View source for University of Waterloo School of Accounting and Finance

{{Short description|Canadian business school}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = School of Accounting and Finance
 | former_names           = School of Accountancy
 | type                   = School
 | affiliation            = [[University of Waterloo]]
 | parent                 = [[University of Waterloo Faculty of Arts|Faculty of Arts]]
 | image                  = 
 | image_size             = 275px
 | image_alt              = 
 | caption                = 
 | established            = {{Start date|1980}}
 | closed                 = <!-- {{End date|YYYY}} -->
 | city                   = [[Waterloo, Ontario|Waterloo]]
 | province               = [[Ontario]]
 | country                = Canada
 | coor                   = {{coord|43|28|6.276|N|80|32|29.328|W|display=inline,title}}
 | director               = Blake Phillips
 | academic_staff         = 54
 | undergrad              = 2,192 (Undergrad)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/institutional-analysis-planning/university-data-and-statistics/student-data/student-headcounts |title=Student Headcounts |date=2 June 2015 |publisher=[[University of Waterloo]] |access-date=2019-09-26}}</ref>
 | postgrad               = 293 (Masters + Doctoral)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/institutional-analysis-planning/university-data-and-statistics/student-data/student-headcounts |title=Student Headcounts |date=2 June 2015 |publisher=[[University of Waterloo]] |access-date=2019-09-26}}</ref>
 | symbol                 = 
 | website                = {{URL|https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/}}
}}

The '''School of Accounting and Finance (SAF)''' at [[University of Waterloo]] is a ''professional school'' within the Faculty of Arts. The school was established in 1980 under the name 'School of Accountancy'. Its name was changed in 2008 to better reflect its program offering.<ref name="Vision and Challenge">{{cite web | url = http://www.accounting.uwaterloo.ca/history.pdf | title = Vision and Challenge: Accounting Education at the University of Waterloo 1981–2001| access-date = 2009-10-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Director's Message |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/about/directors-message |website=School of Accounting and Finance |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref> Today, more than 1,600 students are enrolled in the school's programs. In September 2009, a new {{convert|52,000|sqft|m2|sigfig=1}} building was officially opened to house the school.

The School of Accounting and Finance offers the largest accounting and finance undergraduate [[cooperative education]] (co-op) program in Canada.<ref name="The Directory of Canadian Universities">{{cite web | url = http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/our_universities/waterloo_e.html | title = The Directory of Canadian Universities: The University of Waterloo | access-date = 2007-05-31 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070607120628/http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/our_universities/waterloo_e.html | archive-date = 2007-06-07 }}</ref>

The school's [[Master of Accounting]] (MAcc) Program allows students to complete all required [[Chartered Professional Accountant]] (CPA) modules within eight months, and is only open to students who complete the school's undergrad programs. MAcc graduates only need to challenge (and pass) the [[Common Final Examination]] and accumulate the required professional experiences in order to become a CPA. MAcc and industry experiences gained from co-op are well known among Canadian accounting and finance industries.

In June 2021, it was announced that the school and the [[University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment|Faculty of Environment]] will begin offering a new undergrad program, ''"Sustainability and Financial Management"'', and accept its first cohort of students starting Fall 2022. The program was created to prepare a new generation of accounting and finance professionals to lead businesses through an era of [[environmental sustainability]], and to respond to the increasing importance of [[environmental finance]] and [[Environmental, social and corporate governance|ESG factors]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Canada's first degree to merge sustainability and financial management now on offer |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/news/media/canadas-first-degree-merge-sustainability-and-financial?fbclid=IwAR2taDc67f0S9deq6xOJ1mNeFWozPaWQ3OR-JHT425zQWzAjFgf-ttZ8XHg |website=Waterloo News |date = 4 June 2021|publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=6 June 2021}}</ref>

==Programs of study==
The School of Accounting and Finance offers four undergraduate programs, two graduate programs and one doctoral program. Additionally, the school jointly administers one undergraduate program and one graduate program with the [[University of Waterloo Faculty of Mathematics|Faculty of Mathematics]] and one undergraduate program with the [[University of Waterloo Faculty of Science|Faculty of Science]].<ref>{{cite web |title=One School - Four Programs, Three Faculties |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/undergraduate |website=University of Waterloo |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref>

The Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management (BAFM) and Bachelor of Computing and Financial Management (BCFM) degrees are both [[CFA Institute]]'s University Affiliated Programs, which recognize academic institutions that embed a significant portion of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) into their curriculum.<ref>{{cite web |title=For Universities |url=https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/about/universities/university-affiliation#first=25&f:_99DF75D5-FDB5-4414-BBD9-D793CAD18210=[Canada |website=CFA Institute |publisher=CFA Institute |access-date=17 July 2020}}</ref>

==Undergraduate education==
'''Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management Co-op (BAFM):'''
* Graduates of the BAFM program typically aspire to a host of professional accounting and/or finance credentials such as the [[Chartered Professional Accountant]] (CPA), [[Chartered Financial Analyst]] (CFA) and [[Chartered Business Valuator]] (CBV) designations. All BAFM graduates are eligible to apply to the school's Master of Accounting (MAcc) program. Students in BAFM must complete four co-op work terms, in total of 16 months of experiences, which could be eligible for CPA accreditation purposes (30 months required).

'''AFM Specializations:'''
The Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) program offers 6 specializations in areas such as [[public accounting]], [[finance]], [[entrepreneurship]], [[sustainability]], [[Business analytics]], and [[corporate governance]]. The first two years at AFM is focused on laying the foundations in accounting and finance, with a focus in people skills, learning, and academic success. The initiative includes experiential learning opportunities such as events, workshops, interactive webcasts, and team-based problem-solving situations connected to courses and extra-curricular situations. Students must then select a specialization from the list below in their 3rd and 4th year:<ref>{{cite web |title=Lead The Change. Shape the Future. |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/undergraduate-programs/lead-change-shape-future |website=School of Accounting and Finance |date=10 December 2019 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>
# ''Professional Accountant Career Specialization''
# ''Entrepreneurial Mindset Career Specialization''
# ''Financial Leadership Career Specialization'' 
# ''Financial Markets Career Specialization'' 
# ''Business Analytics Career Specialization''
# ''Sustainability Career Specialization''

Students may choose two specializations at most.

'''Bachelor of Sustainability and Financial Management Co-op (BSFM):'''
* SFM students are able to become finance or accounting experts with purpose by learning to integrate people, profits, and the planet into the bottom line. Graduates of the program typically aspire to get one or more of the following professional designations, [[Chartered Professional Accountant]] (CPA), [[Chartered Financial Analyst]] (CFA) or [[Chartered Business Valuator]] (CBV). All BSFM graduates are eligible to apply to the school's Master of Accounting (MAcc) program. All BSFM students must complete four co-op work terms, for a total of 16 months of experience, which could be eligible for CPA accreditation purposes (30 months required).
'''SFM Specializations:'''
The Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM) program offers 3 specializations: [[corporate sustainability]], [[financial markets]], and [[entrepreneurship]]. The first two years of the SFM program is focused on giving students a foundational understanding of accounting, finance, and sustainability. This includes experiential learning opportunities such as events, workshops, competitions, and team-based problem-solving situations connected to courses and extra-curriculars. Students must then select a specialization from the list below in their 3rd and 4th year:<ref>{{cite web |title=Sustainability and Financial Management |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/programs/sustainability-financial-management |website=School of Accounting and Finance |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref>
# ''Corporate Sustainability (CPA pathway)''
# ''Government Policy and Financial Markets (CFA pathway)''
# ''Indigenous Entrepreneurship'' 

'''Mathematics/Chartered Professional Accountancy Co-op (Math/CPA):'''
* Math/CPA students have less flexibility in their degree as students take math courses along with the accounting and finance courses BAFM students take, leaving very few elective spaces. The work-term sequence is structured similar to the BAFM schedule, with 4 co-op terms. The Math/CA program was renamed to Math/CPA in 2013.

'''Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountancy Co-op (Biotech/CPA):'''
* This program is offered jointly with the Faculty of Science. Students in the Biotech/CPA program take science courses along with the accounting and finance courses. Biotech/CPA students have little flexibility in their degree, and in some terms, are required to take extra courses. Biotech/CPA students composed of the smallest population in the school, with only around 10-15 students admitted per academic year. Students in the program may obtain co-op employment deemed by professional bodies to be ''qualifying practical experience'' for accreditation purposes, similar to BAFM and Math/CPA, with 4 required co-op terms. Biotech/CPA students are eligible to apply to the school's MAcc program. The Biotech/CA program was renamed to Biotech/CPA in 2013.

'''Bachelor of Computing and Financial Management (BCFM):'''
* This program is offered jointly with the [[David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science]] in the Faculty of Mathematics. Students take computer science courses along with accounting and finance courses. Stronger emphasis is placed upon computer science and finance, less on accounting. The students receive a unique degree in Canada, "Bachelor of Computing and Financial Management" after graduation. Students in this program typically complete six co-op work terms, with the first commencing between semester two and three. CFM students/graduates are not eligible to apply to the school's MAcc program and are unable to take advantage of the CPA accreditation.

==Postgraduate education==
'''Master of Accounting (MAcc):'''
* This 8-month program is accredited by [[CPA Canada]], so students who successfully complete the program, including all CPA requirements, are exempt from all 6 modules of the CPA Professional Education Program and may proceed directly to the Common Final Examination (CFE).<ref>{{cite web |title=Master of Accounting |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/graduate-studies-academic-calendar/arts/school-accounting-and-finance/master-accounting-macc |website=Graduate Studies Academic Calendar |date=5 April 2016 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref> Aside from gaining depth in the CPA elective subjects including Taxation, Assurance, Performance Management and Finance, MAcc students can explore other career options such as business valuations, forensic accounting, data analytics, internal audit and international tax. Approximately 65% of undergrads pursue the MAcc degree in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=School of Accounting and Finance annual reports |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/sites/ca.school-of-accounting-and-finance/files/uploads/files/c015268_saf_coop_career_launch_report_print_lr_accessible-s.pdf |website=School of Accounting & Finance |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref>
* Furthermore, students who have taken and passed ''ACC606 Business Valuations'' receive advanced standings in the [[CBV Institute]] Programme of Studies. Students will receive exemptions for ''Level I – Introductory Business Valuation'' and ''Level II – Intermediate Business Valuation''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Course Exemptions |url=https://cicbv.ca/course-exemptions/ |website=CICBV |publisher=Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators |access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref>

'''Master of Taxation (MTax):'''
* The [[Master of Taxation]] program is open to all students from different backgrounds to apply. MTax is offered under a full-time basis (1 year + 1 co-op term) or a part-time basis (2 years).<ref>{{cite web |title=Course Schedule |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/master-of-taxation/prospective-students/academic-information/course-schedule |website=Master of Taxation |date=15 June 2015 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref> Graduates attain broad-based competencies in tax subject areas that include policy, research, statutory interpretation, estate planning, business structuring, and risk management, with all the classes held in [[downtown Toronto]]'s [[Eaton Centre]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Master of Taxation |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/master-of-taxation/ |website=University of Waterloo |date=11 June 2015 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref>

'''Master of Quantitative Finance (MQF):'''
* Focuses on the fundamental disciplines of mathematics, statistics, econometrics, computer science and finance. This program is offered jointly with [[University of Waterloo Faculty of Mathematics|Faculty of Mathematics]].

'''PhD in Accounting:'''
* The University of Waterloo's School of Accounting and Finance can provide doctoral training in research that is based on economic theory, empirical economics, behavioural science, and other methodologies.

==School reputation and achievement==
According to [[QS World University Rankings]], School of Accounting and Finance ranks 101-150 globally in 2022 for the subject category of Accounting & Finance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Accounting & Finance |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings/2022 |website=Top Universities |publisher=QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref> SAF also ranks high in the 2020 Global Accounting Research Survey conducted by [[Brigham Young University]]:<ref>{{cite web |title=Main Accounting Rankings for Universities: 2020 |url=https://www.byuaccounting.net/rankings/univrank/rankings.php |website=Accounting Rankings |publisher=Brigham Young University |access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref>
*An overall ranking of 2nd in Canada and 10th globally for accounting research
*1st in Canada for accounting information systems research
*1st in Canada for managerial accounting research
*1st in Canada for tax research
*2nd in Canada for financial accounting research 
*2nd in Canada in Accounting PhD programs  
*3rd in Canada in audit research

===Co-op success===
With [[co-operative education]], over 95% of students secure full-time employment before graduation. The co-op employment rate has been consistently between 95% and 100% with the students working mainly in global, regional, and local accounting firms, chartered banks, asset managers and other financial services firms/intermeriaties, government, and non-financial corporations in accounting/finance related roles. <ref>{{cite web |title=Student and Graduate Employment Report 2018 |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/sites/ca.school-of-accounting-and-finance/files/uploads/files/c015268_saf_coop_career_launch_report_print_lr_accessible-s.pdf |website=School of Accounting & Finance |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref>

===UFE/CFE honour roll and gold medalists===
{{See also|Common Final Examination}}
The School of Accounting & Finance has had success in its students and faculty research. Notably, many students who have challenged the [[Common Final Examination]] achieve honour roll as well as gold medal (Ontario and National).<ref>{{cite web |title=Awards & Achievements |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/awards-achievements |website=School of Accounting & Finance |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref>

The National Honour Roll of the Common Final Exam recognizes candidates whose performance in the exam demonstrated academic excellence and exceptional abilities. The candidates listed on the Honour Roll are determined as the top 1% of the first-time writers who wrote all three days.<ref>{{cite web |title=CFE Exam Results |url=https://www.cpaontario.ca/cfe2018/cfe-exam-results |website=CPA Ontario |publisher=CPA Ontario |access-date=3 December 2018}}</ref> In 2018 and 2019, SAF captured the National Gold Medal (highest CFE score in Canada) consecutively. SAF has obtained 6 national gold medals (best performance in Canada) from the period between 2010 and 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=SAF Grads Excel in the 2018 CPA CFE Exam Results |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/news/saf-grads-excel-2018-cpa-cfe-exam-results |website=University of Waterloo |date=30 November 2018 |publisher=School of Accounting & Finance |access-date=3 December 2018}}</ref> The CFE honour roll and successful CFE writers are mostly the Master of Accounting students. From 2018 to 2020, SAF students accounted for 23.5%, 18.5% and 18.9% of the Honour Roll recipients respectively - the best performance in Canada.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 80%" width=  align="center"
|- 
!rowspan=2 style="background:#df3235; color:white;" | Year of CFE/UFE
!rowspan=2 style="background:#df3235; color:white;" | Honour Roll{{sup|1}}
!rowspan=2 style="background:#df3235; color:white;" | Ontario Gold Medal{{sup|2}}
!rowspan=2 style="background:#df3235; color:white;" | National Gold Medal
!rowspan=2 style="background:#df3235; color:white;" | CFE Total Honour Roll Recipients
!rowspan=2 style="background:#df3235; color:white;" | Total % of UW SAF Students on Honour Roll
|-
|align=center|September 2023
|align=center|12
|align=center|1
|align=center|0
|align=center|57
|align=center|21.1%
|-
|align=center|September 2022
|align=center|11
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|59
|align=center|18.6%
|-
|align=center|September 2021
|align=center|8
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|68
|align=center|11.8%
|-
|align=center|2020
|align=center|15
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|74
|align=center|20.3%
|-
|align=center|2019
|align=center|15
|align=center|1
|align=center|1
|align=center|81
|align=center|18.5%
|-
|align=center|2018
|align=center|16
|align=center|1
|align=center|1
|align=center|68
|align=center|'''23.5%'''
|-
|align=center|2017
|align=center|13
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|68
|align=center|19.1%
|-
|align=center|Sept 2016
|align=center|6
|align=center|1
|align=center|0
|align=center|53
|align=center|11.3%
|-
|align=center|May 2016
|align=center|1
|align=center|1
|align=center|0
|align=center|20
|align=center|5.0%
|-
|align=center|2015
|align=center|11
|align=center|0
|align=center|0
|align=center|52
|align=center|21.2%
|-
| colspan="6" align="center"|Common Final Examination (CFE) replaced the Uniform Evaluation (UFE) starting 2015.
|-
|align=center|1982-2014
|align=center|129
|align=center|10
|align=center|6
|align=center|N/A
|align=center|N/A
|-
|align=center|'''Total'''
|align=center|'''225'''
|align=center|'''14'''
|align=center|'''8'''
|align=center|N/A
|align=center|N/A
|-
| colspan="5" align="right"|'''Total MAcc Students on Honour Roll'''
|align=center|'''176'''
|}

<sup>1</sup><small> Honour roll count includes the gold medalists (3 regional + 1 national gold medalist).</small><br/>
<sup>2</sup><small> If winner of the Ontario Gold Medal also wins National Gold Medal, such count is tallied separately.</small><br/>
<sup>3</sup><small> The May 2021 CFE was only offered in the West and Atlantic Canada regions. The exam was not held in Ontario due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]].</small>

===CFA Institute Research Challenge===
In 2016, School of Accounting & Finance students became the first Canadian team to win the global annual [[CFA Institute Research Challenge]]. The CFA Institute Research Challenge comprises over 140 CFA member societies, 3,500 member volunteers, and more than 5,000 students from over 1,000 universities. The CFA Institute Research Challenge requires student teams (1 team per university) to research and analyze a publicly traded company and then write a research report on their assigned company with a buy, sell, or hold recommendation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Research Challenge Champions. |url=https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/societies/challenge/past-champions |website=CFA Institute |publisher=CFA Institute |access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SAF Students Capture World Championship at the CFA Investment Research Challenge |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/news/saf-students-capture-world-championship-cfa-investment |website=School of Accounting and Finance |date=4 March 2016 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref>

In 2021, School of Accounting & Finance was once again awarded the Americas Regional Champion at the 2021 CFA Institute Research Challenge, where 5,000 students across 950 universities and 82 countries participated virtually.<ref>{{cite web |title=CFA Institute Research Challenge |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/cfa-institute-research-challenge |website=School of Accounting and Finance |date=3 July 2020 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref>

In 2024, the school captured its second global champion title after eight years. The team competed against 1,100 schools and 6,700 students in six rounds of competition. The school remained the only Canadian school to ever capture the global champion title.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Doherty |first1=Rachel |title=Waterloo students win the global finals at CFA Institute’s research challenge in Poland |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/news/arts/waterloo-students-win-global-finals-cfa-institutes-research |website=Waterloo News |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref>

==Student life==
Aside from the clubs/societies available within the University of Waterloo, there are various extra-curricular activities available to SAF students only.<ref>{{cite web |title=Co-/Extra-Curricular |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/undergraduate-programs/co-extra-curricular |website=School of Accounting & Finance |date=21 January 2019 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Work/life balance |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/work-life-balance |website=School of Accounting & Finance |date=24 August 2016 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref> ''The Accounting and Finance Student Association (AFSA)'' is the government body for the SAF undergrad students, divided into many sub-committees. AFSA is run and governed by a fully elected executive team and a partially elected board of directors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Executives and Board of Directors |url=http://www.uwafsa.ca/executive-and-bod |website=AFSA |publisher=Accounting and Finance Student Association |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref> SAF also holds a student-run orientation week for first year undergrad students after the regular Waterloo orientation week, ''Accounting and Finance Orientation Week (AFOW)''.

Furthermore, ''ACE Consulting Group'' is also a SAF student-run consulting organization that provides [[Kitchener-Waterloo]] entrepreneurs and small business clients with professional consulting services.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.aceconsultinggroup.ca/ |website=ACE Consulting Group |publisher=ACE Consulting Group |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>

The School of Accounting and Finance Outreach & Ambassador Program (SOAP) is a yearlong program for current SAF students to represent the school in recruiting, marketing, and connecting with future prospective students.<ref>{{cite web |title=About SOAP |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/ambassadorprogram |website=School of Accounting and Finance |date=18 September 2013 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>

Other initiatives in relation to SAF academic learning include:
* Student Investment Fund<ref>{{cite web |title=The Student Investment Fund |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/student-investment-fund |website=School of Accounting & Finance |date=15 October 2015 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>
* Student Venture Fund<ref>{{cite web |title=The Student Venture Fund |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/student-venture-fund-0 |website=School of Accounting & Finance |date=November 2017 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>
* Non-Profit Organization Consulting (NPOC)<ref>{{cite web |title=Non-Profit Organization Consulting (NPOC) |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/non-profit-organization-consulting-npoc |website=School of Accounting and Finance |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>
* Young Tax Professionals<ref>{{cite web |title=Young Tax Professionals |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/young-tax-professionals |website=School of Accounting & Finance |date=11 February 2015 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>
* David T. Carter Financial Review Team<ref>{{cite web |title=David T. Carter Financial Review Team |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/david-t-carter-financial-review-team-0 |website=School of Accounting & Finance |date=14 October 2015 |publisher=University of Waterloo |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>

School of Accounting and Finance organizes two national student-run conferences annually:
* University of Waterloo Accounting Conference (UWAC)<ref>{{cite web |title=UWAC |url=https://www.uwac.ca/ |publisher=University of Waterloo Accounting Conference |access-date=6 June 2021}}</ref>
* hEDGE Financial Services Conference<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.hedgeconference.ca/ |website=hEDGE Financial Services Conference |publisher=hEDGE Financial Services Conference |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>

==Notable alumni and faculty==
* [[Kevin Strain]]: [[President (corporate title)|President]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of [[Sun Life Financial]]. <small>(MAcc '90)</small><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Hara |first1=Clare |title=Sun Life names Kevin Strain as next CEO as Dean Connor announces retirement |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-sun-life-names-kevin-strain-as-next-ceo-as-dean-connor-announces/ |website=Report on Business |publisher=The Globe and Mail |access-date=20 December 2020}}</ref>
* [[Michelle Lam]]: Founder and CEO of [[True & Co.]], a direct-to-consumer digital intimate apparel brand, headquartered in [[San Francisco, California]]. <small>(MAcc '01)</small> <ref>{{cite web |last1=Dunn |first1=Laura Emily |title=Women in Business: Q&A with Michelle Lam, Founder & CEO of True&Co. |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/women-in-business-qa-with_b_4902206 |website=HuffPost |date=5 March 2014 |publisher=The Huffington Post |access-date=20 December 2020}}</ref>
* Tim Jackson: President & CEO of [[SHAD (summer program)|SHAD Canada]]. <small>(BA '92)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Shad National Team |url=https://www.shad.ca/national-team/ |website=Shad Canada |publisher=Shad Canada |access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>
* [[Keith Farlinger]]: Former CEO of [[BDO Global]]. <small>(BMath '77)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Profile: BDO Global CEO Keith Farlinger |url=https://www.accountancyage.com/2017/08/17/profile-bdo-global-ceo-keith-farlinger/ |website=AccountancyAge |date=17 August 2017 |publisher=AccountancyAge |access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>
* David Cates: President & CEO of [[Denison Mines]]. <small>(MAcc '05)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Management |url=https://www.denisonmines.com/about-us/management/ |website=Denison Mines |publisher=Denison Mines Corp. |access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>
* Betty Ann Jarrett: [[Chief human resources officer|Global Human Capital Leader]] of [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]]. <small>(MAcc '86)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Network leadership team |url=https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/about/leadership.html |website=PwC |publisher=PricewaterhouseCoopers |access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>
* Cindy Ditner: Global head of assurance of BDO Global. <small>(MAcc '86)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Leadership |url=https://www.bdo.global/en-gb/services/audit-assurance/leadership |website=BDO Global |publisher=BDO Global |access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>
* Pamela Steer: CEO of [[CPA Canada]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pamela Steer, FCPA, FCA, CFA |url=https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/the-cpa-profession/about-cpa-canada/cpa-canada-executive-team/pamela-steer-fcpa-fca-cfa |website=CPA Canada |publisher=CPA Canada |access-date=4 April 2022}}</ref>
* Anish Chopra: Former [[Chairperson|board chair]] of CBV Institute. <small>(MAcc '94)</small> <ref>{{cite web |title=Anish Chopra, FCPA, FCA, CFA, FCBV |url=https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/career-and-professional-development/event-biographies/anish-chopra |website=CPA Canada |publisher=CPA Canada |access-date=20 December 2020}}</ref> 
* Paul Langill: [[Chief Financial Officer|CFO]] of [[Alberta Investment Management Corporation]]. <small>(MAcc '91)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=AIMCo welcomes Chief Investment Strategy Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Chief Financial Officer |url=https://www.aimco.ca/insights/new-leaders-join-executive-team |website=AIMCo |publisher=Alberta Investment Management Corporation |access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>
* Sahezad Pardhan: CFO of [[Cadillac Fairview]]. <small>(MAcc '04)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Our Leadership Team |url=https://www.cadillacfairview.com/leadership/ |publisher=Cadillac Fairview |access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref>
* Christine D’Sylva: CFO of [[Pizza Pizza]]. <small>(MAcc '03)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Leadership Team |url=https://www.pizzapizza.ca/investors/leadership-team/ |website=Leadership Team - Pizza Pizza |publisher=Pizza Pizza Limited |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>
* Paul Dobson: CFO of [[Ballard Power Systems]]. <small>(BA '90)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Our Leadership |url=https://www.ballard.com/about-ballard/our-leadership |website=Our Leadership Team |publisher=Ballard Power Systems. |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>
* Jeff Bell: CFO of [[SNC-Lavalin]]. <small>(BA '90)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Leadership Team |url=https://www.snclavalin.com/en/about/leadership-and-governance/leadership-team#jeff-bell |website=Leadership Team - SNC-Lavalin |publisher=SNC-Lavalin Group |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>
* Troy Maxwell: [[Chief Operating Officer|COO]] of [[RBC Capital Markets]]. <small>(MAcc '89)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Executives |url=https://www.rbccm.com/en/about-us/leadership.page |website=RBC Capital Markets {{!}} Leadership |publisher=RBC Dominion Securities Inc. |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>
* Allan Brett: CFO of [[Descartes Systems Group]]. <small>(BA '91)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Leadership |url=https://www.descartes.com/who-we-are/leadership |publisher=Descartes Systems Group Inc. |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Chartered Financial Analyst]]
* [[CBV Institute]]
* [[CFA Institute]]
* [[CFA Institute Research Challenge]]
* [[CPA Canada]]
* [[Common Final Examination]]
* [[University of Waterloo]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{University of Waterloo}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:University of Waterloo|School of Accounting and Finance]]
[[Category:Accounting schools in Canada]]
[[Category:Accounting schools|Waterloo]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Ontario]]