Having lived a diverse career within the financial trade in India, Pramit Mehta ‘19 came to Canada in hopes of expanding upon his vast experience. With three professional designations and a bachelor’s degree, plus work experience in accounting commerce under his belt, Pramit sought a broader understanding of his professional field. 

“To get a global perspective of finance, accounting, and taxation, I decided to come to Mohawk College and study Business Accounting,” he says. 

Mohawk’s two-year, provincially accredited Business Accounting diploma program provides a solid foundation in accounting principles and practices, as well as business and financial management. The program also offers a co-operative education option. These are the fundamental skills and learning opportunities that Pramit was looking for as he researched which program would best complement his prior education.  

“I chose the Business Accounting program at Mohawk College because of the excellent reputation of the program and the college itself,” he says. “Mohawk College has a strong track record of producing graduates who are well-prepared for the workforce, and the Business Accounting program is no exception.” 

In addition to studying at Mohawk, Pramit also pursued his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation in Canada. A year prior to graduating from Mohawk, he passed his CPA exam in 2018 and became officially designated. Pramit had tons of support from his Mohawk community, in his academics and with this goal. 

 “My program coordinator helped give me general direction and I focused on learning the differences of CPA knowledge in Canada. Mohawk gave me incredible guidance, supporting me as a student and in my designation preparation,” he says. 

From volunteering for Open Houses to helping at job fairs and orientations, one of the key experiences that brought Pramit joy outside of the classroom was becoming a peer-assisted study session (PASS) leader through the Learning Support Centre. He noticed fellow classmates struggling in his first semester at Mohawk and wanted to make a difference. 

“As an international student, I understand how it feels to be thousands of kilometers from home, trying to focus on your studies,” he says. “It’s not easy.” 

It was a mixture of educational resolve and campus involvement that prepared Pramit for the career he’s been building with the same organization for the last four years. Today, Pramit works as a controller at Ontario Shipyards (formerly Heddle), one of Mohawk’s Future Ready Premium Employers. And for him, his day-to-day work life is anything but regular. 

Pramit says, “I’m not a traditional accountant who crunches numbers behind the computer screen. I impact everything from procurement [purchasing goods and services] to payment. I am fortunate to be a part of such a unique and dynamic team that encourages growth.” 

As a Future Ready Premium Employer, Ontario Shipyards is a key partner in training future-ready graduates. They oversee contributions to academic programming and help shape learning outcomes with their industry knowledge. They employ graduates in fulsome careers for electricians, millwrights, labourers and more. Ontario Shipyards also supports apprenticeship students and partners with Mohawk's community-focused City School outreach programs. 

After being hired in 2019, Pramit used his prior knowledge to evaluate how the company works and how he could help streamline processes. He utilized his employment to evaluate how the company worked and what his role could be in streamlining their processes. 

“From the finance side of the company, we’re leading in our own ways and also collaborating across departments to ensure we’re as well-oiled as our ships,” he says. “The stuff I am doing now is a result of the proactive stance I took when I began my job here.” 

Whether you have ample life experience, are about to graduate into the next phase of your career or are just starting at Mohawk; the advice Pramit has can apply to anyone following in his footsteps in the finance field. 

“Enjoy the journey. Remember that your network is your net worth. Be open to growth and change to your environment,” Pramit says. “Some people would complain amidst challenges in the short term, but that is part of the process. It is worth it in the long term to embrace every challenge that comes your way in the short term.”