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Dear Prospective Delegate,

We cordially invite you to the 2012 University of Waterloo Accounting Conference (UWAC), taking place from May 4^th – May 6^th, 2012. Each year, the conference strives to attract the best and brightest accounting and business students from across Canada in order to foster new learning and growth experiences as well as invaluable relationship building opportunities.

UWAC is the first university conference with a unique focus on accounting and on the issues surrounding the financial world. We are committed to the open exchange of ideas between students in relation to the accounting profession, as well as the development of professional relationships amongst students.

Every year, UWAC attracts relevant and engaging speakers with a wide variety of accounting experience and perspectives. In addition to inviting prominent speakers and hosting dynamic workshops, UWAC also features a $1,000 case competition, based on a real-world company in order to create a challenging yet applicable case for our delegates.

“Defining the Future,” the theme of this year’s conference, focuses on financial planning. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to set attainable goals through implementing budgeting and cost accounting principles, as well as gain a better understanding of how organizations manage their financial resources to accomplish these goals.

UWAC is an excellent growth opportunity for all students interested in accounting at any level. Registration opens in early January to all delegates. We invite and encourage all students interested in the field to attend this extraordinary event. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Justin Ongaro and Vithushan Jeyakumaran
Co-chairpersons of UWAC 2012

UWAC 2012 is excited to announce this year’s theme: Defining the Future. Defining the Future is focused on the process of analyzing past performance in order to strategize for an uncertain future. Our theme this year takes into consideration just how vital accounting is at each step of the decision-making process, as companies plan their movements around financial statements using the necessary precision and attention to detail.

There are three questions that every company must ask themselves, as they employ strategic planning into their future: What is it that they do? Who are they doing it for? And how can they be the best at what they do? It all starts with conceptualization, as a company sets a vision for themselves, through their unique corporate mission and values. Then each year, they must analyze current year performance, to look at what worked, and what didn’t. Using this knowledge, they can now plan and strategize for future years – setting goals for themselves with specific objectives and quantitative targets.

UWAC 2012: Defining the Future demonstrates the invaluable role that accounting plays in both the everyday and long-term decisions that a company makes over the course of the business cycle. Through the case competition, keynote speaker addresses, workshops, and other activities throughout the conference, delegates will gain a first-hand glimpse into how the accounting profession ties into the minutiae of successful corporate planning.

David Denison

President and Chief Executive Officer, CPP Investment Board

David was appointed to his position in January 2005. As the President and CEO of the CPP Investment Board, he is responsible for leading the organization and its investment activities. Mr. Denison has 32 years of experience in the financial services sector, including senior postings in the investment, consulting and mutual fund businesses in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. A native of Gander, Newfoundland, he was raised in Montreal. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto with undergraduate degrees in mathematics and education. Following six years as an educator, Mr. Denison earned his Chartered Accountant designation and began his business career. He is currently a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

Karen E. Maidment

Director, TransAlta Corporation and TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation

Karen has served as a director of TransAlta since August 2010. Ms. Maidment was chief financial and administrative officer of Bank of Montreal Financial Group from 2000 to 2007 and during that time, she was responsible for all global finance operations, risk management, legal and compliance, tax, communications and mergers and acquisitions. She was also formerly a director of Harris Bank, BMO Nesbitt Burns and the Bank of Montreal Pension Fund. She was named Canada’s CFO of the Year for 2006 by Financial Executives International Canada. Ms. Maidment holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University and is a Chartered Accountant. In 2000, she was named a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

Each year, UWAC collaborates with companies around the world to engage its delegates in a case competition based on real life scenarios. In 2008, the case competition centered around Virgin Mobile and in 2009, we worked with Better Place. The aim of this competition is to test our delegates on their ability to think critically, work in a team setting, and present their ideas to industry professionals who will be providing insight on their innovative ideas.

Although sound accounting knowledge will be an integral part of the case competition, UWAC also believes in the professional development of each of our delegates. Aside from accounting expertise, our delegates will also be challenged on their ability to lead, to assess and evaluate situations, and to overcome unexpected obstacles under time restraints. At UWAC, we believe in emphasizing the importance of professional development so as to make their experiences both, career advancing and rewarding.

FAQ

What do I get if I win?

The winning team will be awarded with a prize of $1000.

What do judges look for in our presentations?

In the past, judges have found that the most interesting and engaging case presentations have been the ones where all teams choose different angles on their arguments for one intense question and answer period.

How much time do we get?

Students typically have 1 hour to read the case as a team and prepare their case and presentation before going in front of the judge panel.

I’m only a first year student and have little accounting knowledge, will I be at a disadvantage against upper year students?

Not at all. The case competition challenges each delegate on his or her creativity and problem solving skills. Although basic accounting knowledge will be beneficial, your success will depend on your ability to work with your team to come up with the best solution for the case.

Delta Hotel

Delegates will be staying at the Delta Kitchener-Waterloo Hotel. Hotel features include but are not limited to an indoor pool, a fitness centre, high speed wireless internet, a business centre, and 2 grand ballrooms. The Delta Hotel has built a strong reputation on personalized customer service as well as fantastic facilities suitable for weddings, themed events, trade shows, and conferences. Delegates will be staying in a standard Delta Hotel guestroom, which includes 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi, coffee maker, fridge, LCD flatscreen TV, and much more. Visit their website for more details.

St. George Banquet Hall

The events held on Friday night will take place at St. George Banquet Hall, which is 5 minutes within the vicinity of the Waterloo Inn. St. George Hall is Kitchener-Waterloo’s premier banquet hall and conference centre. The venue’s main features consists of beautiful 17-foot ceiling grand halls, an elegant private lounge, and a private board room equipped with WiFi and presentation screens. Visit their website for more details.