Having a chat with Ram Subbiah

Thursday, April 9, 2020
by Ram Subbiah, MAcc ’19

Ram Subbiah
In September 2019, over 6,000 candidates passed the Common Final Examination (CFE), moving them towards their profession as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). The CFE Honour Roll consists of the top one per cent of successful CFE writers. Out of the 28 Ontario Honour Roll members, 15 of them were School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) graduates! We had a chance to sit down with Ram Subbiah (MAcc ’19, Senior Assurance Associate at PwC) to ask him about his CFE experience, and how SAF helped him make it onto the honour roll.

How has your SAF program prepared you for the CFE and professional success?

The SAF program exposed me to a challenging and rewarding learning environment that always brought out the best in me. Being among like-minded peers and excellent faculty members, gave me a strong foundation to be successful in the CFE. From the group projects to presentations and case competitions, these opportunities allowed me to develop not only my technical skills by also my durable skills (soft skills) to excel in my professional career.

In your opinion, how do you think your cumulative experiences within your SAF program (academic, extra/co-curricular, co-op, etc.) attributed to your CFE and career success?

The variety of experiences I was exposed to in the SAF program was critical to my success thus far. The rigorous and challenging academic program allowed me to be successful on the CFE. My extensive extra-curricular involvement whether it was competing in case competitions or being a part of the Student Venture Fund, enabled me to develop problem solving and communication skills which are critical for career success. The co-op program was an excellent way to apply the learnings from the classroom into the workplace.

How has being named to the CFE Honour Roll changed your career path or goals?

It is an incredible honour to be named to the CFE Honour Roll and represent the SAF community. This accolade is a testament to my hard work throughout the years and has given me the confidence to take on new challenges and to continue developing my skills as a professional. 

What do you aspire to do within your professional career?

I aspire to continue working in a fast-paced and challenging environment where I can continue honing my skills and provide valuable services to my clients in today’s complex business landscape.