Brad Sherman

He’s been a gardener, a cook in a takeaway bar, exercised dogs at a pet motel, been a volunteer usher at Chiefs rugby games, and tutored uni students in accounting.

Originally from Dargaville, Waikato alumnus Brad demonstrated a talent for mathematics at an early age, and chose to study accounting by correspondence at high school.

He decided to move down south for university after hearing about the great campus at Waikato.

Having done the hard yards with a business degree majoring in accounting, and then passing his professional exams with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Brad now works as an associate director - corporate finance at Deloitte in Hamilton.

He got his first foot in the door while completing a summer internship programme at Deloitte while he was still a uni student - and his employers clearly liked what they saw.

Brad says he loves the company’s working environment and being a part of such a great team. A typical day involves using accounting software, talking to clients, and being involved in business valuations. He is also taking his exams towards becoming a Chartered Accountant.

He prides himself on being a results-oriented manager who tries to lead by example by promoting a positive attitude and creating an environment of open communication.

During his time at Waikato Management School, he was heavily involved in organising events for Beta Alpha Psi, an organisation for accounting, finance and information systems students and professionals.

A diligent student, Brad earned a huge number of academic awards. In 2013 alone, he was awarded the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence; the Ian Beattie Prize in Taxation; the PricewaterhouseCoopers Prize in Auditing; the Chartered Secretaries of New Zealand Prize in Business Law; and the CPA Australia Prize in Accounting Theory.

Brad’s words to other students considering a degree at Waikato are, “Go for it! It’s a great university with great staff, a great reputation and a great campus.”