How Big White’s CFO tackles the resort’s tough challenges with CPA confidence

When chartered professional accountant Jeanie McLean was pregnant with her second child, she decided it was time for a change. She was working as a tax advisor at BDO in Kelowna and decided to reach out to one of her core clients, the CFO at Big White Ski Resort. “I made the case to join the company and learn to become her successor when she retired.” While McLean had no experience in the ski resort industry or running a large private enterprise, the CFO gave her a chance based on her “willingness to jump right in and learn the business from the ground up,” she says.

Navigating curveballs is second nature

McLean first joined Big White Ski Resort in 2021 as manager of finance and has served as CFO since 2022. During this time, McLean has guided the Okanagan resort through some big challenges—tourism restrictions during the pandemic, issues caused by climate change, B.C.’s ongoing housing crunch—head-on, and with confidence.

“Operating a seasonal business that’s highly dependent on Mother Nature and the economy keeps us on our toes,” says McLean. The pandemic was one such curveball. Most of Big White’s seasonal staff come from abroad, and to navigate shortages during travel restrictions, the team “eliminated any non-essential services that could not be staffed during that time. Once the pandemic was over, I was very strategic in reintroducing some of these services. If it did not meet our strategic goals, we did not bring it back,” she notes.

“I also felt that investing in our staff and incentivizing the young local workforce was key to our resiliency,” she adds. In 2022, Big White reset its baseline seasonal wage to a new internal minimum 18 percent higher than the provincial minimum wage at the time.

Building staff housing for long-term stability

Businesses at the resort have been struggling to adequately house their seasonal employees since the pandemic because many private condos previously available were either sold or converted to short-term rentals. To adapt, Big White recently completed a $13 million staff housing project, another improvement with a lasting impact. “This adds 128 new beds for seasonal staff at the resort,” says McLean. “As a privately​-owned family business, this is a huge financial and strategic commitment to invest in the wellbeing of our staff.”

Integrating climate risk into business strategy

McLean is also helping Big White address climate change by incorporating climate risks into business strategies. “We have seen some tough summers recently with the forest fires affecting our region,” she says. “We have had to cancel major events on short notice but also were able to pivot and offer up emergency accommodation to forest fire evacuees,” she recalls.

On the flip side, winter snow levels can also now be unpredictable. “Ski resorts are adapting by offering year-round operation and diversifying their product offerings,” says McLean, noting the resort’s new spa as an example. “As we navigate changes to our business, we continue to look for ways to overcome climate change challenges in a sustainable way,” she continues. But when there’s a great winter season, for McLean, the challenges are worth it.

“The training and the academic rigor in obtaining the CPA designation is highly regarded. But the real opportunity comes from how you use your experience and your network,” she says. “The best training I received in my 11 years in public practice was becoming a professional, and an effective leader,” she says.

For more information, visit: bccpa.ca

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