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DAP Student & Alumni Night

DAP Student & Alumni Night

Join us for an evening of networking and learning as Alumni share their experiences in accounting, highlighting how the program shaped their careers. Faculty from the DAP Program will also offer their industry insights, creating a relaxed atmosphere to connect.

We recommend this event for anyone hoping to learn more about a specific firm, or discover more about work, life, and the variety of career directions available.

Details:
⏰ Monday Feb 12th, 4 - 6pm
📍 UBC Sauder Building, Birmingham room
🍕 Food and refreshments provided

Register Here:
https://forms.gle/jSaqNii4oss6E6BF8

Hope to see you there!
- DAP Student Club


Meet Our Guests

Ajeet Gill


Davidson & Company • Audit Associate

Ajeet has a Diploma in Accounting from the Sauder School of Business and successfully wrote the CFE in September 2023. Ajeet is passionate about fitness, in particular strength training, basketball, hiking, and running, with the aim of becoming more proficient at swimming and snowboarding this year.

Ala Shawesh


DMCL • HR Assistant

Passionate HR Assistant aspiring to achieve my CPHR designation. Dedicated to supporting the HR team in fostering a positive workplace environment and contributing to organizational success. With a strong foundation in HR processes and a commitment to continuous learning, I am actively pursuing professional development opportunities to enhance my skills.

Andressa Margonar


BDO • Intermediate Accountant

Hi, I'm Andressa Margonar, originally from Brazil and a proud UBC DAP graduate. I’m currently an Intermediate Accountant in Audit & Assurance at BDO, which I joined in September 2022. I’m also in the process of obtaining my Canadian CPA designation.

Outside work, I love long bike rides, hitting the gym, playing the guitar, hanging out with friends, and exploring new cuisines and places.

Ankush Goyal


PwC • Assurance Associate

Meet the previous president of DAP Student Club! Ankush holds a Master's in Business Administration, specializing in Finance, marketing and accounting along with everlasting dedication to personal growth and professional development.

Anna Merzliakova


Baker Tilly • Talent Acquisition

Ariko Greenfield


Institute of Internal Auditors • Academic Relations Chair

Ariko articled at PwC in Audit to obtain her CPA designation as well as her Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation, and currently volunteers on the Board of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Vancouver Chapter as the Academic Relations Chair.

She has also worked for the Auditor General of Canada and the BC Liquor Distribution Branch where she filled the roles of Senior Internal Auditor and Senior Manager, Risk Management and Taxation. From there, she worked as Manager of Internal Audit at ICBC. She is currently the Director of Internal Audit and Advisory Services at the Surrey School District.

When Ariko isn’t at the arena for her son’s hockey practices and games, she enjoys travelling and trying new places to eat.

Chris Reimer


Walsh King • Principal

I joined Walsh King LLP 2012 as a member of the audit and assurance team. My current role as Principal includes scheduling and reviewing the work of our accounting teams to ensure client files are running smoothly on budget and on time. I am also involved in accounting and consulting work with our clients.

Before joining Walsh King LLP, I spent a number of years working in the financial services industry as both a senior mutual funds associate and administrator.

Read more about Chris


Arsh Pataria


Grant Thornton • Accountant

Arsh performs review, compilation and bookkeeping engagements in addition to preparing and filing GST, T2, T4, T5 and T1 tax returns for the Privately Held Business Group at Grant Thornton.

Eldon Chang


MNP • Make it stand out

Eldon joined MNP 4 years ago in an Accountant position and has been a manager for 5 months. He had the opportunity to work on secondment as a Senior Accountant at William Buck in Australia for 3 months.

Education: Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), UBC DAP Diploma in Accounting, Bachelor of Arts (honors medial, political science and philosophy) from Queens University.

Faith Conor


Grant Thornton • Staff Accountant

As a Staff Auditor in Public Accounting with a unique blend of skills from both biology and psychology, coupled with a solid foundation in accounting, I am excited about leveraging my analytical abilities to excel in the financial services industry. Please feel free to send me a message if you would like to connect.


Grant Lee

HSBC Bank Canada • VP Tax

Grant Lees is a fellow Chartered Professional Accountant andjunct Professor UBC, where he teaches Canadian Taxation (355 Intro to Income Tax). He is a past Chair and Vice Chair of Income Tax Committee for the Tax Executives Institute (TEI) in Canada.


Gurman Sara


Rolfe Benson • Audit Manager

Gurman Sara received her designation in 2014 and joined Rolfe Benson LLP in January 2019. Gurman has a broad range of experience in providing assurance and accounting services for clients of all sizes. Her industry experience includes real estate, manufacturing, retail, technology and not-for-profit. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, which includes two young daughters.

Ian Park


Deloitte • Staff Accountant

I majored in Chemistry at UBC and then worked in a commercial lab with a focus on mining and geological samples.  Though I thoroughly enjoyed Chemistry, I had a feeling that it was not what I was meant to do.

After a 3-year stint as a Chemist I went back to school to get my Diploma in Accounting at UBC.  My time at Sauder was the best experience I have ever had at an educational institution. 

Today I’m looking to leverage my experience in Chemistry and Mining to better serve my clients in Financial Services.

Ask me about Chemistry, Mining, Aviation, and Chess.

Jordan McLean


Rolfe Benson • HR Manager

Jordan specializes in employee relations, engagement, talent management, health and safety and learning and development.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Victoria, and attained her Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) in 2012.

When not at the office she enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, skiing and spending many hours on the softball field.

Katie Gordon


KPMG • Talent Attraction Senior Manager

Katie began her career at KPMG in corporate tax, obtained her CPA designation in 2015, and spent 8.5 years working on the financial services and real estate tax team. She was promoted to tax senior manager in 2020 and, in 2022, took on the opportunity to lead the GVA tax campus recruitment team.

Today, she focuses on attracting top talent for KPMG’s greater Vancouver’s tax service lines and KPMG Law.

In her free time, Katie enjoys travel and training to run marathons. She combines her passion for running with her role at KPMG as Sun Run team captain.

Kay Lac


Smythe • Senior Manager

Kay focuses on accounting, assurance, and advisory for privately-owned companies and individuals. She works within real estate and construction industry group and supports owner-managed companies across other industries. Moving forward, she hopes to expand her expertise in the technology industry.

Within the Firm, Kay is involved in campus recruitment, staff development, and in-house training for staff.

Outside of work, Kay pursues snowboarding, yoga, boxing, and traveling. She also enjoys trying the newest restaurants Vancouver has to offer.

Kay has completed a Bachelor of Science and Diploma in Accounting at UBC. She joined Smythe in 2016 and obtained her CPA designation in 2019.

Mahesh Nandwani

Smythe • Senior Talent Acquisition

I am a results-driven professional with a strong background in Recruitment, Organizational Behavior, and Human Resources. Possessing an international background with experiences in diverse cultures, I bring a unique perspective to the table. Having resided in multiple countries, I have honed my adaptability and cultural sensitivity.

Mike Chang


Ribeyre Change Haylock • Partner • Tax

Mike received his Bachelor of Applied Science at the University of Toronto in 2004 and completed his Diploma in Accounting Program from UBC in 2006.

He articled Ribeyre Chang Haylock in and obtained his CA designation in 2008. 

Since then, he completed all three years of the Canadian Institute of Charted Accountants in-depth tax program.   He is the firm’s tax partner since 2014 and has his own clients where he provides compilation, review, audit and tax work.

Nadar Gulati


Deloitte Staff • Audit and Assurance

My name is Nadar Gulati, and I graduated from DAP at UBC in 2023.

At Deloitte, I work with diverse clients and have explored my interests within the field. One aspect that stands out to me is the exceptional individuals I get to work with, the abundant career growth prospects, and the numerous networking opportunities available.

I am eagerly anticipating the UBC DAP alumni night, as it presents a wonderful occasion to connect and engage with fellow alumni and students.

Natalie Williams


CPABC • Student Recruitment Officer

Natalie Williams is a dedicated Student Recruitment Officer with CPABC, specializing in post-secondary education for Northern BC and Yukon.

She plays a vital role in crafting, implementing, and executing strategic recruitment plans. Natalie thrives in connecting with post-secondary students, working professionals, and indigenous communities, ensuring they have access to tailored educational pathways.

Nataliya Batara


Invictus • Senior Manager

Nataliya Batara, CPA, CIA is a senior Manager, Risk and Compliance Services at the Invictus Accounting Group LLP. Nataliya has 5 years of experience in planning and executing internal control compliance engagements (such as SOX and NI 52-109 compliance) from the planning through to execution and reporting. This includes clients in various industries who are only starting to design and document their internal controls, all the way through to clients with well-established internal control programs.

Prior to risk advisory, Nataliya had 3 years of experience with planning and executing financial audit and review engagements of public and private companies across multiple industries.


Nick Bachmayer

Treewalk • Financial Reporting Analyst

Nick graduated from DAP in 2019, and after a brief time in public practice, joined Treewalk in 2021 as a financial reporting analyst. After writing and passing the CFE in 2021, he obtained his CPA designation in 2023.


Pardeep Dhaliwal


MNP • Partner

Pardeep works with clients in a variety of industries, including retail, manufacturing, technology, hospitality, consumer markets, construction and real estate. He also leads MNP’s Food and Beverage team in the Vancouver region. His services include audits, reviews, compilations, and general tax compliance matters.

Prior to joining MNP, Pardeep was a senior manager at a Big Four firm where he worked for almost a decade.

Education: Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Honours Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) from UBC and a Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcc) from the University of Saskatchewan.


Puya Ghasemlou

Ernst & Young • Staff Accountant • Assurance


Robyn Corney


Invictus • Partner

Robyn leads the Risk and Compliance practice at Invictus and provides outsourced internal audit services to clients, including Sarbanes-Oxley and NI 52-109 internal controls testing, information technology audits, and other advisory and consulting services.   Previously, Robyn was Director, Internal Audit at Goldcorp Inc. where she was responsible for operational and financial audits, compliance reviews and investigations. 

Robyn started her career at Deloitte in Vancouver and spent 7 years in the Assurance & Advisory and Enterprise Risk departments.  Robyn graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in 2002 and completed a Diploma in Accounting in 2005.

Sogol Farajollahi


MNP • Senior Manager

I'm a CPA and a Bachelor of Commerce graduate from UBC's Sauder School of Business. Currently, I serve as a Senior Manager in MNP's Private Enterprise group. My professional journey is not just about numbers; it's about fostering meaningful connections, mentoring, embracing innovation, and leveraging technology.

Sogol joined MNP just over a year ago as a Senior Manager.  Prior to this Sogol was at KPMG for 6 years in a manager position. She is a CPA with a Bachelor of Commerce/Accounting from UBC

Steve Kann


Lohn Caulder • Staff Accountant

Steve Kann is a well-rounded team member and leader. He in addition to successfully writing his CFE and completing 4 years within accounting, he has also completed a pilot’s license and served as a captain in the Canadian Forces.

Valerie Ng


Lohn Caulder • Staff Accountant

Valerie is a recent graduate who transitioned from Big 4 to a mid sized firm. She is passionate about travel, eating, and all things Taylor Swift.

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