Shayan Rashid, CPA

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I arrived to a meeting with a new client. It ends up being a 20 year old gentleman and he's just dropped out of university to pursue a groundbreaking technology that's going to save lives. Everything sounds fantastic. "Except there's just one issue", he says, "I haven't filed my taxes and it's really "putting the whole project into jeopardy." The concept of taking an idea and transforming that into a groundbreaking technology that's going change the world, it's fascinating to me. I started my first business when I was 14 years old. I love the thrill of starting something from scratch.

When I went into accounting, I knew I wanted to start a different type of firm. A firm that understands the needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners. An accounting firm with the soul of a startup. When I'm on the phone with a client and they're having parallel issues or they require HR advice, they may have had a breakout year and there's this huge tax bill that they're worried about, I understand what they're going through because I have been there before. I love working with groundbreaking companies and alleviating some of the stress that comes with accounting and taxation.

That 20 year old university dropout has now raised millions of dollars. We've helped him get the necessary support through government tax credits. He's well on his way to building that groundbreaking technology which is going to save lives. I love the fact that we get to help him get there.

Academic Background & Expertise

Shayan Rashid has built a strong academic foundation, starting with a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in Economics and Honours in Finance from Wilfrid Laurier University (2001-2005).

He further solidified his financial expertise by obtaining his Chartered Accounting Designation, specializing in Public Accounting, from Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) between 2007 and 2009. Beyond traditional accounting, Shayan is deeply invested in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud-based bookkeeping. He continuously strives to stay ahead of the curve, adapting to the latest AI trends to better serve the evolving needs of entrepreneurs.

Journey & Role in the Industry

Shayan's got a real understanding of what his clients go through because he started his own business when he was just 14. That kind of hands-on experience gives him a down-to-earth perspective.

He's the co-founder and driving force behind SRJ CPAs, and he's been working to change how entrepreneurs handle their finances. He's focused on helping private businesses with revenues up to $80M and venture-backed tech startups, and he's turned SRJ CPAs into a pretty well-regarded, tech-focused accounting firm in Canada. They've even picked up a few awards for innovation and service.

Shayan wanted to build an accounting firm that got what startups needed, so he made SRJ CPA’s with that "soul of a startup" feeling. He helps innovators and small businesses with financial solutions that help them grow. He's known for helping young tech entrepreneurs get funding and deal with tax credits. SRJ CPA offers things like AI-driven financial forecasting, tax optimization, cloud-based bookkeeping, and general advice. He also works with business owners through incubator programs like the EO Accelerator and helps larger companies expand into Canada. He's pretty involved in helping businesses at different stages.

Personal Interests & Hobbies

When he's not just "crushing businesses," Shayan's passion ignites on the basketball court. A die-hard sports fan, he channels the same strategic drive from finance into his game. Beyond the thrill of the three-pointer. He's dedicated to mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs and sharing his hard-won business wisdom. For Shayan, whether it's a slam dunk or a startup success, it's all about playing to win.

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