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All three say they gravitated to the He admits to having some trepidation
profession at a young age, coming to work at the thought of becoming a partner,
at the firm prior to becoming partners. considering he had been a co-op student
“Nothing was forced on any of us. We just at the firm and later a junior staff member.
knew what the profession could bring and “It worried me at the beginning about how
the flexibility it could afford,” says Mike, it was going to work with of the some of
a Wilfrid Laurier University graduate who the long-time staff,” says Nathan. “But I
joined the firm in 2007 and became a think once you put in the effort and the
partner two years later. “The plan was to at work and show people what you can do,
least get my CA designation and see where whatever preconceived notions they may
that went. Paul Beeston, former Blue have starts to turn around.”
Jays president and COO, is a CA. There’s a His co-partners agree and credit the staff
perfect example of where the designation at Graham Mathew for the firm’s continued
can take you.” success.
Mark followed a slightly different route “They’re just all amazing people. They’re
by obtaining an undergraduate degree in knowledgeable and work hard and realize
Engineering Systems and Computing at we’re all on the same page and pulling
the University of Guelph, before obtaining
professional accounting, income tax and his MBA from the University of Windsor on the same rope,” says Mike. “There’s all
business advisory services for a variety in 2009. He joined Graham Mathew that kinds of things between the three of us
of clients, including private clients, not- same year, articling with Nathan, before that we don’t necessarily know but they
for-profit organizations, mutual insurance obtaining his CA designation in 2012 and do, and since some have 30 plus years of
companies, and municipalities. It’s an became partner in 2015. experience, we would be crazy not to listen
impressive business legacy which all three to them.”
partners are very much aware of as they “From a very young age, I’d been exposed Continuing to cultivate an atmosphere
continue to chart the firm’s future path. to what accounting was all about, in of collaboration is something Mark says
particular income tax,” he says, referring
“You think about it and look at what has to his long-time interest in taxes as well is key at Graham Mathew. “It’s not to say
been successful. But I’m not saying we as tech and computers. “And when I went there aren’t hiccups and disagreements
come in here and say wash, rinse and back to school (University of Windsor) here and there,” he says. “That’s just part
repeat. You have to evolve and change and my father knew I was going to get my CA of a healthy work environment.”
do things differently,” says Mike, referring courses and steered me in a tax direction In terms of the future, the partners say
to the many policies, and regulatory and encouraged me.” Graham Mathew continues to evolve and
changes that have occurred since their to support the community anyway it can.
fathers ran the firm. “It’s a very different An informal meeting with Graham Mathew “We’re just one of the many businesses
climate compared to when our fathers partner Richard Mathew, now retired, in Cambridge that are holding the baton
and their partners started, and they are sealed the deal, and brought him back to right now,” says Mike. “We’re all just part of
the first to tell anybody that; it’s a whole Cambridge. trying to make tomorrow better and make
different world.” Nathan, who also went to Wilfrid Laurier it as a good as we’ve had.
Mark agrees, but says they are fortunate University and earned his CA designation
to be able to recount the experiences their in 2012, left the firm in 2015 to pursue That’s kind of been the theme in Cambridge
fathers had in the past when it comes to other opportunities at some national and we want to keep building and being
running the firm. firms before returning to Cambridge in the part of that story.”
spring of 2020 to become partner.
“You learn from those things, and about
what works or may not work, and some of
the pitfalls to avoid,” he says. “But we’re
so focused on customer service that the
‘pressure’ from our long history is not
there.”
Nathan feels the same and says hearing
their fathers discuss their work decisions
while sitting around the dinner table
has stuck with them. “These things get
ingrained in your head, and here it is 20
plus years later, and that same decision is
still lurking and needs to be made, and you
think, ‘Wait, I’ve heard this story before’,”
he says. “Maybe they took a different route
and maybe we learn from that.” PHOTOS BY BRIAN RODNICK

www.cambridgechamber.com Summer 2024 33