Future students

Spring Convocation is a time to celebrate the hard work, resilience and achievements of our graduating class. This year, the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) is proud to recognize an exceptional group of students who have made their mark at Waterloo and beyond.

Among them is Mahmoud Halloum (BA '26), named SAF's valedictorian for the Class of 2026. Learn about his journey from SAF student to Deloitte analyst and startup founder.

The SFM class of 2026 in their regalia with Blake Phillips on the Waterloo field.

Meet the cohort that bet on a new kind of professional — and won.

In 2021, 12 students enrolled in a degree that didn't yet have a graduating class, an employer track record, or even a course calendar listing. Today, they cross the convocation stage as the first-ever graduates of the Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM) program — and every single one of them has a next step. Six are heading into the Master of Accounting program, and six have landed full-time roles, five of them directly in sustainability and ESG.

In his final year of the Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) program, Joel P. took on a Research Assistant role through the SAF Fellowship Program where he had the opportunity to explore one of today’s fastest-evolving spaces: artificial intelligence (AI).

Analyzing and comparing AI tools alongside Professor Efrim Boritz, Joel's experience was defined by open-ended problem-solving and the kind of ownership rarely found in a classroom. He reflects on how the role shaped his academic and professional path, and why his advice to first-years is simple: you have more time than you think.

From coordinating corporate visits with global firms to navigating train schedules across Germany, the Winter 2026 International Study Course (AFM334) trip to Germany was powered by School of Accounting and Finance students taking on different responsibilities behind the scenes.

While each team entered the trip with clearly defined roles, the experience quickly became one of collaboration, quick thinking and supporting one another through unexpected twists and turns.

From river cruises in Frankfurt to boardroom discussions with global firms, our International Study Course (AFM 334) team's recent trip to Germany challenged them to bring their classroom knowledge to life and make the most of this unique study experience.

While real-world corporate meetings initially felt daunting, the team reflects on how their creative preparation methods turned each session into an opportunity for learning — from Digital Euro at the European Central Bank to credit risk at Munich Re.

Winners of the 2025 Alumni Awards: Adnan Khan and Troy Maxwell

Each year, the University of Waterloo recognizes exceptional alumni from each faculty and school with Alumni Awards. Recipients from 2025, Troy Maxwell (BA ’89, MAcc ’89) and Adnan Khan (BAFM ’17, MAcc ’17), are highlighted for their professional achievements, leadership and community impact.

Visit the 2025 Alumni Awards page for a full list of recipients.

Third-year Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) student Emma shares how a coffee chat through the SAF Fellowship Program led her to a research assistant role with Professor Tim Bauer — and changed how she thinks about her future.

Working in audit experimental research, she found that the RA experience offered more than just skills: it gave her a new understanding of how knowledge is created and made academia feel like a real, personal option.

Student team: Alicia Wen, Quynh-Anh Le, Michael Huang and Jei Raman Gnaneswaran, with industry mentor Jeannine LiChong.

University of Waterloo students have won the global CFA Institute Research Challenge, outperforming teams from 1,200 universities worldwide and securing the university’s third global title in a decade.

Tisha King presents to high school students at the Black Brilliance campus visit.

In partnership with the Waterloo Region District School Board’s Black Brilliance initiative, the University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance welcomed secondary school students and teachers to campus for an immersive day exploring business education.

Through mentorship, hands-on activities and conversations with faculty, students and entrepreneurs, the visit aimed to make pathways in business, finance and entrepreneurship feel visible, accessible and welcoming.

Business Valuation Challenge team: Jackson, Reda, Shrisha, and Luke.

Shrisha, Jackson, Reda and Luke recently participated in the Business Valuation Challenge, where they gained hands-on experience with valuation and explored the Chartered Business Valuator career path.

Read their blog to learn more about the experience from their perspective.

Future students

Celebrating the class of 2026: Mahmoud Halloum named SAF valedictorian

First SFM cohort paves the way for the future of sustainable business

Learning through uncertainty: AI research in the SAF Fellowship Program

Alles gut?/All good? Teamwork versus twist and turns in Germany

From classrooms to boardrooms in Germany

SAF announces 2025 Alumni Award recipients

How I became a research assistant in the AFM program

University of Waterloo students take the top spot at CFA Institute Research Challenge global finals in Hong Kong

Black Brilliance and the business of belonging

Inside the BV Challenge: A student perspective on real-word business valuation

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