CPA Leadership Rotational Program – 2027 New Graduate Opportunity

Earn your CPA. Accelerate your career. Shape the future of finance. 

Ready to build a CPA career that goes beyond traditional accounting? 

At Sun Life, we're developing the next generation of finance leaders. Through our CPA Leadership Program (CLP), you'll earn your CPA designation while gaining diverse experiences across Finance, building leadership skills, and developing expertise in the emerging areas transforming the profession. 

This year, we’re introducing a new 2+1 rotational model that combines a strong foundation in accounting and finance with exposure to strategic, future-focused areas such as transformation, analytics, automation, sustainability, and planning. 

It's more than a CPA program. It's an opportunity to build a rewarding career with one of Canada's leading financial services organizations.  

Why Join the CPA Leadership Program? 

As a CLP participant, you will: 

• Complete three diverse one-year rotations across Accounting and Finance 

• Gain CPA Ontario approved practical experience through meaningful work 

• Receive financial support, study leave, and milestone incentives  

• Be paired with a senior CPA mentor (Director level or above) 

• Build relationships with Finance leaders, program alumni, and peers across Sun Life 

• Participate in career differentiating leadership development experiences 

• Gain exposure to emerging capabilities such as data analytics, automation, artificial intelligence, and finance transformation 

• Make meaningful business impact from day one 

Your CPA journey 

Our 2+1 rotational model is designed to accelerate your development and prepare you for a broad range of career opportunities across Accounting and Finance. 

• Years 1 & 2: Technical Excellence

  • Build a strong foundation in accounting, financial reporting, and business operations while gaining CPA-approved practical experience across Finance and Accounting teams

• Year 3: The Future of Finance

  • Apply your technical foundation in strategic and innovative areas such as Finance Transformation, Data & Analytics, Automation, FP&A, Investor Relations, and Sustainability.

What do you need to succeed?  

We're looking for curious, ambitious graduates who are eager to learn, challenge themselves, and grow into future finance leaders. We are looking for candidates who: 

• Demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and a growth mindset 

• Show leadership through academic, extracurricular, volunteer, or work experiences 

• Thrive in collaborative environments and communicate effectively 

• Apply strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills  

• Have a foundation in accounting principles and financial concepts  

• Embrace innovation, change and continuous learning  

• Bring experience with data analytics, automation, AI or other emerging technologies (considered an asset).  

• Preference will be given to candidates graduating from an accredited accounting, commerce, or business undergraduate program at a recognized post-secondary institution. 

Eligibility:   

• Graduate between April 2026 and September 2027  

• Be available to begin full-time employment in August 2027 (or September 2027 if writing the September CFE)

• Be eligible to enroll in the CPA Professional Program* before your start date, including:  

• A recognized degree or equivalent* 

• At least 120 credit hours or equivalent* 

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 70% on those 120 credit hours 

• Successful completion of CPA’s Knowledge Assessment or CPA Qualifying Courses

• Be able to work in a hybrid environment from either our Toronto or Waterloo office 

*Equivalency is assessed by CPA Ontario as part of the application process

How to Apply: 

• Resume & Academic Transcript  

• Motivation Letter (Maximum 250 words):  Tell us why you want to join Sun Life's CPA Leadership Program with examples that demonstrate your leadership, initiative, problem-solving, accounting foundations, and commitment to Sun Life

Candidates selected for the final round must be available to attend an in-person interview in Toronto on September 9th, 2026.

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Compensation Range: $68,000 - $76,000 annually

• Starting compensation is based on your CPA journey at the time of hire. 

• As a full-time Sun Life employee, you'll receive a comprehensive benefits and Total Rewards package. 

In addition to competitive compensation, participants receive:  

• CPA financial assistance 

• Paid study leave and funding for CPA study materials 

• Annual performance incentives 

• Eligible for salary increases as key CPA milestones are achieved throughout the program  

Interested in learning more? 

Join our LinkedIn community and register for one of our upcoming virtual sessions events to learn more about our CLP Program, and meet our current participants, alumni and program leaders! 

Virtual Information Sessions:

• July 16, 1:00–1:45 pm 

• July 21, 6:00–6:45 pm 

Sign up here: Sun Life CPA Leadership Program Info Session  – Fill out form

• July 28, 1:00–2:00 pm 

• July 28, 6:00-7:00 pm 

• July 30, 12:00-1:00 pm 

Sign up here:  Sun Life 2026 Virtual Fireside Chats  – Fill out form