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.

The tax landscape is evolving rapidly, making cross-sector collaboration and lifelong professional connections more vital than ever.

The newly launched Master of Taxation (MTax) Alumni Network is designed to bring together SAF’s global community of tax leaders to share knowledge and support the next generation.

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.

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 School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) brought together over 100 donors, alumni, students and faculty at the 2026 SAF Alumni Excellence Gala for an evening celebrating achievement, leadership and community.

The gala honoured the outstanding achievements and milestones earned across the SAF community over the past year — from alumni making their mark at the highest levels of their fields, to students representing Waterloo on the world stage in competition against the best and brightest universities globally.

New research from Kaishu Wu, Professor at the School of Accouting and Finance, explores how political connections can influence the penalties companies face in foreign bribery cases.

Analyzing 151 U.S. enforcement cases over 25 years, the study raises broader questions about fairness and transparency in anti-corruption law.

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.

The University of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance has achieved its highest‑ever international research ranking, placing third worldwide in the 2025 Brigham Young University (BYU) Accounting Rankings — ahead of institutions such as Cornell University.

The milestone reflects sustained, award‑winning research that helps organizations better understand how incentives, performance metrics and systems influence real human behaviour at work.