Deepak Sharma recently joined Community Builders as our Chief Financial Officer.

He grew up in Delhi, India, and got into accounting by accident. As a teenager, he had a clear plan—he was going to become an engineer. But when it came time for college, he didn’t get into the program he wanted. Too many others had the same idea, and the competition edged him out.

He studied commerce instead. At first, it wasn’t a good fit. His heart was still with engineering. But over time, he started to discover something about himself. He had a natural affinity for numbers. Not only did they make sense to him, he also had an unusual ability to remember long sequences and details. That skill helped him succeed as a student, and it led him toward a career as a CPA.

Deepak immigrated to Canada in 2001 and took a job in public practice in Prince Rupert. Coming from Delhi, the rain and small-town pace were a shock, and something he never quite got used to. But Prince Rupert also brought him something else. It’s where he met a woman from Winnipeg who soon became his wife. The two of them moved to Vancouver the following year.

In Vancouver, Deepak began his career in the non-profit sector. His first role was with the Elizabeth Fry Society. From there, he spent 18 years with The Bloom Group. He left in 2022 to explore private enterprise, but quickly realized his heart wasn’t in it. He belonged in mission-driven organizations doing meaningful work in the community.

He returned to the sector as Executive Director of Finance at Atira. In late 2025, he joined Community Builders.

Chief Financial Officer is a title that can sound corporate, but Deepak sees it differently. “I’m a steward of our finances,” he says. “I play a support role to the real work we’re doing in the community.”

He’s spent more than two decades in housing non-profits because he’s seen the impact organizations like ours can have in people’s lives. “Finance may not be frontline,” he says, “but it still gives me satisfaction to know I’m part of a team making positive change.”

For anyone considering a career in accounting, he’s candid about the reality: “Accounting is not fun.” It comes with constant deadlines, monthly reporting, annual audits and a steady pressure to get the numbers right.

Still, he wouldn’t choose anything else. He’s looking forward to strengthening our financial processes so things run smoothly behind the scenes, and so our teams can stay focused on the human work at the heart of Community Builders.

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