CAREER & NETWORKING FAIR 2026 - WORKSHOP

Independent Contractor vs. Employee: A BA Framework for Deciding Which Path Is Right for You

Thinking about becoming a contractor but are not sure of the legal or tax implications? Wondering what to consider so there are no costly surprises down the road? 
 
In this interactive session, CPA, CBAP, MBA, and CITP-certified practitioner and 20+ year Ottawa BA contractor Judy Pin flips the script: what if you applied your own BA toolkit to the most consequential career decision you make?
Using the BABOK Knowledge Areas as a structured framework, you'll work on real-world Ottawa BA scenarios — analyzing current state, eliciting your own unstated requirements, evaluating competing solutions, and defining measurable success criteria. You'll leave with a personal requirements worksheet, a live financial comparison across three employment structures, and a clear-eyed view of what each path actually costs — and delivers — for someone at your career stage.

What You Will Learn

  1. The real financial picture across three employment structures — employee, sole proprietor, and incorporated contractor — including CPP (both sides), HST obligations, corporate tax rates, and what you actually take home 
  2. The legal and tax risks most BAs face — including the Personal Services Business (PSB) trap, CRA's four-factor control test, and why "contract role" does not automatically mean "independent contractor"
  3. What you give up — and what you gain — on each path — benefits, RRSP, retirement planning, EI ineligibility, and the tax-deferral advantage of incorporation that most BAs don't discover until year three
  4. How to assess your own readiness — using a structured personal requirements worksheet to identify your constraints, assumptions, risk tolerance, and success criteria before making any move

Target Audience

Primary: Business analysts in the Ottawa–Gatineau region with 2–8 years of experience who are currently employed and actively considering — or curious about — an eventual move to independent contracting.

Secondary: Early-career BAs (0–2 years) building a long-term career roadmap, and experienced BAs who have already made the switch and want to pressure-test their financial and legal setup.

 

Facilitator

JUDY PIN
Veteran BA Contractor
Financial Business/Systems Analyst

Experienced Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Business Analyst (CBAP®️) with 20+ years of expertise in finance transformation, ERP implementation, and process optimization. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams, process re-engineering, and implementing large-scale financial technology solutions. Adept at improving operational efficiency and driving technology adoption across the finance ecosystem.

As Treasurer, she oversees the management of funds for duly authorized purposes of the Chapter. 

He/she/they can be reached via e-mail at: treasurer@ottawa-outaouais.iiba.org.