School of Accounting and Finance

🎓 Hats off to the School of Accounting and Finance Class of 2026!

Last week's convocation was a chance to celebrate the achievements, friendships and experiences that brought you to this milestone. From co-op terms and case competitions to late nights studying and lifelong connections, each of you has left your mark on our community.

Whether you're continuing your studies, beginning your career or exploring new opportunities, we know you'll continue to make an impact.

Wherever your next chapter takes you, we're proud to have been part of your journey and can't wait to see what you'll accomplish next. 💛🖤

Congratulations to our first-ever graduating class of the Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM) program! 🎓🪴

Five years ago, 12 students signed up for a brand new degree that had no alumni and no employer track record — now they're proving that bet paid off.

What started as a leap of faith led to this milestone moment. Yesterday was their convocation day, and every single SFM grad is moving forward with clear next steps: six heading into Waterloo's Master of Accounting program, and six with full-time roles secured, five of them directly in sustainability and ESG.

We are so very proud of this incredible cohort and the first-of-its-kind SFM program, created in partnership between the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) and the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED). 🤝

The SFM program was made possible in part by a $2.2 million gift from the RBC Foundation.

This group truly demonstrates what a cross-disciplinary approach can accomplish, and we're excited to see how their futures unfold.

Learn more about how SFM came to be and where the first graduates are headed: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/news/first-sfm-cohort-paves-way-future-sustainable-business/

Waterloo's Faculty of Environment

Yesterday, we celebrated our newest Computing and Financial Management (CFM) graduates. 🎓

This group has built a tight bond along the way—from debugging code to building financial models, and co-op terms to convocation caps—and has crossed the stage ready for what’s next.

With skills spanning both computer science and finance, they’re stepping forward prepared to make an impact wherever their paths may take them.

Congratulations, CFM Class of 2026! ✨ We’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see what comes next.



📸 Joe Petrik from the Cheriton School of Computer Science | Waterloo Math

From student leader and mentor to entrepreneur and valedictorian, Mahmoud Halloum (BAFM '26) has carried curiosity and drive through every chapter of his journey at the University of Waterloo.

We're proud to recognize Mahmoud as the School of Accounting and Finance's 2026 Valedictorian and celebrate all of our newest UWaterloo alumni as they reach this exciting milestone. 🎓

Congratulations, Class of 2026! Your hard work and dedication have brought you so far, and the best is yet to come. 🖤💛

Read more about Mahmoud's journey: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/news/celebrating-class-2026-mahmoud-halloum-named-saf

Last week, in partnership with Making Things Happen (MTH), we brought together SAF students and some incredible SAF alumni for a night of real conversations about careers in accounting, finance, tech and consulting.

From the main panel to the breakout rooms and networking, it was an evening full of honest advice, new connections, and a lot of inspiration for what's ahead!

A huge thank you to our alumni speakers — Travis Fonderson, Aliana Versi, Nicole Liu, and Shahmeer Shahab — for generously giving their time and making it all possible. 🖤💛

What began as lessons and research in the classroom came to life in boardrooms across Germany as the SAF International Study Course team made their Winter 2026 trip a powerful learning experience. 🇩🇪

From pop-quizzes on the River Main to back-to-back meetings with industry leaders, the team turned every moment into an opportunity to grow — exploring topics like credit, fixed income, and the Digital Euro, and gaining firsthand insight into how classroom concepts work in practice.💡

🔗 Check out their blog post to learn how they prepared — and what they took away — from this unique study opportunity: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/blog/classrooms-boardrooms-germany

Balanced books 📚 blooming campus 🌸

We're soaking up every sunny moment between classes ☀️

Research doesn't always begin with having the right answer — sometimes it begins with asking the right questions. 🔍

Through the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) Fellowship Program, Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) student Joel worked as a research assistant with professor Efrim Boritz exploring one of today's fastest-evolving spaces: artificial intelligence.

By evaluating and comparing AI tools, he gained hands-on experience tackling real problems without clear answers — and ended up presenting his findings at a university symposium.

His biggest takeaway? Some of the most meaningful learning happens outside the classroom, and saying yes to something new can lead somewhere unexpected.

🔗 Read Joel's story in his own words: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/blog/learning-through-uncertainty-ai-research-saf-fellowship

Last week, we had the privilege of bringing together over 100 donors, alumni, students and faculty at the School of Accounting and Finance 2026 Alumni Excellence Gala — an evening celebrating achievement, leadership and our incredible community that gives back and pays it forward.

From alumni making their mark at the highest levels of their fields, to students representing Waterloo in competition against the best and brightest universities across the globe, the night was a powerful reminder of what we're capable of together. ✨

Read our recap of the event: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/news/giving-back-and-paying-it-forward-evening-2026-saf-alumni

What does it take to run a student-led study trip across Germany? ✈️ 🇩🇪

For the students in SAF's Winter 2026 International Study Course (AFM 334), the answer involved 400+ cold emails, a last-minute private bus charter, and a whole lot of cross-team problem-solving.

Behind every company visit, meal reservation and travel schedule — from Adidas and BMW to the European Central Bank — was a team of students working together to make the experience a success, all while navigating real-world curveballs along the way.

🔗 Alles gut? Read their blog to see how they made it work: https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/blog/alles-gutall-good-teamwork-versus-twist-and-turns-germany