News

After more than 15 years at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Blake Phillips is stepping down as Director of the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) to become Dean of the Dhillon School of Business at the University of Lethbridge. 

Before he goes, his colleagues, staff and friends at SAF want to mark the moment and thank him for everything he has given the School.

The School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) unveiled a commissioned three-panel Indigenous mural in the Don Craig Atrium in Hagey Hall on August 11, placing the Haudenosaunee Sky Woman creation story in permanent view at the centre of the School.

Five researchers at the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) earned more than $408,000 in the 2026 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) competition.

The SAF awards form part of 20 projects across the Faculty of Arts and more than $8 million that University of Waterloo researchers secured across all six faculties.

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.

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.

Jatinder Bassi (MAcc ’10), President of Echelon Insurance, reflects on continuous learning, leadership growth and the mindset shifts that supported his journey from accounting and finance roles to executive leadership.

In this Q&A, he shares practical career insights and advice for the next generation of business leaders.

SAF recently hosted “Be The Future”, a conference that gave highschool students a chanve to step into the shoes of tomorrows business leaders, tackling hands-on challeneges, participating in expert panel discussions and exploring how technology, AI, science and sustainability are reshaping the way business are done.

Graduate studies aren’t just about earning a degree — they’re about asking deeper questions, gaining new perspectives and shaping conversations that reach far beyond the classroom.

This month, we’re spotlighting Jillian Adams (PhD ’24), a School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) alum whose passion for tax policy and pursuit of a PhD shows how curiosity can be turned into impact.

This year’s Fusion Conference highlighted the growing connection between the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) and the Faculty of Science.

With interdisciplinary teams combining scientific insight, business strategy, and financial thinking, Fusion was a clear showcase of how these two academic worlds strengthen one another.

Benjie Thomas (PDAcc '98), CEO of KPMG in Canada returned to the University of Waterloo's School of Accounting and Finance where he was recognized for his longstanding generosity to the University and shared valuable career insights with the next generation of accounting and finance professionals.