Ben Ma
CPA | CFA | CFP
PhD Candidate, Accounting — Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
I am currently a 3rd year PhD Candidate in Accounting at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
I am a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, and earned my CFA Charter and CFP Certificate during my time in public accounting. I placed on the September 2017 Common Final Exam on the Honour Roll, representing the top 1% of writers, and completed the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Course.
During my time as a Senior Tax Manager in public practice, I specialized in mergers and acquisitions, corporate tax planning, and high-net-worth clients.
I, along with Eric Fong, lead the UW AFSA Tax Clinic, a volunteer organization that annually files over 1,300 tax returns for students and low-income residents of the KW region.
My research interests are in taxation, particularly regarding small businesses, mergers and acquisitions, and tax reform.
My personal interests are in crafts, desserts, and various martial arts. I may have dabbled in Chef School in a previous life.
| Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, Accounting, University of Toronto | Current |
| CPA In-Depth Tax Program | 2022 |
| Master of Accounting, University of Waterloo | 2017 |
| Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management, University of Waterloo | 2016 |
| American Taxation Association (ATA) Midyear Meeting | 2026 |
| Canadian Academic Accounting Association Conference (CAAA) | 2025*†, 2026 (Upcoming)*† |
| Contemporary Accounting Research Conference (CAR) | 2024, 2025 |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting Section (FARS) Midyear Meeting | 2026 |
* Presenter † Discussant
| Post Designation Public Accounting Program | 2025 |
| Certified Financial Planner™ | 2023 |
| Chartered Financial Analyst™ | 2020 |
| Chartered Professional Accountant, Ontario | 2019 |
| Common Final Exam Honour Roll Recipient | 2017 |