labour market.”

The program will give eligible domestic and international students an opportunity to apply their classroom learning in the workplace and enable employers to gauge their skills as potential future employees. Employers will be eligible for the Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit (CETC).

“In today’s competitive marketplace, practical work experience gives new graduates a valuable edge with employers,” said Sharon Armstrong, vice president business development, CMA Ontario.  “CMA Ontario is proud to be providing York students with opportunities to gain a leg up in their future accounting careers.”

Employer and student outreach has begun and internships will start as early as May 2011.The Career Centre is working with the Accounting Program in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies to identify appropriate employers and facilitate recruitment of students, as well as to provide support for students once they begin their internships. CMA Ontario will continue to connect with students and new graduates on campus to provide opportunities to learn more about the Certified Management Accountant designation.

The Certified Management Accountants Internship Program is one of a growing number of initiatives by York to engage with the broader community. Other internship programs at York include the Technology Internship Program (TIP), York International Internship Program (YIIP), as well as the Health Internship Program (HIP) to be launched later this year.

For more information about the Certified Management Accountants Internship Program, see http://www.yorku.ca/careers/internships/accounting/  

For more information about the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario, see www.cmaontario.org

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 Faculties and 28 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

The Certified Management Accountants of Ontario is a self-governing professional organization that awards the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation to qualified candidates in Ontario. With some 25,000 members, CMA Ontario is an integral part of a profession that is 50,000 members strong across Canada and around the world. CMA Ontario maintains rigorous standards of accreditation and professionalism in management accounting to protect the public interest. 

Media Contact:
Janice Walls, Media Relations, York University 416 736 2100 x22101 / wallsj@yorku.ca
Angie Brennand, Director, Public Affairs and Communications, CMA Ontario 416 204 3141 / abrennand@cmaontaro.org