ENRICH AND EXPAND OUR COLLABORATIONS
TOGETHER, WE WILL REDEFINE THE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE PROFESSIONS
Where some see disruption, we see opportunities to grow. With the right tools, accounting and finance leaders can transform industries by bringing game-changing technologies to market. They can harness the power of Big Data to drive business solutions in real time. They can set the standards of sustainable finance that put a better world within our reach.
That’s why we’ve harnessed the strengths of renowned partners on campus — including Waterloo’s top-ranked Cheriton School of Computer Science and pioneering Faculty of Environment — to complement our expertise in accounting and finance. Our collaborative programs in biotechnology, mathematics, computing and sustainability unite scholars across disciplines, providing integrated learning experiences that prepare students to tackle the complex problems that spur industry change.
Students enrolled in our flagship accounting and finance programs can combine their core courses with topics including financial markets, business analytics, entrepreneurship and sustainability. Learners augment their core professional skills while developing comfort — and even excitement — around uncertainty. This business acumen gives them a competitive edge in the workforce and equips them to build Canada’s next industry giants.
As our programs continue to grow and evolve, we will recruit expert faculty who specialize in priority fields such as data analysis, sustainable finance, entrepreneurial finance and FinTech. Their presence will augment our bench strength in accounting and finance and amplify the School’s impact on the professions.
To promote future-focused collaborations like these, you can direct your support to the following areas:
Chairs, professorships and lectureships in priority areas
Programs and activities that support environmental, social and governance (ESG) development
The new Bachelor of Sustainability and Financial Management program
Scholarships for students in collaborative programs like Computing and Financial Management
Bachelor of Sustainability and Financial Management
Sustainability is no longer an elusive goal without a deadline. Today, it is widely acknowledged as the future of business.
There is a growing need for professionals with formal cross-training and certifications in sustainability, accounting and financial management. Currently, those professionals do not exist in Canada.
Waterloo’s new Bachelor of Sustainability and Financial Management degree (SFM) fills that gap. Created by SAF and the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED) — part of Waterloo’s distinguished Faculty of Environment — this trailblazing co-op program is the first of its kind in Canada.
The SFM synthesizes SAF’s benchmark financial strengths with SEED’s unique mission to integrate business and development activities with environmental and social objectives. Students will not only master the practices of accounting and financial management, but also delve into environmental law, social equality, carbon emissions and ecosystem science.
Taking a fully integrated approach to the subject matter, many courses will be team taught by SAF and SEED professors. Their focus on problem- and team-based learning will train future leaders to align financial outcomes with social and environmental goals — to create a more equitable world.
See how CFM students harness and leverage the strengths of computer science and finance.
Computing and Financial Management
The Computing and Financial Management program (CFM) is the only program in Canada that focuses equally on computer science and finance. With very few professionals offering expertise in both areas, and the financial industry swiftly adopting new technologies, an integrated skill set is evermore in demand.
CFM harnesses the strengths of the Cheriton School of Computer Science in a future-ready joint degree, augmenting financial expertise with critical technical skills including coding and data analytics. Courses prepare students for careers in the technology and finance sectors, as well as FinTech — a dominant force in the global marketplace.
CFM recently introduced three new courses that offer an integrated approach to concepts in FinTech including asset pricing theories, trading, algorithms and strategies, and back-testing techniques. Combined with intimate class sizes and committed faculty, these educational experiences equip students with the skills they need to optimize processes for their firms and advance their careers.
Susan Uthayakumar BA ’95, MAcc ’95
Susan Uthayakumar champions green practices in business – to save our environment and stay relevant in the marketplace.
Dillon Mendes BAFM ’22, MAcc ’22
Dillon Mendes made a commitment to clean up litter in his community. That small action grew into a national movement.
Kieng Iv BAFM ’11, MAcc ’11
Kieng Iv trains students to combine advanced analytic skills with communication and business smarts.
© Copyright 2022 SAF, University of Waterloo | FP1724