Mahta Bazzaz's Path to the CFE Honour Roll
Mahta Bazzaz was looking for a career that would prepare her to seize the future—and make a difference.
And for Mahta, her path to success lead to the CPA. Now that Mahta has successfully written the Common Final Examination (CFE)—and earned a place on the September 2023 National Honour Roll in doing so—she has achieved a key milestone in realizing her dream.
Mahta’s first exposure to the profession was in her Grade 11 accounting course, when a CPA Ontario volunteer came to speak to the class about all the doors the CPA designation can open.
Her love of numbers and budding interest in accounting as a potential career path led her to pursue a bachelor’s in business administration at York University’s Schulich School of Business. She followed her BBA with Schulich’s CPA Ontario accredited Master of Accounting (MAcc) program.
After Mahta’s second year, she landed an internship with EY. The firm’s CPA program covered the cost of PEP enrolment, equipped her with a study plan, and paired her with mentors for year-round support.
“While I was certainly interested in my courses at Schulich, it was the EY internship that solidified my interest in pursuing a CPA,” Mahta says. “Even though Covid made it a virtual experience, I still had so many unique learning opportunities typically reserved for fourth-year accounting students, and I truly enjoyed working with my team and mentors along the way.”
Time to Write
When the time came to write the September 2023 CFE in Toronto, Mahta came prepared with extra pencils, her own mouse, water, and snacks. She recalls the proctors being “kind and helpful” in keeping everybody calm and ensuring the three writing days ran smoothly. She also remembers leaving the CFE feeling nervous and unconfident about some of her responses.
“I remember when we had finished, a few people started talking about their answers right away, and I just wanted to go home and relax,” says Mahta. “But in speaking with a few peers, I realized that while we came from different backgrounds—some had children, others weren’t able to take a study leave like I was—we all had worked incredibly hard to get here and are on the same journey.”
Making the Honour Roll
Not only was Mahta among the 2,458 successful 2023 CFE writers, but she was also named as one of 33 National Honour Roll recipients, representing the top one percent of all writers across Canada.
She found out about her extraordinary achievement from her employer.
“I was working for a client in the middle of busy season when I got a call from EY’s assurance leader letting me know I had made the Honour Roll,” she says. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from someone so senior in the organization.”
Mahta immediately left the office to call her parents. Later, she informed her mentors at EY who had been instrumental in coaching her along the way know about her Honour Roll success.
While Mahta has plenty of advice for students who aspire to be CPAs or are preparing to write the CFE, her key lesson is: “Plan your days.”
“This process is challenging for everyone involved, including family, and we have to work very hard and make a lot of sacrifices, so time management is very important,” says Mahta. “Setting clear boundaries at work, letting your team know you have standing commitments along your path to becoming a CPA, and intentionally setting time aside for your personal life and to relax is essential.”
Mahta values working with her team and clients who have fostered her growth and witnessed her success. And she’s committed to paying forward the career skills, guidance, and purpose she’s acquired during her internships—and now through her senior accountant role— at EY to other aspiring CPAs and her community.
“No matter how busy I become in work and life, I will always strive to give back to my community, whether through mentoring students or summer interns who are interested in becoming accountants or even volunteering for local community initiatives,” says Mahta. “I’m excited to give back value through the knowledge I’ve gained along the way.”