Unlocking career and educational possibilities
To many, a degree in accountancy from Gies Business is a clear path to securing a tax or auditing job at a Big Four accounting firm. While our curriculum and experiential learning opportunities provide a solid foundation for that career path, we also want learners to realize the variety of careers and meaningful work that are possible with a background in accountancy.
As a top-ranked department, our expert faculty and curriculum provide an unmatched learning experience to students. Whether you’re enrolled as a degree-seeking student or starting small with stackable credentials, you’ll learn to interpret financial information and gain a deeper understanding of how businesses operate, a distinct advantage in any industry.
We intentionally crafted degree and certificate offerings to meet people where they are now, both geographically and in regard to their education and career journeys. In doing so, we expanded learners’ ability to access accounting knowledge and leverage it to pursue possibilities they never considered before.
By sharing stories of how people can utilize their accounting expertise in interesting and meaningful ways, we can empower learners to forge their own paths, on purpose.
In this issue, you will read about fellow alumni who are doing just that. If you’re also in a career off the beaten path or applying your accounting background to your purpose in a way you didn’t expect, we hope you’ll consider sharing your story, too.
Head, Department of Accountancy PwC Faculty Fellow
Accountancy is
A prominent narrative in the accounting profession has prevailed for decades: earn your degree, spend several years in tax or audit at a public accounting firm, and doors will open for you.
It’s a narrative that has been expanding. Without a doubt, this traditional path will deepen your expertise and open doors to exciting careers. But it’s not a perfect fit for every person, and it’s certainly not the only path available to someone with an accounting degree. Recent graduates and experienced professionals alike can find stable, meaningful employment in all areas of the accounting profession, and beyond. In today’s shifting technological landscape, they could even find themselves pioneering a completely new type of career – at a small business, a private startup, or even at a Big Four firm.
The world of business is evolving, but accountancy remains the versatile discipline it has always been. We asked a few of our alumni how their education in accountancy prepared them for interesting and rewarding careers. Here’s what we learned:
Accountancy is a cornerstone of entrepreneurship
During his time at Gies Business, Darion Wiggs (ACCY ’19, MAS ’20) spent three summers interning for Ernst & Young (EY) and landed a full-time job in the financial services audit department before he had wrapped up his graduate studies. There was a time, he said, where public accounting was the sole vision he had for his career.
But something had been eating at him ever since junior year of college –something he didn’t quite know how to reconcile with his interest in accounting and the degree path he’d already chosen.
Late in his undergraduate career, Wiggs realized he had a desire to teach. He’d gone into accountancy partly out of his own desire to learn more about money and finances, something he felt was missing from his K–12 education. (And, in fact, is missing from many state-mandated curricula in the US.) After gaining some financial literacy himself and becoming a CPA, he wanted and needed to share his knowledge with others.
versatility
Serena Zhang, ACCY ’23
A year into working at EY, Wiggs decided it was time for a change. After a series of connections and meetings with two other Gies Business alumni, he began a new job at a small tax firm owned by one of those alumni. In the year that followed, he dedicated himself to growing his skill set.
Through that experience, he gained the knowledge and confidence to start his own business. He officially launched his own accounting firm, Wiggs CPA Tax & Accounting, in October of 2022. His firm acts as a fully outsourced accounting department for small businesses, providing bookkeeping, tax preparation and planning, and payroll services. Wiggs said that starting his own firm gave him the work-life balance he craved – and came with other benefits, too.
His role as an entrepreneur also led him back to the passion for teaching he once sought. He now leads seminars targeted toward small business owners in underrepresented communities.
“ I found joy in the dynamic nature of the profession, where every project presents an opportunity for accelerated learning and problem-solving across diverse industries.”
“Ultimately, the goal is still to teach. But now I’ve created my own platform to be able to do so. It’s something I really enjoy doing now, too – working with small business owners who don’t necessarily have any accounting background or any financial literacy,” he said.
For Wiggs, being the CEO and founder of his business perfectly blends his education and training with his purpose: “It still aligns with what I want to do, which is to teach others. But I get to use my accounting degree at the same time.”
Accountancy experts make expert consultants
David Ascencio (MAS ’21) works as an account executive for the accounting and finance advisory firm Embark. Even as a graduate student, he knew he didn’t want to stay in the accounting profession long term. His goal was to transition to consulting work. But having an advanced degree in accounting was still important to him.
“I enjoyed going through the program and learning about accounting, just to be able to have that [knowledge] in my tool set,” Ascencio said.
Even as a middle schooler, Serena Zhang (ACCY ’23) knew she wanted to work as a consultant. She said that as a young person, she was originally drawn in by “the allure of food perks,” but as she went through her undergraduate career at Gies Business and landed a job as a management consulting associate at PwC, she realized her passion for the work.
“I found joy in the dynamic nature of the profession, where every project presents an opportunity for accelerated learning and problem-solving across diverse industries,” Zhang said.
Today, both Ascencio and Zhang call upon their training in accountancy, even though they serve in sales and advisory roles. While their clients’ needs vary, they have found that wellrounded business expertise is always in demand.
“Consulting is a credence good,” Ascencio said. “You have to help guide the CFO – or the controller, or whoever you’re trying to help – to the solution, versus having a product that they might not need or might not be a right fit.”
Being able to leverage his accounting knowledge is the fun part of the job for Ascencio. To perform his role without that background, he said, would be quite a difficult learning curve.
Zhang also feels that her academic background gives her confidence when tackling new challenges. “In scenarios where projects demand a profound grasp of financial operations,” she said, “I find reassurance in the depth of knowledge I acquired through my degree.”
Accountancy is the “why” behind the “how”
Though different businesses may operate with unique combinations of cogs and gears, accountancy is the crank that keeps them all turning. When you can see where the pieces fit together and influence one another, you can put that ability to work in a wide range of contexts.
We know that many of you are also pursuing stable, meaningful work in a wide range of business sectors, government, and industry – and we want to tell your stories, too.
The need for trusted accountants in today’s workforce is not only expanding – it’s skyrocketing.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are more than 1.9 million open jobs across the financial, professional, and business service industries – and not nearly enough qualified workers to fill them.
The career possibilities for aspiring CPAs are vast. The number of CPAs in industry, however, is on the decline, in part because of the challenges working professionals face in preparing and sitting for the exam.
As a top-ranked accountancy department, we know all too well the reasons that some people opt out of pursuing the CPA designation. But we are also invested in building new pathways for professionals like you to earn it, if you want it.
Pursuing a CPA is worth it
Despite their awareness that the CPA designation involves considerable monetary and time commitments, many accounting students begin their educational journeys planning to pursue it.
“There is still a lot of value that not only the professional community sees in the credential, but also people that are aspiring to become CPAs,” said Geoffrey Brown, CEO and president of the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS).
More than 7,500 students and young professionals responded to a
recent ICPAS survey about the CPA designation. Eighty-five percent of respondents said they viewed the CPA credential as “valuable” or “very valuable” in the marketplace; 80 percent ranked it equally valuable to their specific careers.
Industry shortages present opportunities for aspiring CPAs
These results aren’t surprising. Among industry stakeholders, CPAs are seen as strategic, trustworthy problem solvers – something else the survey results reflect.
And that perception holds true even outside traditional accounting roles.
requires all candidates to prove their proficiency in accounting, auditing, tax, and technology – but allows individuals to choose between three different “disciplines” for one section of the exam. Disciplines include tax compliance and planning, business analytics, and information systems and controls.
In fact, the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) reports that the expanding regulatory environment and other market disruptions require newly licensed CPAs to have more knowledge than ever before.
Businesses today need trained and trusted accounting professionals – not only to perform more traditional audit and tax functions, but also to help them navigate corporate finance functions in a rapidly evolving technological environment.
An evolving designation
Revisions to the CPA exam format and licensure model equip more individuals with the knowledge and skills that businesses are eager to bring on board.
CPA Evolution, an ongoing initiative, introduced the “Core and Discipline” licensure model in 2024. This model
Candidates can choose whichever discipline section best fits with their education, experience, and interests, without limiting their ability to practice outside the chosen discipline.
“The remaking of the exam is really meant to broaden the pie of individuals that may potentially sit for it,” Brown said, adding that the new format was informed by the experiences of real professionals working in public accounting, corporate finance, and academia.
This new licensure model ensures that even as business landscapes change, the CPA designation will remain relevant.
“Start when you can start.”
The value and relevance of the CPA credential is largely undisputed. However, navigating personal and workload time commitments to study for the CPA exam can feel like an insurmountable obstacle to some. But there is a silver lining here: Knowing the barriers that exist can be an advantage as you plan your
own CPA journey. The path to a CPA is becoming more and more accessible, as institutions and employers alike recognize the need to accommodate working professionals seeking the certification.
“Start when you can start,” is the advice Brown gives to anyone considering the CPA designation.
“ There is an element of perseverance, understanding, knowledge, and hard work that is embedded within the CPA, and I think there’s an instant level of respect that comes with it.”
The Department of Accountancy at Gies Business helps learners start early,
delivering undergraduate courses that introduce concepts tested on the CPA exam. Our on-campus and online graduate programs deepen and reinforce that knowledge, supporting you as you prepare for the exam.
If you are already in the workforce –particularly within the accounting profession – Brown recommends seeking opportunities through your
Flexibility in the fundamental
Mike Cieplak (ACCY ’96), senior vice president of finance at McDonald’s Corporation, said that when he first chose to major in accountancy, he couldn’t have possibly conceived that it would eventually lead him to the job he has now.
Nonetheless, it’s his accounting background that informs much of his work today, from investor relations to financial risk management.
“I don’t prepare the financials, I don’t do any accounting, but I still need to be able to understand how it all works,
so I can speak to it with our external audiences,” Cieplak said.
Cieplak earned his CPA while working at a public accounting firm. Shortly thereafter, he moved to a role at an advertising agency, where the focus of his work shifted toward operational and strategic finance. Cieplak said that when he first joined McDonald’s Corporation, he was struck by the sheer number of accounting and finance roles at the company.
“I’m a beneficiary of the fact that there are that many finance roles and teams across the business – and how finance enables the organization as a strategic thought partner to the business,” Cieplak said.
employer to offset both the financial and time costs associated with the CPA exam.
But professional organizations and educational institutions are also adjusting to help learners access the benefits of a CPA. For example, if you’re considering sitting for the CPA exam, AICPA offers scholarships that can be applied toward exam fees, and so does ICPAS.
Gies Business also offers stackable credentials and massive open online courses and educational partnerships with enterprises. These offerings deliver on our mission to provide life-changing access to education, and they can give you a flexible path to earning your CPA, if you want it.
Cieplak has held several roles at McDonald’s in the last 22 years, and said he’s sure that his CPA designation, combined with his MBA, has opened doors and aided him throughout his career.
“There is an element of perseverance, understanding, knowledge, and hard work that is embedded within the CPA, and I think there’s an instant level of respect that comes with it.”
He likened his CPA designation to earning a lifetime achievement award, saying that while the period of struggle to achieve it was finite, the benefits and rewards continued for life.
Mike Cieplak (ACCY ’96)
Fall is a busy time for Instructor of Accountancy Mandi Alt (ACCY ’98). She’s spent the last several fall semesters hosting informational sessions and recruiting faculty and student participants for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Gies Business.
Transforming lives through community service
Providing life-changing access to tax expertise
the IRS to provide tax preparation services.
Now in its sixth year, the VITA program trains and certifies volunteers in tax return preparation policy and procedures, then connects them directly with taxpayers in the community. Alt, who has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Gies Business and spent more than 20 years in the accounting profession, currently leads the VITA program.
Students participate in VITA by enrolling in the ACCY 449 “Tax in Action” course that Alt teaches each spring. She trains and mentors students with the help of other Gies Business faculty members. Upon successful completion of training modules and exams, students become certified by
Then, five days a week from February 1 to April 15, student volunteers take turns offering walk-in appointments at Salt & Light, a nonprofit organization in Urbana, IL. While on location, volunteers talk with taxpayers, collecting information about their specific tax situations and making scans of relevant documentation.
professional tax preparation services.
204 individuals over the age of 60
50 non-English speakers
“It is hands down the thing they love the most,” Alt said of the students, “to have that face-to-face interaction with the taxpayers.”
Though VITA isn’t available for everyone, it is a critical resource for those who might face significant obstacles to acquiring
A record-breaking year for taxpayer assistance
43 people with disabilities 691 families with annual income under $64,000
After the initial intake, students return to campus to prepare and review community members’ returns. Faculty members provide support and mentoring throughout the entire process. Once the return is finished, the taxpayer is notified so they can retrieve their forms at Salt & Light and look them over before the return is filed.
According to Alt, one individual they served applied the extra money from her refund toward fixing her car. A family reported that the difference between paying for tax assistance or using VITA’s services represented the difference between being able to stay in their housing or not. Another individual discovered they could claim a significantly lower tax burden after volunteers helped them navigate a tax law, yielding a refund of almost $5,000.
Community members are not the only beneficiaries of the VITA program, however. Student participants gain realworld accounting experience, as well as a chance to work more closely with faculty members and see firsthand how an education in business can sustain their purpose in life.
“A lot of what we’re preparing our students for is how to do business in ‘the
In 2024, VITA volunteers filed 720 tax returns for members of the local community – the most returns completed by the program since its inception in 2019. The number also represents an increase of more than 40 percent in the number of taxpayers VITA served in 2023.
More than two-thirds of assisted taxpayers self-identified as people from underserved backgrounds
“These students proved that investing in service to others, even while dedicated to academic and professional growth, goes hand in hand with building a fulfilling life and inspirational career.”
Dahle, Clinical Assistant Professor of Accountancy
business world,” Alt said, noting that students’ tax training in the classroom tends to be focused on much more complex situations than filing a return for working-class family with one W-2 and multiple children. “But this process allows them to see that they can use those skills, which may seem simple to them, to impact a family in such a big way.”
She also points out VITA’s role in integrating campus life with the surrounding area. During the intake process and beyond, volunteers and community members connect with people from very different backgrounds.
“It gives everybody involved this rich opportunity – not just the service we provide, but the interaction between people that may not ever interact otherwise,” Alt said. “I hear all the time from the taxpayers and from the students, how much they enjoy that and that it’s really fun.”
80 student participants
10 faculty volunteers
973 hours spent with taxpayers
654 hours spent training students
Building homes, building futures
After retiring from a partner role at PwC, Clinical Assistant Professor of Accountancy Andy Dahle (ACCY ’83, MAS ’84) wanted to continue putting his business skills toward the greater good.
When he joined Gies Business in 2022, he had a simple goal: to spread the vast knowledge that his education in the College and a multi-decade career in the accounting profession gave him.
“I’m trying to give back,” Dahle said. “When I first talked with [Head of Accountancy] Michael Donohoe about what I could bring to Gies, it seemed like there were a lot of things I could share to help students see all the different opportunities and possibilities that exist in the world.”
Last year, a faculty retreat got him thinking more broadly about access to education and the value of learning outside the classroom. He realized that some of what he knew could only be shared by giving students opportunities to experience it for themselves.
“In the accounting profession, the blend of teamwork, relationships, and service is a crucial element of success and satisfaction, enriching both their lives and our world,” Dahle said.
Dahle, who volunteers for and is a board member of Habitat for Humanity Chicago, saw a clear correlation between the kind of purpose that fuels many accounting professionals and the purpose connecting volunteers who build homes in underprivileged communities.
With grant funding from the provost’s office, he created a new experiential learning activity for Gies accounting students: “Connecting for Chicago Housing Equity and Neighbors in Need.”
This spring, Dahle and six students spent a Saturday volunteering at the worksite of a home-building project. From 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, they dug holes for fence posts, mixed and wheelbarrowed concrete, and constructed fence rails for homes on the worksite.
Dahle said he was heartened by the commitment and enthusiasm from the students on the trip.
“You could see it in their faces and feel it in their words, the value and joy they were getting out of the experience,” he said. “These students proved that investing in service to others, even while dedicated to academic and professional growth, goes hand in hand with building a fulfilling life and inspirational career.”
Andy
Modeling purpose in action for future business students
Accounting
graduate Emma Johnson among Poets&Quants “Best & Brightest”
Each year, the leading business education magazine Poets&Quants publishes its “Best & Brightest Business Majors” feature, a list of the 100 most accomplished college business majors in the US. Emma Johnson, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Gies Business this spring, was among the featured students chosen for 2024.
“The Best & Brightest are involved in everything,” said Jeff Schmitt, senior writer at Poets&Quants. “They’re the ones leading clubs, organizing events, and creating opportunities. They live a certain purpose every day. Their cando, lead-by-example spirit heightens the energy and enriches the experience across campus.”
During her time at Gies Business, Johnson sought many leadership and engagement opportunities. She served as a peer mentor and advisor, a course assistant, a research assistant, and a student ambassador for the College. She was also an active member of many organizations on campus, such as the Investment Portfolio Organization and the Women in Finance Academy, among other extracurricular pursuits.
“The extracurricular achievement that I’m most proud of is serving as the schedule coordinator of the Gies Peer Advising Program,” Johnson said. “I have learned countless lessons on leadership, communication, and student guidance. The program has truly shaped me to be who I am today and allowed me to give back to Gies in a way that I never thought was possible.”
In a press release, Schmitt said that he hoped the Best & Brightest profiles would inspire future business students to build their own paths to success. Johnson, a first-generation college student, exemplified how students could uncover new opportunities through everyday interactions.
“As a business student, you always hear about how important networking is and how connections are so important. Honestly, this always scared me, as I’m a bit of an introvert when it comes to meeting new people,” Johnson said. “But the longer I was a part of Gies College of Business, I realized how natural this was and not scary. Rather, you make connections everywhere even when you don’t realize it.”
Jeff Schmitt, Senior Writer, Poets&Quants
“The Best & Brightest are involved They’re the ones leading clubs, and creating opportunities. They purpose every day. Their can-do, example spirit heightens the energy the experience across campus.
Johnson helped lead an informational session for students at the Sleeman Leadership Institute, February 2023.
involved in everything. clubs, organizing events, They live a certain can-do, lead-byenergy and enriches campus.”
Educators recognized for excellence
Leading in education through purpose-driven faculty
Brian Hamm
Excellence in Graduate & Professional Teaching Award, University of Illinois
Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award, Gies Business Alumni Association
Brian Hamm is a clinical assistant professor and Illinois accounting alumnus who brings more than 23 years of industry experience to the courses he now teaches at Gies Business. By encouraging his students to embrace AI and examine market disruptions caused by current events, he prepares them to be adaptive to ever-changing business landscapes.
“This award helps validate the reason I got into teaching – to make a difference and make an impact on the next generation of business leaders,” Hamm said.
Kim Mendoza
2024 Outstanding Educator Award, Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS)
As director of the University of Illinois-Deloitte Foundation Center for Business Analytics, Assistant Professor Kim Mendoza helps learners become comfortable working with complex data, to prepare them for careers in business analytics. She has her sights set on one day expanding the Center’s reach to those outside the university setting – in particular, high school students and working professionals.
“What I love most about teaching is watching a student transform and change the trajectory of their lives – whether it’s starting their first job or returning to earn a graduate degree that will take their career to a new level,” said Mendoza.
Over the past year, Gies Business accounting faculty received awards for their outstanding contributions to business education.
Sydney Kim Excellence in Teaching for Teaching Assistants Award, Gies Business Alumni Association
Sydney Kim, a recent PhD graduate in accountancy, taught courses in financial accounting and data analytics during her time at Gies Business, and she often appeared on the University of Illinois List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students.
She will join California State University as an assistant professor this summer.
in accounting research
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTING RANKINGS
Impact in the classroom and beyond
Ranked #1
These accounting faculty members were named recipients of the Dean’s Impact Award for embodying the Commitments and Beliefs of Gies College of Business.
Associate Professor Fei Du co-wrote the app-driven textbook Creative Data Analytics: Computational Recipes to Gain Insights into Businesses. The textbook sets itself apart from other eBooks by allowing users to input their data directly and run analyses on the spot, making comprehensive data analytics tools more accessible to learners.
Senior Lecturer Rachel Schwartz led a major effort to expand access of the Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) program to learners across the globe. Under Schwartz’s direction, the MSA has attracted new learners from Africa, South America, Indonesia, and Europe – bringing Gies Business students unmatched opportunities to develop relationships with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Senior Lecturer Ron Guymon combined instructional excellence with ingenuity through the creation of online learning communities. He built a space for his Data Preparation for Accountancy course on the platform Yellowdig, and it was recognized as one of the most engaging communities across the entire platform – a place where learners can access meaningful content and peer interactions.
Senior Instructor Angel Chatterton went above and beyond in her commitment to expand access to education. Through her volunteerism, she helped launch multiple academic access programs in the College, and she helped students prepare for scholarship interviews through Financial Executives International.
