Patricia Wohleser, CA

I was inspired to become a chartered accountant by my mother who also was a public accountant. I also recognized at an early age that I enjoyed helping others work through their financial problems, which gave me the additional motivation to become a chartered accountant and to work in public practice.

About two years before finishing my B.Sc. degree as well as obtaining my CA designation from Santa Maria University in Venezuela, I felt the strong need to join a public practice in order to gain the necessary experience. I figured the best way of achieving that was to join one of the Big 4 accounting firms. After going through a stringent selection process, I joined a Big 4 firm in 1997. Based on my performance, I was able to join various special assignments and I was provided with the opportunity to travel to the U.S.A. and other South American countries. I took a lot of pride representing the firm and its values which helped me earn promotions to the senior staff level in 1999. I received my Venezuelan CA designation in 2001.

In the summer of 2000, I attended a business English course in Toronto, and frankly, I fell in love with Canada and decided to work with my firm on a potential transfer from Venezuela. Being recognized as a high performer, the firm offered me a position in Edmonton, Alberta.

In 2003, I decided to move to Ontario with my husband and I joined another Big 4 firm in Kitchener in the pursuit of obtaining my Canadian Chartered Accountant designation. I was required by the ICAO to enroll into University courses to obtain my equivalency which took me a few years as I was also working full time. After going through the CKE, summer school, and the UFE I received my Canadian CA designation in 2006.

Since I was always mainly interested in helping entrepreneurs and small businesses on a one on one basis, I decided to join another local firm in Waterloo in 2007. This was a welcome change which gave me the opportunity to work directly with private industry clients.

Today, I am a manager for RLB in our Guelph office. In this capacity, I am responsible for managing engagement teams which provide professional accounting, auditing and financial consulting services to clients. I enjoy working closely with owner-managed businesses and helping them with operational and business advice. I am also part of the assurance committee whose main function is to ensure that the firm is in compliance with any new General Accepted Accounting Principles and Canadian Assurance Standards.

I am very proud to be a member of RLB because every client matters and receives personalized advice. I am very passionate about providing solutions to our clients as well as being part of their growth and success, which are the core principals of RLB. In my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities such as skiing, golfing, fishing, and running. My husband and I have participated in a number of half-marathons across Ontario.