Vanier College places first in the Dawson College Finance Case Competition

Lots of practice, a clear understanding of business fundamentals, and the ability to communicate a business solution in short order are the keys to success in a case competition. And once again, Vanier College proved that its Accounting students are in firm possession of those abilities when they took first place honors at the 2014 Dawson College Case Competition – Finance, held on April 6, 2014.

The winning Vanier Finance Team Congratulations to the Vanier Accounting Team of Joe Kfoury, Haley Bright, Olivier Alexandre and Stacey Chung Fat Yuen, all third-year students in the Vanier Business Administration – Accounting program and their coach Anna Schiavi, this year’s Gold Medal winners.

Vanier winners four years out of five “Anna and her team worked very hard over the last few months preparing for this event,” says David Moscovitz, Coordinator of the Vanier Business Administration program. “Like in years past our Vanier Accounting team was far and away the best in the province of Quebec! It’s a remarkable achievement given that Vanier has won Gold four times since it began participating in the Dawson event five years ago.”

This year 11 CEGEP teams from across the province of Quebec competed in the Finance case competition and 13 teams participated in the Marketing Case Competition.

A challenging three hours During the Finance competition, students are given three hours to prepare a full business and financial analysis using financial ratios as well as industry benchmark ratios. Based on the results of this financial analysis the team must outline a plan of action and implementation for the company in question. They are then given 20 minutes in which to present their case using a PowerPoint slide presentation before a panel of industry judges and professional accountants.

Motivated and hard-working students “The Vanier Business Administration Accounting students are a truly amazing group,” says Accounting teacher and Coach Anna Schiavi. “In preparing a team to compete in the Case Competition, I take a spirited, high-energy and highly motivated group of 3 to 4 graduating third year students and show them that if they work hard they can truly excel at anything they put their minds to. Training and preparing for the Competition involves spending 5 hours a week working on cases, from early January until the week of the event, including Spring Break.”

“As their coach, my reward is to see the pride, joy and sense of satisfaction from these students after presenting a case and being told WELL DONE. The pleasure was all the greater this year when I saw the smiles and jubilation as the announcement came that Vanier College was the first place winner in the Finance Division.”

Future business leaders “Training for this event allows the students the opportunity to think and act like the future leaders they will become,” adds Anna Schiavi. “Being able in three hours to successfully paint a picture of the financial health or demise of a company is truly a great skill, a skill that will serve these students well in their future studies and careers.”

Congratulations to all these students for their hard work and success.