School of Accounting and Finance

10/13/2026

We are pleased to share that Dr. Adam Vitalis is the new Director of the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) at the University of Waterloo!

Dr. Vitalis joined SAF in 2017, and also serves as the Director of the Hub for Sustainability Integration. His research examines how people make judgements and decisions in audit, financial reporting and sustainability settings. As a Professor, he teaches audit strategy and internal audit.

He also knows the profession from the inside. Before academia, Dr. Vitalis spent more than 13 years in industry, including as a Senior Manager at Deloitte and a production accountant on film and television projects. He holds a PhD in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of San Diego.

Dr. Vitalis begins his four-year term with a focus on championing research excellence and leading SAF into its next chapter.

"The challenges ahead are real, but they are also exciting and offer significant opportunities to continue growing our reputation as a research and teaching institution." — Dr. Adam Vitalis

He succeeds Dr. Blake Phillips, who led SAF from 2022 to 2026. We sincerely thank Dr. Phillips for his leadership.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Adam Vitalis! 👏

Read the official announcement: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/news/Dr-Adam-Vitalis-appointed-Director-of-SAF

09/24/2026

It only took a New York minute for our Computing and Financial Management (CFM) alumni to catch up in the Big Apple. 🍎🗽

New York City is home to one of CFM's largest alumni communities, giving our graduates regular opportunities to connect, reflect on their experiences and welcome co-op students working in the city.

With graduates working across quantitative finance, trading, software engineering, FinTech and beyond, CFM alumni continue to make their mark in one of the world's leading financial hubs while building connections for the next generation of professionals.

Curious about a career in FinTech? Visit our website to learn more.
https://uwaterloo.ca/computing-financial-management/careers-financial-technology-fintech


Waterloo Math

09/22/2026

New year, new roots 🌱

Some traditions are worth growing. 🌳 For our newest Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM) cohort, that meant kicking off their university journey with our annual microforest planting event in partnership with Sustainable Waterloo Region.

Last week, SFM students planted 100 native trees and shrubs at Lester B. Pearson Public School, working alongside the elementary school students who'll grow up alongside those very trees — a tangible reminder that the work we do today impacts generations to come.

It's a fitting start for a program built to help future finance professionals look beyond the numbers, weighing environmental and social impact alongside financial decision-making.

Thank you to our students, staff, and community partners for making this tradition possible. We can't wait to watch both the trees and our students thrive!



💚 SFM is a joint program between the University of Waterloo's School of Accounting and Finance & the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED) in Waterloo's Faculty of Environment.

09/17/2026

How many BCFM's does it take to cut a cake into 180 slices? Apparently, 20 years' worth! 🍰 😉

We kicked off the fall term by celebrating 20 years of the Computing and Financial Management (CFM) program, bringing together students, alumni and faculty to connect with the growing community.

From prizes to plenty of cake, the evening was full of conversations, advice and laughter.

Thank you to our upper-year students, alumni and Co-Directors James Thompson and Toshiya Hachisuka for welcoming our new students to the program and showing how CFM continues to create lasting connections. 🤝

Waterloo Math |

09/15/2026

Another annual student conference day in the books! 🙌
 
It was so great seeing our students show up ready to learn, connect and get a head start — from Launch Your Career for our first year students, to Co-op Ready for those gearing up for their first job search.
 
We hope you walked away with some great takeaways from our speaker lineup and employer networking — maybe a new connection, a résumé tip you didn’t know you needed, or just a little extra confidence heading into interview season 💼✨
 
Got more questions? We’ve got answers — SAF’s co-op office hours are Monday from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. outside the SAF Student Lounge.
 

09/14/2026

Imagine having a mentor who's been where you are, and another who's where you want to be. ✨

Through the SAF Fellowship Program, Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) student Kaavish was paired with both an upper-year mentor and an industry mentor — each offering a different kind of guidance on his university journey.

During study terms, his upper-year mentor helped him align academic decisions with his long-term goals. While on co-op terms, his industry mentor in finance guided him through recruitment and career development. 🚀

🔗 Read Kaavish's blog post to learn how his mentorship experience gave him a clearer sense of his professional path: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/blog/leveraging-mentorship-through-saf-fellowship-program

09/01/2026

08/28/2026

It started with matcha, but one casual café conversation led to a meaningful connection between a mentor and her mentee. 🍵

In this blog, Selena reflects on her experience being Kailey's mentor as part of the School of Accounting and Finance Fellowship Program, highlighting how a relaxed environment created space for honest conversations about co-op, academics and university life.

Through the program, Selena learned that mentorship isn't about having all the answers — it's about showing up, listening and sharing experiences.

🔗 Read Selena's story: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/blog/finding-connection-over-matcha

08/21/2026

Congratulations to our School of Accounting and Finance team, who placed 2nd at TEI's International Tax Student Case Competition in Montreal last weekend! 🎉

MTax students Jatin, Samantha, and Rebecca, along with MAcc student Xavier, were among 14 teams brought together from around the world for three days of learning, connection and collaboration.

Our team delivered an exceptional performance, standing out among a strong field that included HEC Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, and York University.

Thank you to the Tax Executives Institute, faculty advisor Julie Robson, and industry leaders Phil Parkinson (Head of Global Tax, Klick) and Jun Ying (Tax Manager, Enbridge) for mentoring our students throughout the competition and providing such an incredible, enriching experience.

Please join us in congratulating Jatin, Samantha, Rebecca, and Xavier on this fantastic result! 👏✨

08/20/2026

Thank you and farewell to Dr. Blake Phillips 💛🖤

After more than 15 years at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Blake Phillips is stepping down as Director of the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF).

Throughout his time at SAF, Blake has been a dedicated advocate for students, faculty and staff, helping shape the School's future through bold ideas, strong leadership and a commitment to innovation.

Among his many lasting contributions, he helped create and launch the Bachelor of Sustainability and Financial Management program, which celebrated its first graduating class this June.

He has also been a steady champion of Indigenous representation, including commissioning a new Indigenous mural which reflects the School's commitment to incorporating Indigenous knowledge and reconciliation into how we prepare students headed into the profession.

Join us in thanking Blake for his leadership and wishing him the best as he takes on his next chapter as Dean of the Dhillon School of Business at the University of Lethbridge.

Read more about Blake's legacy and messages from the SAF community: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/news/thank-you-and-farewell-dr-blake-phillips