Like a lot of careers, the business of accounting is going through a period of intense change, as consolidation and new technologies introduce some uncertainty into an industry long known for stability.
But even as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects more jobs for accountants and auditors over the next decade, the profession has been struggling with a shrinking pool of new graduates, even with enrollment trends starting to turn around.
For a group of 12 students in Western Colorado University’s Accounting Club, a recent three-day trip with Assistant Professor of Accounting Gary Hypes to visit accounting firms and other potential employers in Denver offered a chance to see the current state of the profession and learn where it’s headed.
“Trips like this one are a chance for students to see what the profession actually looks like and helps them picture where they might fit in,” Hypes said. “They get to talk with people in the industry, learn about the different paths in front of them, and start building relationships with firms that could eventually lead to opportunities.”
The group visited public accounting firms Plante Moran and EY, Canvas Credit Union, and the IRS’s criminal investigation division, where students met accountants who track down tax fraud and financial crimes.
They also had breakfast with the Colorado Society of CPAs, which supports accountants and advocates for the industry. “All those students who attended are now members of the society,” Hypes said. “We had freshmen all the way up to seniors who are now getting information from the profession.”
For students approaching graduation, those introductions could have immediate value. Hypes said senior Sam Nelson, Western Accounting Club’s president, had already completed an interview with Plante Moran after the trip and was preparing for a second round.
The trip also served as a reminder of just how competitive the best jobs in accounting still are. Hypes said some employers the group met with recruit interns as much as two years in advance, which meant the group’s juniors and seniors were likely already too late to apply.
But making those professional connections and gaining that experience early is part of what Hypes hopes students get during Club outings and activities.
In addition to visiting accounting firms, the Club offers free tax preparation services to the Gunnison Valley community through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and helps students prepare for the notoriously difficult Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
“When they get out there and start to interact with professionals, they’re going to get that ability to communicate with people,” Hypes said. “They’re learning to maneuver in the profession, which you don’t get as well in the classroom. The club environment is critical to teaching things that they just wouldn’t think about without it.”
For more information about studying Accounting at Western, visit western.edu.
Seth Mensing is the media and communications manager at Western Colorado University.
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