From March 6-19, 2015, Collins Barrow is highlighting the achievements of several women who continually strive to create value, break equality barriers and empower others.
International Women’s Day celebrates the women who make it happen all around the world. The women of Collins Barrow make it happen every day because ours is a workplace environment that fosters the careers of Canadian women. Over the past 20 years, the accounting profession has seen a positive shift in attitudes concerning female advancement. At Collins Barrow, we’re proud to report that we have a higher percentage of women partners, and growing, than the industry norm. Meet Janet Foster, CPA, CA, CFA.
Talk about a meteoric rise. Janet joined Collins Barrow Ottawa in 1998 as a co-op student, earned her CA designation in 2001, moved to Collins Barrow WCM LLP in Carleton Place, Ontario, in 2002 and was promoted to partnership in 2008. As a client service partner, she provides audit, tax, succession planning and entrepreneurial services to owner-managed businesses in manufacturing, farming, agriculture and professional services, as well as to nonprofit organizations.
In addition to being one of the youngest individuals, male or female, ever to make partner at Collins Barrow, Janet has twice been nominated for the Carleton Place and District Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year Award. She previously served two terms as chamber treasurer, is currently treasurer of the Carleton Place Hospital and a volunteer birth companion to pregnant teenage girls through her local community health centre’s Connections program. The Alzheimer’s Society is another important beneficiary of her support due to her mother’s struggle with the illness.
“Providing my clients with the level of dedication and service excellence they’ve come to expect of me as a partner of Collins Barrow requires a high degree of personal attention and therefore hard work, so it’s important to recharge in my spare time in equally challenging ways. I’ve even run a marathon! I find this enables me to continually bring my clients fresh perspectives aimed at optimizing both their business operations and personal financial affairs in innovative ways achievable only through the expert advisory services of Collins Barrow.”
A woman Janet admires
“I would travel back in time to meet with my grandmother to ask her about her life as a businesswoman in an era when women didn’t generally work outside the home and how she found the time to be all that she was. The mother of 18 children, many of whom she delivered herself and midwife to her local community, she ran a general store on her own for over 35 years after her husband died. I believe she instilled a business sense in me from a young age. She taught me how to use a calculator, a cash register and write up bills for people paying on account.”
Clarity is seeing the path to your potential. Learn how Janet can help your business by contacting her directly by phone at 613.253.0014, ext. 221, or by email at jfoster@collinsbarrow.com.
About Collins Barrow
Recognized as Canada’s mid-market leader for audit, tax and advisory solutions, our association of 26 independent member firms comprises the eighth largest public accounting group nationally by revenue. Through our strong network infrastructure, shared expertise, resources and offices from coast to coast, we provide clients ranging in size from large, publicly traded companies to owner-managed and emerging businesses with a full complement of professional services across every major industry sector.