Master in Professional Accounting Admissions Blog

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs MPA Students

Author: Keri Ledezma (page 5 of 16)

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

February 29, 2024 / / 0 Comments

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

February 26, 2024 / / 0 Comments

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

February 16, 2024 / / 0 Comments

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 Austin

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

February 12, 2024 / / 0 Comments

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!

February 5, 2024 / / 0 Comments

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

AICPA Legacy Scholarships: Apply Now!

January 22, 2024 / / 0 Comments

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!

January 12, 2024 / / 0 Comments

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.

 

Winter Break

UT Austin Closed for Winter Break

December 18, 2023 / / 0 Comments

The University of Texas at Austin will be closed for winter break from December 23, 2023 through January 1, 2024. Contact MPA Admissions if you have questions or need assistance with your application. We will reply as soon as we return from the break.

Enjoy the holidays!

Sustainability and Accounting at UT Austin

November 27, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Originally published in the Accounting Times newsletter.

Professor Jeff Hales heads Texas McCombs recently created Global Sustainability Leadership Institute (GSLI). We asked him about these efforts as well as what sustainability means for accounting.

TELL US ABOUT GSLI AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT.

The GSLI is an institute housed in McCombs and in partnership with the Moody College of Communication is dedicated to addressing the critical sustainability challenges of the 21st century through research, education, and industry collaboration. The roots of the GSLI started from student interest in programs and curricula that would help them understand how business activities intersect with society and the environment. That demand was initially met through an initiative that began back in 2017, which fellow accounting professor, Steve Limberg, helped to oversee. With help of a generous donation, we were able to launch the GSLI in the fall of 2021.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE INSTITUTE WILL ACCOMPLISH?

By leveraging the expertise of our faculty and corporate partners, my hope is that the Institute will play an integral role in UT’s mission by helping to develop the next generation of business leaders and changemakers. Businesses need to be resilient and adaptive and we need our students to be ready for the challenges and opportunities that will create for them in their future careers.

HOW ARE YOU INCORPORATING GSLI’S WORK INTO OUR TEXAS
McCOMBS CLASSROOMS?

I have recently developed two accounting electives related to sustainability. The first, Corporate Sustainability, is a graduate level course for MPA and MBA students that focuses on sustainability disclosure standards, rules, and regulation. The second, Global Business Sustainability, is one of the core courses in the GSLI’s new Global Sustainability Minor, which is a 17-hour minor open to undergraduates across campus. I teach both through the lens of accounting.

WHY IS SUSTAINABILITY IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS STUDYING
ACCOUNTING?

Lots of reasons! With increasing demand for companies to adopt sustainable practices and report on their sustainability performance, accountants will need to have the skills and knowledge to measure and report on the sustainability metrics that companies will be expected to disclose. More generally, to truly understand a company’s sustainability issues, you have to know more about what the company actually does to make money. Tech companies, food retailers, and pharmaceuticals all have revenues, but the ways in which they generate those revenues are very different and so are associated with very different sustainability challenges. Sustainability accounting forces students to make closer and deeper connections between the financial performance of a company and the operational activities that drove that performance. But the most important reason for bringing sustainability into our curriculum is students today are genuinely interested in knowing more about how businesses affect our broader society and our planet.

Interested in learning more about Jeffrey Hales and his Corporate Sustainability course at UT Austin? Read Accounting for a Better Future 

Student Viewpoint: The MPA Community

November 13, 2023 / / 0 Comments

Since joining the MPA Program at The University of Texas at Austin, I’ve grown academically, professionally, and most of all, personally. The program offers tons of unique opportunities to interact with your peers, faculty, and industry professionals within and outside of the standard course curriculum. Between workshops, panels, and sponsored events there are numerous ways to make connections and expand your network.

The coursework is relevant and has been demanding, but I have found that the MPA faculty are always there to support you while also challenging you to be your best. From professors eager to help with any questions or problems you may encounter, to career coaches assisting in resume writing, to interview preparation, the MPA program has been a great experience. And, while the program is rigorous and truly prepares you for your career, it’s not all debits and credits.

I’ve made some great connections within the MPA community. The MPA program sponsors an intramural basketball team that I joined this semester. It’s been a fun outlet and allowed me to build friendships with MPA classmates. We’ve all found it refreshing to have an outlet to easily unplug, recharge, and get some physical activity in to stay level-headed and reduce stress. This is one of many ways the MPA program helps build a close-knit community.

In addition to the networking opportunities, there are clubs, social events, and even opportunities to study abroad. It can be easy to be focused on your coursework and forget to spend time with people outside classes. These opportunities can be a great way to connect to the MPA, McCombs, and even the greater UT community.

My time thus far in the program has been incredible and I know it will be worthwhile. I cannot recommend it enough!

Hook ‘em!

Peter Gutierrez, MPA Class of 2024

Older posts Newer posts

Categories

© 2025 Master in Professional Accounting Admissions Blog

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑