Samia Ashraf
Pilon School of Business
Degree: Business Administration - Accounting
Year of graduation: 2008
Accounting for your Future
Samia Ashraf entered the accounting field at a particularly interesting time. Since she hit the workforce, most accounting professionals in Canada have moved towards unification under a single designation.
The new credential - Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) - will more closely meet international standards, a positive move, given the increased globalization of trade and the patchwork of designations and regulatory bodies across the country.
As Project Controller for SAP (Systems Applications and Products) at the international mining company, Vale, Samia welcomes the change. “From underground miner to top level management, everyone will be using the same system all across the board. This will reduce the information flow timeline and generate more productivity.”
It’s all part of rolling with the changes that today’s business world brings, a prospect Samia is enjoying. “Every day I learn something new and face another challenge. More importantly, I have got a chance to meet consultants from high profile companies such as IBM and HP.”
Before taking on her current role in 2013, Samia worked as a Buyer for Vale in Toronto, following a stint with money transfer and currency exchange company, Finmark Financials.
Samia, who was born in Pakistan, grew up in a business-oriented family, attending high school in Mississauga before coming to Sheridan. It was an easy decision, she says. “The learning environment was amazing at Sheridan, especially the up-to-date technology and campus. Plus, the business professors offered both knowledge and hands-on experience.”
Samia then went on to earn a CGA designation from McMaster University (2010) and a Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University (2014). But she returns to Sheridan’s Hazel McCallion Campus to share her experience at networking events for current accounting students, a worthy endeavour, she believes.
“By bringing my personal experiences and knowledge to students, I can educate them about the changes and challenges they can expect to face in the accounting industry.”
Learn more about Sheridan’s Business Administration-Accounting program.
Samia Ashraf entered the accounting field at a particularly interesting time. Since she hit the workforce, most accounting professionals in Canada have moved towards unification under a single designation.
The new credential - Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) - will more closely meet international standards, a positive move, given the increased globalization of trade and the patchwork of designations and regulatory bodies across the country.
As Project Controller for SAP (Systems Applications and Products) at the international mining company, Vale, Samia welcomes the change. “From underground miner to top level management, everyone will be using the same system all across the board. This will reduce the information flow timeline and generate more productivity.”
It’s all part of rolling with the changes that today’s business world brings, a prospect Samia is enjoying. “Every day I learn something new and face another challenge. More importantly, I have got a chance to meet consultants from high profile companies such as IBM and HP.”
Before taking on her current role in 2013, Samia worked as a Buyer for Vale in Toronto, following a stint with money transfer and currency exchange company, Finmark Financials.
Samia, who was born in Pakistan, grew up in a business-oriented family, attending high school in Mississauga before coming to Sheridan. It was an easy decision, she says. “The learning environment was amazing at Sheridan, especially the up-to-date technology and campus. Plus, the business professors offered both knowledge and hands-on experience.”
Samia then went on to earn a CGA designation from McMaster University (2010) and a Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University (2014). But she returns to Sheridan’s Hazel McCallion Campus to share her experience at networking events for current accounting students, a worthy endeavour, she believes.
“By bringing my personal experiences and knowledge to students, I can educate them about the changes and challenges they can expect to face in the accounting industry.”
Learn more about Sheridan’s Business Administration-Accounting program.