Shirley Lin
CPA, BCom, Accounting with Cognitive Analytics (MSc)
Top 40 under 40 and ASPIRE award recipient
Shirley Lin has long had a passion for innovation, one that has seen her drive accounting excellence through the creative application of digital technologies, cognitive analytics and artificial intelligence (AI). This is the cutting-edge mindset she brings to her role as Director of Public Company Services, where she leads the firm’s audit and assurance practice for public issuers and middle-market clients across multiple industries.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Rotman School of Management, Shirley began her career at Grant Thornton before joining KPMG, where she progressed to Senior Manager in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) practice. These roles saw her managing complex audits for large multinational companies listed in both Canada and the U.S. She also guided some of the most prominent companies in the TMT sector through initial public offerings (IPOs), acquisitions and internal control audits, solidifying a reputation for technical excellence and strategic insight.
While still at KPMG, Shirley completed a two-year master’s degree in Cognitive Analytics at Simon Fraser University, ultimately leveraging her learnings to enhance audit quality and efficiency by helping to design bespoke audit routines and workflows that embedded machine learning into the firm’s core processes. She also led the firm’s technology committee, shaping how emerging technology was deployed across engagements and becoming the go-to resource for data and analytics solutions in the process.
Beyond her client work, Shirley is deeply engaged in the community. She serves as the Audit Committee Chair of Volunteer Connect, which partners with 400+ nonprofits across the York Region. She also acts as a Program Mentor and sits on the STEAM Committee at Girls E-Mentorship (GEM), which focuses on building the next generation of future female leaders.
This creativity and commitment have garnered notice. Recently, the Markham Board of Trade awarded her with both a “Top 40 under 40” award and an ASPIRE Award in recognition of her professional and community contributions.
With a commitment to continuous learning and growth, she looks forward to helping to drive ongoing innovations as the audit and accounting landscape evolves.
Qualifications
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Finance, Rotman School of Management
- Master of Science, Accounting with Cognitive Analytics, Simon Fraser University
- Ethics in the Age of AI Certification