Trent Knapp, CPA
Balancing Competitive Curling with a Career
July 19, 2023
Trent Knapp, CPA is a Partner on MNP’s Indigenous Services Team as well as a competitive curler, recently representing Saskatchewan at the 2023 Tim Hortons Brier.
Trent became interested in the accounting profession during his co-op work terms with MNP through the University of Regina where he was exposed to audits, compilations, and compliance tax. After being hired full time, he was stationed in audit practice where he continued to gain assurance experience in a variety of sectors and had the opportunity to explore the Specialty Tax service line through a 6-month secondment.
Trent approached his early career as an opportunity to try as many disciplines as possible so he could make an informed decision about his career path and credits MNP with providing the breadth of experience and support to do this. Through this process, Trent determined audit was the best fit for his skill set, experience, and interests and moved on to become a Manager, Senior Manager, and now a Partner in MNP’s audit practice. Trent performs audits, assurance services, business advisory services and accounting support for Indigenous communities across southern Saskatchewan which he describes as very rewarding, as he has had the opportunity to build great relationships with people in the communities he serves and feels his work has an impact.
When asked about his designation, Trent commented,
"Pursuing a CPA designation was certainly worth it. I have remained in public practice as have many of my peers, which has provided a very rewarding and enriched career to date. This said, some of my peers and former colleagues have also moved into industry to also find some very interesting roles that have allowed them to get lots out of their work and to be successful. This showcases that the CPA designation is versatile and gives you the skills to excel in a variety of workplaces and positions.”
Balancing an accounting career with competitive curling requires planning, commitment, communication, and lots of support from family, friends, and colleagues. Trent maps out his time in advance for the fast-paced winter season to ensure he can achieve his personal, professional and athletic goals. Despite the busy schedule, Trent views curling events as a holiday because of his enjoyment of the game and time spent with his teammates.
MNP allows a flexible work schedule that gives Trent the opportunity to pursue his curling goals. The Brier brought some unique scheduling challenges as it is something you dream of but don’t typically plan for and Team Knapp had less than a month to make work arrangements after winning the Saskatchewan Provincial title. Trent describes MNP as very supportive, with a lot of the Estevan office coming out to cheer on his team during Provincials in Estevan, providing the time off to make his dream of reaching the Brier come true, and even hosting a send-off for him.
Trent recommends that those who have passions outside the workplace find an employer who supports these goals and promotes engagement in the communities in which they conduct business. It can be a win-win for both the employee and employer, as community involvement builds meaningful relationships and a contact network.
In his role at MNP, Trent also mentors and coaches team members who are going through the CPA program and he provided his advice for future CPAs and those considering the program:
- Find an employer that is aligned with your goals and can support your CPA journey; whether that be through mentorship or allowing the time away to appropriately prepare.
- Attend information sessions that firms put on to understand how they support CPA students and what opportunities are out there for CPAs.
- The CPA program is more than just accounting and debits/credits. The designation can open doors extending far past the core accounting classes. The decision-making skills obtained through the program can be applied in many facets of business, which naturally creates many opportunities to make a difference and to find something you enjoy doing.
- It is a difficult designation to obtain that requires strong time management skills and discipline but is very rewarding in the end. The confidence gained in completing the program I believe can really catapult you into a fantastic career.