At the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF), learning doesn’t stop at graduation. Many alumni carry forward the values of mentorship and community by supporting the next generation of students as they begin their professional journeys.
More than just a guiding hand, mentorship is a SAF tradition that carries forward from one generation of students to the next. This month, we caught up with an alum who has embraced this tradition to learn how his experience as a student Fellow inspired him to give back as an Honouree and mentor.
Dean Ah Sen
BAFM ’16, MAcc ’16
CARPEIT, Director of Financial Reporting and Corporate Accounting
After starting his career in audit at EY, Dean is now the Director of Financial Reporting and Corporate Accounting at CAPREIT, Canada’s largest residential real estate investment trust. In his role, he oversees external and internal reporting, corporate accounting, complex accounting matters, and internal controls over financial reporting.
Dean has stayed closely connected to SAF through the Fellowship program, a long-standing mentorship initiative that pairs high-achieving students with alumni Honourees who provide career insights and support. As a student, Dean benefited from the guidance of his own Honouree; and today, he has come full circle by serving in that role himself. Through activities such as virtual SAF cafés, Dean shares his experiences, answers questions, and helps students see the many possibilities open to them.
“When I was a student in [Accounting and Financial Management] AFM, I had the privilege of being in the Fellowship program myself and had an Honouree who made time to connect with me,” he recalls. “Being an Honouree now is an opportunity for me to give back to the SAF community.”
That support, he says, can make all the difference for students navigating school and early career decisions. “The best advice I received early on was not to be afraid to ask questions. No one is expected to know everything, and most people are happy to help.”
Drawing from his own mentorship experiences, Dean shares three tips for today’s students:
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Step outside your comfort zone. Trying new things can lead to unexpected opportunities.
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Build connections. Support your peers, help eachother out, and grow your network.
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Enjoy the journey. Make sure to have fun during your time in university; time flies and you’ll graduate before you know it!
For Dean, giving back is not just about offering career advice, but also about encouraging students to embrace both the challenges and the joy of their university experience. His journey demonstrates that the cycle of mentorship continues to strengthen the SAF community year after year, long after graduation.