College instructor receives national recognition

by Keith Powell — December 10, 2010

College of the Rockies business administration instructor Elaine Eccleston is one of the new Fellows of the Canadian Society of Certified Management Accountants.

Elaine Eccleston, business administration instructor at College of the Rockies, was appointed a Fellow Certified Management Accountant by the Canadian Society of Certified Management Accountants on December 1. She was one of only six British Columbia CMAs to be recognized by the society.

A media release put out by CMA Canada stated the following:

This is the highest honour granted by CMA Canada. The FCMA designation is awarded to CMAs who demonstrate excellence in management accounting, a commitment to the CMA designation and their professional organization, and a civic-mindedness that enriches their community. These members have been CMAs for more than 20 years, substantially contributed to the society and the CMA designation and/or made significant contributions of knowledge to the accounting profession or business management.

Honourary membership is granted to a person whose efforts have substantially enhanced the reputation of the society or the accounting profession, or who has made a significant contribution of new knowledge to the accounting profession or business management.

Elaine Eccleston, CMA, FCMA, is an accounting instructor at College of the Rockies and is the lead instructor of the aboriginal financial manager’s diploma. Prior to joining the college, she held a variety of positions: Chief financial officer of the City of Kimberley, chief financial officer of the Ktunaxa Tribal Council and audit manager with BDO, to name a few.

An active member of the CMA Society and the Cranbrook business community, Eccleston was a CMA board member for six years and is credited with helping revitalize the East Kootenay chapter through her work with members and CMA students. She was the CMA representative on the Accounting Policy Advisory Committee for the Province of B.C. for five years.

She is also a Lifetime Member and founding board member of the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of B.C. and is still involved with the association presenting workshops and speaking at various conferences.