By Cleo Wulder – Contributor

Bishop’s University was again well represented on the Canadian university case competition stage as a team of Williams School of Business (WSB) students secured victory at the prestigious ACHIEVE Case Competition. Held on Jan. 17-18 in Toronto, the event brought together some of the brightest undergraduate minds in accounting from across Eastern Canada.

 Hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University’s Accounting Society, ACHIEVE is a premier undergraduate accounting case competition designed to provide students with valuable industry experience. Over two days, participants had the opportunity to attend workshops, refine their accounting expertise and network with industry professionals and peers from universities across the country. The competition is widely regarded as an excellent platform for aspiring accountants to gain real-world problem-solving experience and test their analytical abilities in high-pressure situations.

            The Bishop’s team, including Luke Allan (4th year, Accounting), Chloe Hawes (4th year, Accounting), Alexandre Mador (3rd year, Accounting) and Leah Lister (3rd year, Accounting), stood out among 13 other teams, ultimately clinching first place. Their months of preparation, which began in November under the guidance of WSB Accounting Professors Brandon Siu and Tyler Jensen Smith, paid off as they impressed the judges with their accounting strategy skills, problem-solving abilities, and presentation. The competition involved analyzing a complex accounting case and presenting strategic recommendations to a panel of industry professionals.

            Reflecting on the experience, team member Chloe Hawes shared, “ACHIEVE was a great opportunity for our team to network, problem-solve and showcase our knowledge of accounting to industry professionals. We had a lot of fun and recommend case competitions to anyone who has the opportunity!”

            The team’s win showcases the strength of Bishop’s University’s accounting program and the dedication of its students and faculty. Case competitions like ACHIEVE not only enhance participants’ industry knowledge but also help develop soft skills such as teamwork, communication and adaptability, which are qualities the WSB views as essential for success in the accounting profession.

            This victory marks another significant achievement for Bishop’s University and the WSB, reinforcing its reputation for excellence in business education. As case competitions continue to grow in popularity at our university, Bishop’s students are proving they can compete—and win—against some of the best talent in the country.