In an exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Rick Johal, CEO of the Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada, highlights why bookkeeping is far more than transactional work. Drawing on 15 years of experience in association management and public affairs, Rick shares how certified bookkeepers transform financial data into actionable insights, helping Canadian small and mid-sized businesses make informed decisions, maintain compliance, and secure long-term sustainability.
Interview By Maheen Bari
Rick is a strategic executive with 15 years of leadership experience in association management and public affairs. He specializes in transforming vision into measurable outcomes for members, constituents, and communities. Rick thrives at the intersection of policy, people, and purpose, driving innovation, shaping narratives, and fostering collaboration across organizations and teams
With a mindset rooted in continuous growth, Rick is a lifelong learner who embraces adaptability, builds momentum through challenges, and leads with empathy and intention.
His background as a collegiate athlete instilled in him a relentless drive and refined discipline—qualities he brings to every leadership role.
Outside of work, Rick is a devoted husband and proud father of two incredible daughters. He stays energized by coaching competitive youth volleyball, training at a Muay Thai boxing gym, and volunteering in his community.
You lead the Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada, the largest professional association for bookkeepers in the country. For small and medium-sized business owners who may still see bookkeeping as “just data entry,” how do you explain the real value a qualified, certified professional bookkeeper brings to their business?
Data entry is a starting point, but it is not the destination. A Certified Professional Bookkeeper is someone who can transform financial data or raw numbers into a clear roadmap of a business’s financial health. This clarity allows entrepreneurs to build smarter and make more informed decisions every single day.
Consider what is truly at stake for businesses. A CPB ensures that records are accurate and year-end is done properly, helping you maintain compliance and avoid costly mistakes.
With stewardship in mind, they help you manage cash flow, flag potential issues before they escalate, and provide real-time insights to inform critical decisions.
In research conducted by PwC, we found that nearly 69% of bookkeeping professionals saw their clients save on costs or grow revenue as a direct result of their expertise. So this isn’t just data entry; it is a strategic investment in financial security and peace of mind. For most business owners, time is the scarcest resource. A CPB gives that time back, allowing them to focus on their core strengths while a trusted professional manages the finances.
Nearly 20 years ago, CPB Canada was created to set standards in an unregulated field, and you’ll mark your 20th anniversary in 2027. How has the bookkeeping profession evolved over those two decades, and why do you think it has become such a women-led industry and professional community?
When CPB Canada was founded in 2007, bookkeeping was an unregulated field (both formally and voluntarily), with the industry lacking any national standards. We set out to bridge that gap. Nearly 20 years later, the profession and the technology surrounding it have undergone a significant transformation.
Technology has reshaped the landscape. Automation and AI are now robust tools that can handle many routine tasks, elevating the bookkeeper to an informed and strategic partner.
Today’s CPBs are advisors and technology specialists who guide clients through tech stacks, transitions, and periods of growth or decline. They act as a vital support system, where needed. Nothing better exemplifies this than during the pandemic, when bookkeepers were thrust into frontline support to help their clients secure support from the range of government programs.
What remains constant is the need for rigorous standards. The CPB designation represents verified experience, demonstrated competence, and a commitment to ongoing ethics development and continuous learning. Our community of over 2,500 members is proudly women-led, reflecting the profession’s core strengths: precision, trust, and a genuine commitment to client success. This leadership has shaped our direction, offering a path for meaningful, flexible, and independent careers.
Many entrepreneurs assume that as long as someone can “do the books” and file basic reports, they’re covered. What are some of the biggest risks you see when SMEs rely on non-certified or underqualified financial professionals, and how do professional standards and credentials help protect both the business and its long-term sustainability?
The risks of relying on uncredentialed financial support are real and serious. When someone manages your books without proper training, small errors can compound quickly. Much like ignoring maintenance on a company vehicle, that initial hesitation to hire a professional can come at a heavy price, including CRA penalties, legal challenges, and reputational damage.
There is also the critical risk of fraud. Proper bookkeeping creates a transparent trail of every transaction, and association with CPB Canada binds your bookkeeper to a Code of Ethics.
This structure provides recourse against unprofessional behaviour and can prevent issues from becoming a crisis.
This is why credentials are essential. The CPB designation confirms that a professional has met a verified national standard. It is to give the client confidence that the person handling their finances is qualified and will be held accountable to agreed-upon standards. Choosing a CPB is one of the smartest investments a business owner can make to safeguard their long-term sustainability.
You often describe bookkeeping as a value-added practice that goes far beyond day-to-day reporting and compliance. In practical terms, how can a certified professional bookkeeper become a strategic partner in areas like cash flow, forecasting, and decision-making—and what mindset shift do business owners need to make to fully tap into that partnership?
A CPB becomes a strategic partner the moment you stop viewing them as a year-end necessity and start involving them as a year-round advisor. This is the mindset shift we at CPB Canada wish business owners would adopt to help them achieve their potential.
In practical terms, this partnership provides a significant advantage. By maintaining current records, a CPB can identify trends in income and expenses to build realistic cash flow forecasts. When you are weighing a major decision, such as expansion, talking to lenders, or pursuing new hires, a CPB provides the context to make informed and sometimes difficult decisions.
To put it simply, CPBs can act as translators. Many business owners are not “numbers people,” and they don’t have to be. A skilled CPB translates often complex or underlying financial data into actionable insights. Move from asking “Are my books done?” to asking “What are my books telling me?” Bringing a bookkeeper into planning conversations early allows them to better manage risk and enable clients to better allocate resources with confidence.
This September, CPB Canada will host the IGNITE Conference in downtown Montreal, your flagship annual gathering for bookkeeping and accounting professionals. How do events like IGNITE help keep the profession relevant in rapidly changing times, and what message would you most like to leave Canadian small business owners with about the role of professional bookkeepers in their success?
This September, we are bringing the CPB Canada IGNITE Conference to Montreal to ensure our profession remains at the forefront of learning for our industry.The accounting technology landscape changes rapidly, and events like IGNITE are vital for staying sharp.
Hundreds of accounting professionals come together to share knowledge through learning sessions and explore emerging tools via a large trade show, ultimately building the professional capacity of our community.
My message to small business owners is clear: your bookkeeper should be a vital partner in your success. A Certified Professional Bookkeeper does far more than keep records; they ensure compliance and provide real-time insight into how a business is performing financially. Bookkeeping professionals in Canada support over 200,000 jobs and contribute around $16B to Canada’s GDP. Behind those statistics are countless businesses that thrive because they have a committed professional who manages their finances with skill and competence. Choose a CPB and gain a dedicated partner committed to ensuring stability and long-term success for their small business clients.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Our platform is dedicated to fostering dialogue and sharing insights that inspire and empower small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
