A team of Business – Administration -Accounting students earned third place for NC at the Ontario Colleges Accounting Case Competition
Held on March 29 at Humber College, the event drew teams from colleges across the province. Students were challenged with a case study based on a real business situation in Ontario, and had two hours to analyze it, develop a strategic solution, and create a PowerPoint presentation with their recommendations and implementation plan before presenting their findings to a panel of CPA judges from the Greater Toronto Area.
NC’s team was among four to advance to the final round where they presented to a second panel of CPA judges.
Professor and Accounting Program Coordinator Kerri Simich, who coached the team, was incredibly proud of how the students performed and noted their delivery of a strong, well-structured presentation along with impressive analytical skills under pressure.
“The competition was tough, with many talented teams, and earning third place is a testament to their hard work and dedication,” said Simich. “Based on their performance, I truly believe they were among the best teams there.
“It was great to see their efforts recognized, and they should be extremely proud of what they accomplished.”
NC’s team was comprised of three students: Arthur Franco-MacIntyre (third year), Emmanuel Sam (first year), and Kerian Taylor (third year), who each received a trophy.
Students were selected for the team based on faculty recommendations and began preparing in early February.
Sam, a first-year Business Administration – Accounting student who is originally from Ghana, returned from the OCACC proud of the team’s achievement.
“The ability to work effectively under pressure and contribute to a collaborative goal is the greatest motivation,” he said.
He noted that competing in the event was an opportunity to sharpen his problem-solving and teamwork skills, while tackling complex scenarios under the pressure of time constraints. He also said he improved his communication and presentation skills.
“The most rewarding part of the experience was the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded peers, exchange ideas, and learn from each other,” said Sam. “I appreciate all the professors for their mentorship and guidance throughout this journey.”
Simich noted that the experience was valuable for participating students. It helped sharpen their critical thinking, financial analysis, and strategic decision-making skills under pressure. They gained also valuable experience in professional communication and presentation skills, while it strengthened their teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities, giving them real-world experience that will benefit them in their future careers.
“Beyond technical skills, they developed resilience, confidence, and the ability to perform under pressure,” said Simich. “Competing at this level proved that hard work, preparation, and strong analytical skills lead to success, reinforcing their ability to tackle complex challenges and compete at a high standard.”
In addition to Simich who was the lead coach, the team had support from NC faculty, staff and alumni including Suleiman Harunany (Global Finance Officer, Global Campus Operations, who competed in the competition previously as a Business Administration -Accounting student), Becky Sciliberto (Manager of Global Compliance and Reporting, Global Campus Operations, who is also NC alumni), as well as School of Business and Management Professors Jay Perry and Wendy Brookes.
NC’s team of Business Administration – Accounting students stand proudly following a third place win at the OCACC. From left: Arthur Franco-MacIntyre , Emmanuel Sam, and Keiran Taylor (supplied photo).
