Helping Others Solve Problems: Peter Welch, Recipient of the 2025 Kouri Berezan Heinrichs (KBH) Award

Peter Welch, CPA, CA, recipient of the 2025 Kouri Berezan Heinrichs (KBH) Award, has built a career around helping people navigate complex challenges. From advising businesses in public practice to mentoring CPA candidates as a facilitator, he has discovered that accounting is about far more than numbers. Throughout his career, Peter has remained passionate about problem solving, lifelong learning and helping others succeed. 

Peter reflects that while he was naturally good with numbers, it was the profession's problem-solving aspect that ultimately drew him in. "I've always enjoyed helping people work through challenges," says Peter. "Accounting turned out to be a profession where I could do that every day." 

Unlike many professionals who map out a detailed career plan early on, Peter didn't have a specific destination in mind. What appealed to him was the versatility of the profession and the opportunity to work with a diverse range of individuals and organizations. That openness to different opportunities would go on to shape his career. 

A designation that opens doors 

Since earning his CPA designation, Peter has worked in public practice, taken on leadership responsibilities, and become deeply involved in professional education. 

One of the opportunities he values most is his work as a CPA facilitator. "One of the most rewarding parts of my career has been  facilitating and working with CPA students to help them succeed," he says. 

Peter began facilitating shortly after earning his designation. Initially, the role appealed to him because of its flexibility and the opportunity to contribute to the profession while balancing other professional commitments. Over time, it became much more than that. 

What keeps him engaged is the chance to help candidates develop the skills that extend beyond technical accounting. "When I left the program, I realized just how valuable it had been," he says. "The biggest thing it taught me wasn't technical knowledge. It was how to approach problems, understand different perspectives and be comfortable with not always being right." 

Those lessons continue to influence both his professional work and his approach to teaching. 

Teaching candidates how to think 

For Peter, effective facilitation is not simply about helping candidates arrive at the correct answer. Instead, it is about helping them understand how to approach uncertainty, analyze information and develop confidence in their judgment. "I enjoy helping candidates understand how to approach and write a case, rather than simply focusing on getting the right answer" he explains. 

Like many CPA candidates, Peter did not immediately appreciate the value of case writing while going through the program himself. It wasn't until later, while preparing through external coaching and practice, that he began to see cases differently. "I started treating them like a game," he says. Today, he works to bring that perspective to the candidates he supports. 

One message he emphasizes repeatedly is that CPA candidates are not alone in their struggles. "Everyone is struggling. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses," he says. "The important thing is learning how to plan, manage your time and trust the process." 

He believes candidates benefit from understanding that the CPA program is designed to develop professional judgment rather than reward memorization. "This learning is different from what most people are used to," he says. "There isn't always a perfectly right or wrong answer. You're learning how to analyze situations and make recommendations based on the information available." 

Finding the right career path 

Having spent years working with aspiring CPAs, Peter often encourages candidates to focus less on what they think they should do and more on what genuinely interests them. For him, a passion for problem solving and working directly with people naturally led him toward assurance and advisory services. 

But one of the profession's greatest strengths, he says, is the variety of opportunities available. "There are so many different paths," he notes. "Whether someone wants to work in public practice, industry, entrepreneurship, leadership or consulting, there's a career that can align with their interests." 

His advice is simple, "explore different opportunities early and pay attention to the work that energizes you. Those interests often reveal where long-term career satisfaction can be found."

More than numbers 

Peter understands why some people still view accounting as a profession focused primarily on numbers and compliance work. His experience, however, has been very different. 

Throughout his career, he has worked with business owners, community organizations, students, festivals and non-profits. Each client brings different goals, challenges and perspectives. 

That variety, he says, is what keeps the profession interesting. "I really believe that with your CPA, the sky is the limit." 

He also challenges the perception that accounting is a boring profession. "You can do anything," he says. "Accounting can be boring if you let it be. Bring your personality to your work, build relationships and find the areas that excite you." 

Embracing the future 

Like many CPAs, Peter has witnessed significant changes throughout his career, from evolving reporting requirements and regulations to increasingly global workplaces. 

Today, however, he sees artificial intelligence as one of the most significant developments facing the profession. Rather than viewing AI solely as a threat, he sees it as an opportunity. "I think we can really embrace it," he says.

While he acknowledges technology will continue to change how work is performed, he believes human judgment will remain essential. "We've already built a reputation as trusted advisors. If we combine that experience and judgement with AI, we can provide even more value to clients." 

For future CPAs, his recommendation is clear: embrace new technology and continue learning. "Study it. Learn about it. Experiment with it," he says. "The profession has changed tremendously over the last 20 years, and it will continue to evolve." 

Building connections and giving back 

Beyond his professional work, Peter remains committed to helping people connect and succeed. In addition to facilitating, he serves as treasurer and secretary for the Mission Folk Music Festival and enjoys organizing community events. Whether it's coordinating activities, running a nationwide Survivor pool or hosting a long-running movie club, bringing people together is something he genuinely enjoys. 

That passion for connection is also reflected in his advice to emerging professionals. "Always be someone people can count on," he says. 

For those considering mentoring, facilitating or volunteering within the profession, he believes the rewards extend far beyond professional development. "The profession is built on people helping one another learn and grow," he says. "Some of my most rewarding experiences have come from helping others gain confidence and succeed." 

After years of advising clients, teaching candidates and contributing to his community, Peter still sees the accounting profession through the same lens that first attracted him to it: an opportunity to solve problems, make a difference and help people move forward.