From Classroom to Career: Pathways to the RPA Designation
Every RPA journey looks a little different and that’s exactly the point. In this issue, we spoke with three newly designated Registered Professional Accountants whose paths to the credential could hardly be more distinct: a firm founder with 35 years in practice, a financial controller balancing full-time leadership across six companies, and an entrepreneur who built her practice from one client to over a hundred while raising a family on her own. What unites Frank Sadik Al-Azzawe, Jordan Crawford, and Preeti Jassal isn’t a shared background, but a shared commitment: to professional growth, ethical practice, and proving that there’s no single route to becoming an accounting professional. Here are their stories, in their own words.
Frank Sadik Al-Azzawe, RPA
Frank Sadik Al-Azzawe founded MMS Accounting 35 years ago, drawing on a background in international business to help small business owners navigate accounting, tax, and operational challenges. Over three decades, he came to see technical skill as only part of being an effective advisor; trust, integrity, and commitment to client success matter just as much. That philosophy led him to join the Association of Tax and Accounting Professionals and later pursue the RPA, a Canadian accounting designation focused on serving SMEs.
Introduced to the RPA pathway at an ATAP seminar, Al-Azzawe qualified for the Concise Membership Professional Exam. When balancing coursework with running a business proved difficult, he completed the program through Pro Achieve’s accelerated route prerequisites followed by four intensive days of in-class instruction and daily exams. For Al-Azzawe, the RPA is both a personal milestone and a boost to the confidence clients place in MMS Accounting.
“Becoming an RPA is not simply about earning a designation. It demonstrates a lasting commitment to professionalism, ethical practice, continuous learning, and serving clients with excellence.”
Frank Sadik Al-Azzawe, RPA
Jordan Crawford, RPA
Jordan Crawford’s accounting career began with a Business Accounting Diploma from Sault College, followed by a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Algoma University. He built his career in the building supply industry, rising from Order Desk Associate through IT Projects and Assistant Financial Controller to his current role as Financial Controller, overseeing financial operations for six companies across building supply, engineering, and manufacturing.
Crawford was drawn to the RPA designation for its practical focus on accounting realities in small and medium-sized organizations. After completing RPA’s admission requirements and professional courses, he prepared for the Membership Professional Exam with a structured study schedule, emphasizing application over memorization. The hardest part was finding time and energy alongside a full-time role; the most rewarding was seeing how much the material deepened his understanding. He now sees the designation as a foundation for continued growth as a financial leader.
“The designation provides an opportunity to build on practical experience, formalize your knowledge, and continue becoming a better accounting professional.”
Jordan Crawford, RPA
Preeti Jassal, RPA
Preeti Jassal earned a Business Administration – Accounting Diploma from Red River College, but her path was anything but traditional. In 2020, as a single mother, she started Trinity Accounting Solutions Inc. with one client. Through years of resilience, that practice has grown to serve more than 100 clients, giving her hands-on experience in bookkeeping, payroll, GST filings, financial reporting, CRA correspondence, and business advisory work.
Jassal learned of the RPA designation while exploring pathways that would recognize both her education and experience encouraged by her partner to pursue a goal she’d nearly set aside. She worked through financial accounting, management accounting, taxation, ethics, and data analytics, preparing for the RPA Membership Professional Examination around her firm’s demands. Balancing 100-plus clients, family, and exam prep was the hardest part; finishing what she’d started years earlier was the most rewarding. She joined Pro Achieve 2026 a fast-track program to RPA designation and was happy that she successfully completed Pro Achieve 2026 and received her RPA designation in July 2026.
“My RPA designation does not represent the beginning of my accounting career. It represents everything it took to get here and the beginning of what I hope to accomplish next.”
Preeti Jassal, RPA