CPAWSB recently presented Kevin Kilpatrick, CPA, CA, with the KBH Facilitator Award, which recognizes facilitators or session leaders who have had a notable and positive impact on their candidates and approach their role with dedication to excellence.
Kevin Kilpatrick, CPA, CA, was initially drawn to the accounting profession because of the mobility and flexibility, the opportunity to make meaningful contributions a designation offered, and the skills and ethics of the professional accountants he knew. The positive encounters he had with the educators he met while pursuing his designation inspired him to become involved in accounting education shortly after he joined the profession. “I wanted to provide a similar experience for students to the one I had been given. Then, when a few friends were unsuccessful on their first UFE exam attempt, I wanted to help them pass – I wanted to make a difference for them.”
Kevin has translated that desire into nearly two decades of working as an accounting educator. During that time, he has seen substantial changes to technology, exam formats, course content, and program delivery, but despite those changes, “the key principles and underlying ethical components remain the same.” And while he enjoys working through accounting issues and the opportunity to stay abreast of changes in professional standards, he continues to be involved because of the people. “I really enjoy working face-to-face with candidates. I try to understand and respond to individual learner needs.” Candidates appreciate Kevin’s personal approach, and how he explains difficult concepts in a way that makes sense to them and applies to real life. His passion is evident to anyone in the room with him.
Kevin sees candidates twice within a few weeks, first at the CPA PEP Orientation Workshop, and then a few weeks later at the CPA PEP Core 1 Workshop. During that time, he notices a change in their attitudes. “When candidates arrive at the orientation workshop, they are excited and eager for the program to start. By the module workshop, some candidates are becoming a little nervous as they see their first module exam is only a few weeks away,” he explains. “It is important to provide them with a few tips and remind them that their effort will be worth it. It is also important to reassure them that as they proceed through the program, they will continue to acquire new knowledge and skills, which will make enable them to be successful in solving progressively more challenging issues.”
In addition to being a session leader, Kevin is also the Core 1 co-lead facilitator, meaning his impact on candidates is amplified: in addition to working with his own candidates, he shares his knowledge and experience with facilitators, who then pass on what they learn from him to their candidates.
CPAWSB is proud to have Kevin as part of its team. Congratulations, Kevin!
