Christina Ajith-Brandford CPA, CA
Partner
My story
Many people take an indirect path before settling into their profession. Mine was a bit more straightforward. Growing up I was always strong with numbers, an interest that led me to pursue a Bachelor degree in mathematics and business from the University of Waterloo, where I graduated with distinction in 2005. I went on to study at York University and then earned my Chartered Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant designations.
After working at A+M for four years, I left for a position as an internal auditor with a large insurance provider, before serving as Manager of Financial Reporting and Analysis at Saint Elizabeth Health Care. Those opportunities offered invaluable industry experience and a taste of how larger organizations work—not to mention insights into applying process design and operational efficiencies in a practical way—which I was able to bring back to A+M when I eventually rejoined the firm
What drives me
It wasn’t long into my career that I found my true professional calling: helping our clients use financial data to understand the real story of what was happening in their businesses. Most importantly, it was about helping them interpret and simplify that financial information to improve their strategic decision-making processes.
Along the way, I gained exposure to A+M’s condominium practice and became interested in how quickly that market was growing in Ontario and across Canada. I liked having the opportunity to help thousands of condominium unit owners understand their community’s financial performance, delivering peace of mind that the information they were receiving in annual audits was an accurate picture of how their money was being spent and invested.
Even though I may have left to gain experience in other industries, I was always drawn back to the team at A+M. From a professional perspective, it’s because we have some of the strongest audit and accounting talent in the industry—not to mention decades of experience and a unique level of specialized expertise in the condominium sector. Because we audit such a high volume and wide variety of condominiums in Ontario, we can leverage that knowledge to deliver added value to board members, unit owners and property managers.
But on the personal side, it’s because have a tight-knit family culture that makes it a pleasure to come to work every day. We truly enjoy working together and I think that’s reflected in our client service experience. We’re also committed to giving back to the community, as our condominium practice team does through volunteering hours to educate and inform industry stakeholders and condo unit owners.
Advice for clients
“Look for customized strategies. Make sure that any personal or professional accounting advice that you receive is tailored to your specific circumstances.”
Personal pursuits
- Spending time with family and friends
- Exploring interesting new restaurants
- Going to the movies
- Reading and cooking
