Entry into the CFA Institute University Recognition Program signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that the School of Accounting and Finance curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations. Through participation in this program, the School of Accounting and Finance is eligible to receive a limited number of student scholarships for the CFA Program each year.
“Students in these programs study the Candidate Body of Knowledge, which include knowledge, skills, and abilities that investment experts worldwide have identified as essential best practice,” said Stephen Horan, Ph.D., CFA, CIPM, Head, University Relations & Private Wealth. “By mastering the fundamentals of the CFA Program as well as the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, these future investment professionals join us in our mission to promote the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society.”
Established in 1981, the School of Accounting and Finance’s undergraduate programs in accounting and finance are some of the most prestigious programs in Canada. These programs are co-op only, adding experiential learning to assist students in fully integrating the technical with the application side of accounting and finance. The AFM–Finance Specialization provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that prepares them for successful careers in the global financial services industry. Students develop strong technical, analytical, and management skills in a program that integrates finance, accounting, economics, statistics, strategy and ethics, and are equipped to excel as investment professionals.
Launched in 2006, the CFM program is a unique and innovative co-op program jointly offered by the School of Accounting and Finance and David. R. Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo. Students in the program develop a comprehensive foundation and interdisciplinary skill set in both finance and computer science. With the increasing reliance on technology in the financial services industry, CFM graduates are well-equipped to utilize their expertise in computer applications and systems and mathematical foundations of computer science to solve today's increasingly complex financial problems.
“The School of Accounting and Finance is very excited to be recognized by the CFA Institute University Recognition Program,” says Prof. Ranjini Jha, the Associate Director of Finance for the SAF. “This will allow our students to take advantage of the many opportunities for future CFAs in today’s international business world.”
About the School of Accounting and Finance
The School of Accounting and Finance is the largest professional school of its kind in English-speaking Canada. Established in 1981, the School offers undergraduate and graduate programs designed to provide students with the competencies, professionalism and practical experience they need to excel in their chosen careers. The School offers undergraduate co-op programs in accounting, finance and computing and financial management. It also offers masters programs in accounting and taxation and a PhD program in accounting. For more details, go to https://saf.uwaterloo.ca.
About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and administers the industry gold standard CFA charter. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has more than 110,000 members in 139 countries and territories, including 100,000 CFA charterholders. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org.
About the CFA Program
The CFA Program sets a standard for developing the skills, standards, competence, and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers, investment advisers, and other investment professionals worldwide. It is widely considered the investment profession’s most rigorous credentialing program. Administered in English, the CFA curriculum and examinations are identical worldwide. Fewer than one in five candidates who begin the program successfully complete it and go on to earn the coveted CFA charter, the “gold standard” for investment professionals.