MPA Admissions Blog

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs Students

Meet Current Student Josh Tarplin

Josh Tarplin

From the Chem Lab to the Photo Studio to PwC
Josh Tarplin, MPA candidate ’24, on finding his passion for auditing

Accounting wasn’t on Josh Tarplin’s radar as a career until he started running his own business, a photography studio he ultimately ran in the U.K. Before that, he was on track to becoming a chemical engineer — as a teen he worked on research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Tarplin talks about his circuitous path to accounting, why it’s now his ideal career, and what he’s learned during his time in the traditional Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) program.

Q: You started in science, then started your own creative business. How did that come about?

A: I took a lot of science classes in high school, worked at the NIH doing research, and came to Yale as a chemical engineering major. But in college, I also took a photography class, and I really fell in love with it. So, I double majored in fine art focused on photography and the history of art, with a focus on visual theory. My plan was to work as a fine artist, like a hermit in the studio — that was the dream. I started in fashion photography, a mix of the commercial and the creative, and I opened my own studio in Los Angeles, working with Instagram brands and then companies.

Q: When did it first occur to you that accounting was an important subject to study?

A: With my photography business, I started working in London more than in L.A., and that’s where I first discovered accounting. I’d never known an accountant besides the nice woman who prepared my taxes. In running my studio, I didn’t have financial records. I didn’t know how to account for my expenses. So, I started giving myself an online education in accounting, and I really fell in love with it. It’s so different from art, but it supports any other endeavor you’re trying to pursue. Accounting is a really good framework, and whatever you’re doing — from operating Apple to designing and printing your own T-shirts — you have to have this knowledge to be able to function on your own in a commercial world, and also to protect yourself.

Q: What has your experience in the MPA program been like?

A: I’m loving it. It’s a discipline that’s internally consistent, which is very rare. But at the same time, there’s so much creativity and room for exploration. The classes I’ve found the most interesting have involved discussions of the issues between regulators and companies. The Accounting faculty are really interested in teaching what’s going on in the actual standards or in the actual internal revenue code. It’s introducing an idea from a textbook and then giving the inside scoop as to how it functions. I’m so happy that I found something that I love as much as I love making art.

Q: Are you still doing photography?

A: I’d much rather give someone a photograph they love than have it hang in a gallery and then get sold to someone I’ve never met. I see art as a weekend activity now. I’m excited to be fully in the world of accounting.

Q: What’s your plan for after you graduate?

A: I’ll be working at PwC in Houston. I really love auditing — I love seeing the forest through the trees of the numbers. I think that comes from my art history visual theory background. Numbers on a page symbolize this whole world of a company.

I’m interested in being exposed to different companies and the investigatory aspect, to investigate and find (or not find) fraud. It’s the idea that auditors are the guardians of the capital markets.

Q: What would you say to students thinking about studying accounting at McCombs?

A: It’s the best program in the country, the world really. It’s not just the ranking that drew me, but it’s who’s teaching here: the best talent for both teaching and research. The program offers a holistic experience in learning accounting that you can take in so many different directions. You can explore anything. The program is a one-year ticket to know how to do anything you want to do in the world that involves people trusting you with money — which is really everything.

 

REGISTER: MPA Faculty Panel

The Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) program at Texas McCombs has world-renowned faculty that teach a wide variety of accounting courses and infuse the curriculum with cutting-edge ideas. Learn more by joining us for our virtual Faculty Panel!

The faculty panelists will provide an inside look at the MPA program’s curriculum, share details about the courses they teach, and discuss how earning an MPA degree from UT Austin will set you up for success in the workforce.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Event Details:

  • Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
  • Time: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT
  • Location: Virtual Event (Link will be provided upon registration)

Register Now!

 

Meet the Faculty Panelists

Megan Allen

Megan Allen
Financial Accounting
Tax

Megan has prepared hundreds of tax returns for individuals, corporations, S corporations, partnerships, trusts, and estates. She has reconciled bookkeeping and bank accounts for businesses and has represented clients before the IRS.

 

Daniel Fannin

Daniel Fannin
Managerial Accounting
Financial Accounting

Daniel is a certified fraud examiner, a certified anti-money-laundering specialist, a state-licensed private investigator, and a CPA. He has extensive experience analyzing financial records, interviewing witnesses, and testifying in court.

 

Zach Kowaleski

Zach Kowaleski 
Auditing and Assurance 

Zach studies the effect of the institutional setting on behavior using the audit and broker-dealer settings. His work has been published in the Journal of Accounting Research, the Journal of Accounting and Economics, and the Journal of Financial Economics

REGISTER: Join the March 20 Information Session!

Join our upcoming virtual information session to learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program! You’ll hear about the MPA admissions process, MPA curriculum, career outcomes, and life in Austin.

REGISTER: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 – 5:00 PM CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Jasmin Blas-Mendieta

Jasmin Blas-Mendieta, MPA Senior Recruiting and Admissions Officer.

 

REGISTER: Accounting++ Your First Job (Livestreamed event)

Are you wondering what kind of careers an accounting degree will offer you? Join us at the Accounting++ Your First Job event where you will hear from accounting alumni about their first jobs after graduating with an accounting degree and where they are now.

This event will be livestreamed from Robert Rowling Hall on The University of Texas at Austin campus. Join us on Thursday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m. CT virtually through Zoom.

Meet the Panelists

image of Fraser Armstrong-Watters

Fraser Armstrong-Watters
Current Title: Chief Financial Officer
First Title: Analyst

Fraser began his career as an analyst in management consulting. He is now a partner and CFO at Palisades Group, a residential investment company.

 

image of Matt Boyd

Matt Boyd
Current Title: Vice President & Partner
First Title: Analyst

After graduating with an MPA degree from Texas McCombs, Matt was an analyst at an investment bank and is now a VP and Principal at Olympus Partners.

 

Image of Chris Dunn

Chris Dunn
Current Title: Chief Accounting Officer
First Title: Associate

Matt graduated with an MPA degree and started out in public accounting as an associate, then went into wealth management, and is now the CAO at Palisades Group.

 

Image of Shari Ledbetter

Shari Ledbetter
Current Title: Manager
First Title: Senior Accountant

Shari is an MPA alum and began her career in public accounting. She then transitioned into investments and asset management and is now a manager at TPG Capital.

 

 REGISTER NOW for the livestream event!

A New Era for Accountants

From renewable energy startups to movie studios, accountants are in high demand for a staggering variety of careers

In the accounting field, one thing is becoming clear: There is no “typical” accounting job. Alumnus Ryan Hess (Ph.D. ’21) worked with the Internal Revenue Service to  improve tax compliance via automation. Alumna Megan Light (BBA, MPA ’06) works in investor relations in the natural resources field.

For both graduates, their day-to-day is far from the image some people have of accountants: worker bees who enter and move numbers around a spreadsheet. Over the years — and in recent years, especially, as data has ballooned along with new technologies and ever-changing regulations — accounting has evolved into an even more vibrant field that spans industries and requires a broad and well-balanced skill set. Accountants dabble in math, yes — but today they must also have advanced communications skills and an affinity for new technologies.

An accountant might find work uncovering financial fraud, helping a shipping company operate more efficiently to improve its bottom line, or managing production budgets and royalty distributions for a movie studio.

Accountants’ bread and butter is assessing and reporting on a company’s financial position so the business can make forecasts about the future and manage risk. They prepare budgets and forecasts, analyze expenditure and revenue, and identify where a company can invest, save money or afford to spend more. Accountants also present financial information — and often provide financial advice — to managers or to clients.

Accounting is a perfect field for people who enjoy working with numbers and technology, analyzing data, thinking critically to solve problems, and communicating outcomes.

A WIDE VARIETY OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Accountants are a vital part of every organization and every industry — from large corporations to small startups and nonprofits, from high-tech energy companies to sports teams and entertainment production studios. Accounting skills are also essential for people who ultimately choose to work in investment banking or financial consulting.

Meanwhile, some accountants carve out creative side-gigs for themselves too. For example, UT accounting Ph.D. program graduates and professors Lisa De Simone (Ph.D. ’13) and Bridget Stomberg (Ph.D. ’13) with Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business started a podcast called “Taxes for the Masses” to break down tax concepts into simple terms.

STABILITY AND GROWTH
While other professions have seen a slump, accountants continue to be in high demand despite economic fluctuations. And, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, globalization, a growing economy, and a complex tax and regulatory environment are expected to continue driving a strong demand. The field provides job security, and it equips people with skills that translate across industries and geographic regions.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Successful accountants require a variety of skills and knowledge, such as:

  • Ability to analyze data.
  • Ability to think critically and problem-solve.
  • Budgeting, forecasting, financial statement preparation.
  • Communication skills.
  • Proficiency in technical software.
  • Leadership aptitude.

These are skills students learn as they earn a degree in accounting and continue to refine throughout their careers.

TEXAS MCCOMBS MASTER IN PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING PROGRAM
Did you know that the one-year Master in Professional Accounting degree program at Texas McCombs is open to students with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline? Join us for an upcoming virtual info session to learn more!

REGISTER: MPA Current Student and Alumni Panel

Are you considering a career in accounting and looking to learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program at Texas McCombs? Join us virtually on February 22 to hear from current MPA students and alumni! They will discuss why they chose to study accounting, as well as detail their experiences in the program, including their favorites classes, recruiting and networking opportunities, and life at McCombs. Plus, you’ll have the chance to ask the panelists questions!

Thursday, February 22, 2024
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CT
Virtual – Zoom

REGISTER NOW

Visit the Texas McCombs MPA Program…in person or virtually!

If you’re interested in exploring the Texas McCombs MPA program and would like to visit us here in Austin or from afar, we have several options for you!

In Person Visits

Are you interested in seeing the UT campus first-hand? Submit our in-person visit form at least two weeks in advance, and we will customize an MPA visit schedule based on your preferences.  Meet with MPA admissions, academic and career staff, take a tour of McCombs with a current student, walk around the Forty Acres, and more!

Prefer to explore on your own? Pull up the UT interactive campus map and McCombs building maps and follow the self-guided tour as you walk around the business school.

Virtual Visits

Are you unable to visit Austin in person? View a virtual tour of Texas McCombs and take a virtual stroll around the University of Texas at Austin to see what makes us a premiere destination. Reach out to an admissions ambassador to set up a Zoom call or attend a virtual panel to learn more about the student experience.

Learn more about the McCombs School of Business, Master in Professional Accounting program, and living in Austin by visiting our website.

REGISTER: Join the February 14 Information Session!

Join our upcoming virtual information session to learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program! You’ll hear about the MPA admissions process, MPA curriculum, career outcomes, and life in Austin.

REGISTER: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 – 5:00 PM CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Jasmin Blas-Mendieta

Jasmin Blas-Mendieta, MPA Senior Recruiting and Admissions Officer.

 

AICPA Legacy Scholarships: Apply Now!

If you are seeking scholarship opportunities for the Texas McCombs MPA program, be sure to check your eligibility to apply for an AICPA Legacy Scholarship. The scholarships have a March 15 application deadline and are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Scholarships include (but are not limited to):

  • The John L. Carey Scholarship provides financial assistance to liberal arts and non-business undergraduate degree holders who are pursuing both graduate studies in accounting and CPA licensure.
  • The AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students provides financial awards to full-time minority students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in accounting or an accounting-related major.
  • The AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Future CPAs provides financial assistance to undergraduate or graduate degree students interested in pursuing the CPA license after graduation.
  • The AWSCPA Scholarship provides financial assistance to outstanding female students majoring in accounting or an accounting-related field.

We encourage you to apply and check for other scholarships through the national scholarship search.

REGISTER: Join the January 18 MPA Information Session!

Join our upcoming virtual information session to learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program! You’ll hear about the MPA admissions process and how to make your application stand out, details about the MPA curriculum, career outcomes, and life in Austin.

REGISTER: THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 – 5:00 PM CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Jasmin Blas-Mendieta

Jasmin Blas-Mendieta, MPA Senior Recruiting and Admissions Officer.

 

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