A passion for finance

The Faculty of Management is developing leaders who manage with integrity, focus on sustainability and make things happen: Jonathan Anderson is a shining example of these qualities.

Originally from Mitchell, Ont., Mr. Anderson transferred from George Brown College enticed by Dal’s co-op Program. “The opportunity to get my foot in the door at three different places and try out different areas and employers was a big draw.”

His goal: to get a great education and secure employment. His strategy: use each work term as an opportunity to impress his employer. The payoff: his employers nominated him twice for the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op Student of the Year Award, he secured part-time employment while a student and landed a full-time job upon graduation. But the achievement he’s most proud of is winning the CFA Institute Scholarship, an award reserved for students passionate about finance.

His dream job would be to combine finance and accounting, so it’s no surprise to learn that he’s working toward both his Chartered Financial Analyst and his Certified Management Accountant designations – “the perfect marriage between finance and accounting.” His desire is “to bring all areas of business together. I want to be as versatile as possible,” he adds.

As a tutor for both the commerce and management programs, a marker for three courses and a high-achieving student, many might wonder how he’s able to hold down two part-time positions and find time to volunteer. One thing his degree taught him was effective time management. “Being an effective time manager allows you to take on a lot and push yourself,” he says. “But it is also important to continually reassess your commitments, recognizing what takes priority.”

An active participant in his own education, Mr. Anderson has never been afraid of speaking up in class or being judged by his peers, “I don’t mind if I make a mistake or say the wrong answer, it encourages discussion and learning.” This approach has served him well: Dean’s List recipient for each of his academic terms, he is also a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society (top 15 percent in the faculty).

Upon graduation, Mr. Anderson heads back to Ontario having secured a position with Imperial Oil in Sarnia as an accounting analyst.