Add up the advantages: 2 areas of expertise, 1 serious career edge.
Acquire the expertise to analyze financial information and take a leadership role in any business. This rigorous program covers accounting, finance, business analytics, and investment management, and more.
We offer a rich learning environment where you can develop professional competencies both inside and outside the classroom. Extend your learning through co-op work terms, extracurricular activities, and a host of other experiential opportunities.
By the time you graduate, you'll be advancing your career, not just launching it! A degree in Accounting and Financial Management sets you up for success. You’ll be able to analyze, interpret, and communicate the information that drives business decisions.
Accounting and Financial Management admission requirements
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 75% is required)
- Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 75% is required)
- Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 75% is required)
- Recommended courses: Principles of Financial Accounting, Mathematics of Data Management
Admission average: Individual selection from the mid-80s
All applicants to the AFM program are required to completed the AFM Admissions Assessment (AFMAA).
It is strongly recommended that all AFM applicants also submit an Admission Information Form.
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.
First-year courses
September to December
January to April
After first year
70-80% of the classes you'll take will be Accounting and Financial Management courses. The number of electives you'll have will depend on the professional designations (i.e. CPA, CFA) or specializations (e.g. entrepreneurship, data analytics) you choose.
View the full list of courses required for your degree.
Sample upper-year courses
AFM 241 – Impact of Technology on Business
AFM 373 – Cases in Corporate Finance
AFM 344 – Intermediate Data Analytics
AFM 433 – Business Strategy
Adnan’s experience in AFM led him to a number of successes, like launching a social start-up, being on the winning team for the global 2016 CFA Research Challenge, and being named co-op student of the year.
Gain 16 months of professional experience with co-op
Apply directly to this program on your application
Earn a Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management
Co-op = relevant paid work experience
By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms, you can explore new career areas and employers as your interests evolve.
Sample co-op job titles
- Fixed income analyst
- Finance officer trainee
- Junior financial analyst
- Business analyst
- Auditor trainee
- IT finance assistant
- Staff accountant/analyst
- Accounting assistant
Sample co-op employers
- Deloitte LLP
- RBC Financial Group
- PwC
- Home Trust Company
- Manulife Financial
- Molson Coors Canada
- Nestle Purina Petcare
of students receive at least one entrance scholarship
$34,000 to $81,000 in potential co-op earnings
Your direct route to a CPA, CFA, and/or CBV
Customize your degree
You can add additional areas of expertise to your degree by including one or more of the areas of focus in Accounting and Financial Management.
- Accounting
- Finance
- Entrepreneurship
- Data Analytics
You can also include one of the minors available to all Waterloo students. Popular areas of focus for Accounting and Financial Management students include Economics, Human Resource Management, and International Studies.
What can you do with a degree in accounting?
If you complete both the AFM and the eighth-month Master of Accounting (MAcc) programs, you don’t need to take the two-year CPA Professional Education Program. Instead, you can proceed directly to the CPA Final Exam (CFE) as soon as you graduate.
Waterloo Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) graduates often pursue careers in finance, accountancy, consulting, and auditing to kickstart their careers. As AFM grads progress through their careers, they commonly work in consulting, finance, and accounting in banks, business advisory firms, insurance companies, and more.
Recent graduates
- Senior accountant – KPMG
- Financial consultant – Investors Group
- Senior auditor – Royal Bank Financial Group
- Program manager – Sun Life Financial
- Accountant – Manulife Financial
- Banking analyst – Euro Pacific Canada
For more information on potential careers, check out our page on careers in business.
Top-level accreditation
Our School of Accounting and Finance has received the highest level of national accreditation through CPA Canada, as well as accreditation through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
Pro qualifications — faster
If you want to enhance your credentials even further with a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) designation, your degree gets you there faster.
Ready to learn more?
- Visit the School of Accounting and Financial Management website
- Email Sarah Lima, manager of marketing and recruitment, who can answer any questions about the program
- Subscribe to our newsletter to get tips and advice from current students
- Related programs