Master in Professional Accounting Admissions Blog

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs MPA Students

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CPA Exam

Texas McCombs MPA Program and CPA License – Part 2

June 4, 2025 / / 0 Comments

We are often asked why Texas McCombs MPA students perform so well on the CPA exam. In the discussion that follows, we attempt to answer this and other frequently asked CPA exam and licensure questions. We hope this Q&A helps current and future MPA students better understand this challenging but rewarding pursuit!

Q: What is currently covered on the CPA exam?

With the CPA Evolution in 2024, the exam was restructured into three Core sections and three choices of Discipline sections. These changes aim to better align the exam with evolving demands of the profession, particularly in areas related to technology and data analytics.

Core sections include the following (and candidates must pass all three sections):

  • Auditing and Attestation (AUD): Covers the principles and procedures related to auditing, including ethics, professional responsibilities, and standards.
  • Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR): Focuses on the preparation and presentation of financial statements, including the application of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and other frameworks.
  • Taxation and Regulation (REG): Covers federal taxation, ethics, professional responsibilities, and business law.

Discipline Sections (Candidates choose (and must pass) only one section):

  • Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR): Emphasizes business analysis, financial management, and reporting, including the use of data analytics and technology in business decision-making.
  • Information Systems and Controls (ISC): Focuses on IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and controls, including the evaluation of system and organization controls (SOC) engagements.
  • Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP): Covers personal financial planning, tax planning, and compliance, including the application of tax law.

More detail about these sections can be found in the AICPA’s Examination Blueprints.

Q: How will the MPA program prepare me for the CPA exam?

While the MPA curriculum is not specifically designed as CPA exam preparation, our MPA core and elective courses cover material tested on the exam. Students are naturally prepared for most of the exam simply by progressing through the core and making wise elective choices. These MPA courses align with each exam section.

AUD: ACC 380K.4-Auditing & Assurance Services; ACC 380K.13-Information Technology for Accounting & Control; ACC 383K.8-Advanced Auditing; ACC 387.1-Managerial/Cost Accounting.

FAR:  ACC 380K.1-Financial Accounting Standards & Research 1 (Intermediate); ACC 380K.7-Financial Statement Analysis; ACC 380K.26-Government & Not-for-Profit Accounting; ACC 380K.31-Coding & Data Analysis in Accounting; ACC 387.1-Cost/Managerial Accounting.

REG: ACC 380K.11-Introduction to Taxation.

BAR:  ACC 380K.1-Financial Accounting Standards & Research I (Intermediate); ACC 380K.2-Financial Accounting Standards & Research II (Advanced Accounting); ACC 380K.7-Financial Statement Analysis; ACC 380K.26-Government & Not-for-Profit Accounting; ACC 380K.31-Coding & Data Analysis in Accounting; ACC 387.1-Cost/Managerial Accounting.

ISC: ACC 380K.12-Computer Audit & Systems Security; ACC 380K.13-Information Technology for Accounting & Control; ACC 380K.31-Coding & Data Analysis in Accounting; ACC 383K.4-Fraud Examination; ACC 383K.7-Internal Auditing Practicum.

TCP: ACC 380K.11-Introduction to Taxation; ACC 380K.24-Financial Planning for Wealth Management; ACC 384-Tax Practicum; ACC 384.1-Tax Research Methodology; ACC 384.10-Corporate Tax; ACC 384.11-Flow-through Entities Tax.

While the program’s curriculum naturally prepares students for much of the exam, students will find that some exam areas might not have been covered in their courses (or remembered at test time). As a result, most students also use an outside review product. Many employers will pay for or reimburse future employees the cost of a review product such as Becker, Gleim, or Kaplan.  The combination of  foundational knowledge from MPA coursework and the structured refresher offered by an outside review course have been MPAs’ recipe for CPA exam success.

Q: Which discipline exam should I take?

In choosing a discipline exam, we advise you to consider your career aspirations. Which discipline aligns best with the type of roles and industries you are interested in? For example, if you’re interested in working in corporate finance or management accounting, BAR might be a good fit. If you’re drawn to IT and cybersecurity, ISC could be more suitable.

You should also assess your strengths and interests. Which discipline are you most passionate about or have the most experience in? If you have a background in tax or enjoyed your tax courses, TCP could be a natural choice. Talk with your peers, academic advisors and future employers about what they suggest, as well. More than one discipline section could be appropriate for your future career path, but only one discipline section is required.

Q: When do MPA students typically take the CPA exam?

Timing varies; balancing MPA coursework with demands such as employment recruiting, part-time work such as TA positions, and enjoying your time in Austin is critical. If your academic plan allows for a light load in your final semester, saving the CPA exam until this semester is a great plan. If your program of coursework has you taking a full load, beginning the exam as soon after graduation as possible is ideal. That way you are more likely to recall what you’ve learned and take advantage of your student mindset before a full-time work schedule commands your attention. In general, it is suggested that you study for approximately one month per exam section. If you seek your academic advisor’s guidance in this regard, they will help you in crafting an exam timeline that fits your academic, career, and life plans. Again, most MPAs complete the exam in their first year after graduation, and they typically perform well. You will, too!

Q: Where will I take the exam? Can I take it in Austin if I plan to earn my license in another state?

Yes! The CPA exam is administered by Prometric, which has locations throughout the U.S. For example, if you apply for the exam under California’s application process you will receive an approval code that allows you to schedule a testing appointment at the Prometric center in Austin or most major cities in Texas and the U.S.

 

To learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program at Texas McCombs, click here

CPA Exam

Texas McCombs MPA Program and CPA License – Part 1

May 21, 2025 / / 0 Comments

We are often asked why Texas McCombs MPA students perform so well on the CPA exam. In the discussion that follows, we attempt to answer this and other frequently asked CPA exam and licensure questions. We hope this Q&A helps current and future MPA students better understand this challenging but rewarding pursuit!

Q: Why should I consider earning a CPA license?

  • Legal authority: Tasks such as auditing public companies and filing reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) can only be performed by individuals who are also CPAs. This ability can be a significant advantage in a professional services environment.
  • Professional credibility: The CPA designation is a mark of excellence and professionalism. It demonstrates a high level of competence and knowledge, often leading to increased trust from clients and employers.
  • Career advancement: CPAs often have access to more senior roles and higher salary potential when compared to non-CPA accountants. The license can open doors to leadership positions in accounting firms, corporate finance departments, and government agencies.
  • Job security: The demand for qualified CPAs has remained strong over time. Many industries, especially those dealing with finances, taxes, and regulation, rely heavily on the expertise of CPAs in their business dealings.

Q: What are the current requirements to earn a CPA license?

The answer to this depends on the state in which you plan to work. All states currently require the following:

  • Passing the CPA exam
  • Satisfaction of educational requirements: In most states, current eligibility requirements include an accredited bachelor’s degree, 150 college credit hours, and a minimum number of upper-level accounting and business hours. Most states require applicants to complete a partial set of educational requirements before taking a section of the CPA exam (e.g., 120 hours) and then meet their full requirements (e.g., 150 hours) when applying for the license. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) is a great place to investigate your state’s requirements. Because the majority of our MPA students are Texans, we’ll discuss Texas’ requirements next.
  • Work experience: Most states require one year of accounting work experience before applying for a CPA license. Some states define “accounting work experience” more narrowly than others, so it is critical to investigate your state’s requirements.

Q; I plan to work in Texas after graduation. Will the MPA program satisfy Texas’ educational requirements for the CPA exam and license?

For the majority of MPAs, the answer is “yes.” Students without an accounting or business background might need one or two classes beyond their MPA degree to satisfy all educational requirements for the CPA in Texas.

The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA) currently requires completion of the following before sitting for any part of the CPA exam:

  • Bachelor’s or higher degree from a board-recognized U.S. college or university or an equivalent degree from another country as determined by the board.
  • 120 semester hours of college credit from a board-recognized college or university.
  • 21 semester hours of upper-level accounting courses from a board-recognized college or university. These 21 hours must include 3 hours each of financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and accounting information systems or data analytics.
  • 24 semester hours of upper-level related business courses with no more than 6 hours from the same discipline. These 24 hours must include 2 semester hours of accounting or business communication.

The TSBPA’s additional educational requirements for licensure include:

  • 150 semester hours of college credit from a board-recognized college or university.
  • 27 semester hours of upper-level accounting courses (i.e., 6 hours beyond the 21 hours required for the exam) to include 2 semester hours of accounting/tax research and analysis.
  • A board-approved 3-hour ethics course.

Traditional and Bridge MPAs without an accounting or business background typically complete 43 hours of MPA coursework, including at least 27 hours of upper-level accounting. Any non-accounting MPA core or business electives are used to satisfy required business hours. Students are encouraged to follow their academic advisor’s guidance closely to efficiently satisfy all educational requirements for the CPA exam. For example, not all of the accounting courses available to MPAs are accepted as upper-level accounting by the TSBPA. In rare cases, an MPA student can fall short of CPA eligibility requirements despite successfully graduating from the program. Academic advisors will work with students to rectify these deficiencies, but it is best to plan out an exam-ready program of coursework in advance of graduation.

 

To learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program at Texas McCombs, click here

REGISTER: Accounting++ The Jobs you Didn’t Know You Wanted

March 27, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Join us for an exciting evening of Accounting++ The Jobs You Didn’t Know You Wanted. Wondering what type of jobs you can have with an accounting degree? Hear from panelists who have unique jobs and learn how their careers have evolved.

Don’t miss this chance to explore how the MPA program can shape your future!

Thursday, April 3, 2025
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT
Virtual – Zoom

REGISTER NOW!

Meet MPA Alumnus Joseph Overman

June 17, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Joseph Overman

Accounting Skills Stand Out on Wall Street
Joseph Overman, MPA ’21, on how his degree makes all the difference in equity research

When Joseph Overman graduated from the Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) program in 2021, he took what is a tried and true path for many MPA grads: a role working in tax at one of the Big Four accounting firms. Three years later, he’s pivoted into a research analyst position on Wall Street.

Overman’s jobs since graduation illustrate the wide variety of career paths for MPA grads. Some students find that their second — or third — job out of graduate school looks very different from their first. While a first job might be as an associate at a Big Four firm, a second one could be as a VP of operations and a third as a CFO. The common thread is how accounting knowledge is useful and even foundational in a variety of interesting roles and careers.

Overman talks about the highlights of his time in UT’s accounting program, his first postgraduation job, and how and why he transitioned into a research analyst role.

Q: Tell us about your first job out of school. What was it like?

A: When I was a student at UT, I assumed I would follow the traditional path, join a Big Four firm, and work in either audit or tax. I didn’t know equity research was a career path — it wasn’t on my radar.

My first job was with Deloitte Tax in Dallas. The work was very specialized. I worked at the intersection of tax and financial accounting — preparing tax provisions for public company clients, helping companies prepare their financial statements. I was there for a little more than a year and enjoyed my time there and work.

Q: How did equity research get onto your radar as a possible career path for someone with an accounting background?

A: I had a recruiter reach out to me on LinkedIn about a role at Credit Suisse in New York. I was excited about moving there and the switch to an entirely new field. Other people on Wall Street often have a finance or economics background but don’t have the accounting piece. The company recognizes accounting is a good foundation for equity research. It’s definitely relevant to my job, and having that strong accounting background has been a good point of differentiation.

Q: What’s your new role like? What are your responsibilities, and how is the work different from what you did in your first job?

A: At Credit Suisse, all research analysts are assigned to a sector. I’m on the health care team covering health insurance companies, hospitals, and other publicly traded health care providers. We model out their financials and provide written research reports that investors use when making investment decisions. So, a lot of our work is in financial models, essentially looking at their financial statements — which is accounting. It’s about understanding past trends to see what may happen in the future. In this role, I also get a lot more exposure to how the rest of a company is run as opposed to only focusing on the taxes.

Q: Career-wise, where do you see yourself going from here?

A: I’m on the side that produces the research — the so-called sell side. Some people in this type of role end up staying on the sell side and eventually become bank analysts who run their own sector. Other people go over to the buy side. That’s the family offices, hedge funds, mutual funds, and other investors that use the research to help make investment decisions. On both sides, it’s a lot of the same skills and work. I’m not sure what I’ll do, but there’s always the option to go to the buy side.

Q: What lessons from UT’s MPA program have stuck with you?

A: “Financial Statement Analysis” with Professor Badolato was one of my favorite classes in the MPA program, and most of my job now is essentially the same type of work we did in that class. Each class period, we evaluated companies in specific industries, often those in the news and topical. We read through their financial statements and had really great group discussions. It’s kind of cool to find a job that matches up with what I most enjoyed in school.

Q: What would you say to a prospective UT MPA program student?

A: One of the great things about UT’s accounting program is that there are so many different jobs that people end up in, a lot more career opportunities than someone unfamiliar with accounting might at first think. People in the business world who don’t have an accounting background really value those of us who have this deep understanding of how financial statements work.

Q: Any final words of wisdom for current students?

A: For me, taking and passing the CPA exam has been very beneficial. You may think that if you’re going into a role that’s “accounting adjacent,” the studying and earning the designation won’t be worth it. But employers in fields outside of accounting value that you’re able to pass those exams, that you have that knowledge. It differentiates you.

Interested in Oil, Gas and Sustainability? Read on!

May 27, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Oil and natural gas power our homes and give us products as varied as eyeglasses and MRI machines. Although renewable energy is increasing as a percentage of global energy production, it’s still small, meaning oil and gas will be key energy sources for the foreseeable future.

At the same time, oil and gas companies are working to produce oil more sustainably to help curb climate change, and they anticipate climate-related regulations. In this dynamic environment, expertise in oil and gas accounting is becoming indispensable — especially in Texas, the largest oil and gas producing state, where the industry is one of the largest employers.

In class, professor Paul Parsons imparts lessons on sustainability and the energy transition. “Oil and Gas Accounting and Sustainability” shows students they can do interesting, important work toward a healthier planet as a part of the oil and gas accounting field.

Parsons worked for more than two decades with Occidental Petroleum Corp. before founding Energy Training Resources, an organization that offers courses for the oil and gas industry covering operational, commercial, accounting, and sustainability topics.

Q: Why is oil and gas accounting an important field for Master in Professional Accounting students to consider?
A: Oil and gas are in many everyday products we use, from desks students sit in to buses that bring them to class. Oil and gas will remain an important source of energy, and likewise, oil and gas accounting will remain a useful skill in many areas of the country where oil and gas are produced. Companies will have two major responsibilities — being sustainable and reporting on their sustainability — and accountants will be involved with both. Mandatory reporting requirements will affect essentially all U.S. public companies in all industries, and the initial implementation will require an abundance of accounting and auditing expertise.

Oil and gas may seem like an “old” industry, but it’s actually a vibrant, global industry that’s technologically advanced and constantly evolving. If you’re sustainability-minded, oil and gas is actually a good place to work. You can be part of meaningful change.

Q: How did you revamp the course to cover sustainability?
A: Sustainability is an emerging topic that will affect everyone in every industry, and it’s becoming a very important topic in reporting. Companies are now voluntarily reporting on sustainability. Every big company has a sustainability report. But there are more rigorous reporting regulations internationally, and in the U.S. there’s a push by government agencies to get corporations to report more and in a consistent manner so companies can be compared more easily. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a draft proposal last year that would make climate reporting mandatory.

Q: What will students learn?
A: There are specialized accounting rules for oil and gas production because it has unique characteristics. Students learn these rules and regulations, but also about the fascinating industry operations that drive accounting needs, including petroleum geology and exploration, mineral rights acquisition, drilling, production, and project economics. Lessons on sustainability include greenhouse gas emissions, diversity and equity, habitat protection, water conservation, recycling, and proper waste disposal. This knowledge can give students an advantage, whether they work for an oil and gas company directly, or with a public accounting firm that has oil and gas audit clients.

Q: How do you make the course interesting and interactive?
A: I ask questions as I go, students use a clicker to answer, and then I display answers for everyone to see. This method stimulates discussion. I also decided to forgo a course textbook and instead use slides with videos, photos, and animations. The industry is changing so fast that textbooks just don’t keep up. We do a good deal of group work, too. In one project, groups of students dissect sustainability reports for three companies — a midstream, upstream, and downstream company — and evaluate how the companies reported on metrics and targets and the reports’ effectiveness.

Q: What do you hope students take away from the class?
A: I want them to be able to interview well. To be conversant about oil and gas, but also knowledgeable about sustainability. Also, on the renewable side there’s a tremendous amount of money going into new projects, and I want them to have that expertise.

Parsons teaches “Oil and Gas Accounting and Sustainability” each fall semester.

Meet Current MPA Student Mateen Bashiri

May 10, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Mateen Bashiri

Benefits of the Master in Professional Accounting Program
Mateen Bashiri, MPA candidate ’24, on the path to CFO

When Mateen Bashiri started his undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin, he was sure he would become a doctor. But Bashiri soon pivoted to economics, an area of study he’d enjoyed in high school. Now, he’s about to earn a master’s in accounting.

While Bashiri was still an economics undergrad, he enrolled in Texas McCombs’ Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) Bridge program, which allowed him to get a head start on his graduate MPA coursework in his senior year. He’s currently on track to graduate this spring.

Bashiri tells us why he’s pursuing an accounting master’s degree, the benefits of the MPA Bridge program, and his experience in the MPA program.

Q: How did you decide on your career path?

A: I’m from Austin originally. I went into college as a science major and was going to be a doctor. But I quickly saw that it wasn’t for me. My dad is an accountant — a financial controller for a med tech company — and a lot of other family members work in accounting, too. Growing up, I saw their careers develop. I also really enjoyed my economics classes in high school. I really like the business aspect. After getting my undergraduate degree in economics, it was close between whether I’d go into accounting or finance. Ultimately, I decided I wanted to become a certified public accountant (CPA).

Q: How did you decide to pursue an MPA degree?

A: I knew I needed my master’s degree to get the hours I needed, especially since I didn’t have an accounting background. I also knew UT students have a very high pass rate for the CPA exam; you’re prepared very well to succeed. Plus, the MPA is a great degree given that my goal is to eventually become a CFO. There are a lot of CPAs who become CFOs. This degree is such a great propellent into many other career opportunities.

Q: What benefits did you see in enrolling in the MPA Bridge program?

A: I was set to graduate a semester early from undergrad, and for most other master’s programs out there, I would have had to skip the spring semester and enroll the following fall. The Bridge program let me go right into my master’s academic work, and it really gave me a great head start for the graduate portion of the MPA program. I took one class as part of the MPA Bridge program in the summer before I graduated while finishing my undergraduate degree, and then I took two classes in the fall. After that, I started full time in the MPA program in the spring. Coming into the accounting program with an economics background also definitely helped me, especially in the foundational accounting courses. I didn’t feel at all unprepared.

Q: What has been the most exciting part of the MPA program to date?

A: The best part, even though it sounds somewhat cliché, has been meeting so many people from all across the country. I wasn’t expecting that. And a lot of us regularly keep up with each other, too.

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

A: Currently, I’m taking one class and I’ll graduate this spring. I’m also working on preparing for the CPA exam, and I’m hoping to finish that over the next five or six months. Then I’ll start my new job as a financial analyst with Dell Technologies in their Accounting Development Program. Last summer, I interned with Dell, and the company offered me a full-time job. The internship was an opportunity that came onto my radar because of McCombs — there are a lot of recruiting events with many different kinds of employers.

Q: What would you say to non-accounting UT students thinking about applying to the MPA program?

A: Definitely do it. It’s been such a great experience. You get to meet great people and get very well prepared for the CPA exam. It’s nice being around people who are so driven. UT’s program is the No. 1 program for a reason. The professors are very good, really intelligent, and they present topics in an exciting way. That’s why so many have been around for a while. This program prepares you, whether you have an accounting background, or not, for long-term career success.

Meet Current MPA Student Sophia Matar

April 26, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Sophia Matar
Full Speed Ahead for This MPA Student 

Sophia Matar, MPA candidate ’24, credits McCombs’ career coaches and corporate partners with starting her off well

Sophia Matar is no stranger to the fast track. She started her undergraduate education at The University of Texas at Austin with enough dual credit and Advanced Placement coursework to graduate in just three years — majoring in economics with a minor in accounting. So, the opportunity to get a head start on graduate coursework through Texas McCombs’ Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) Bridge program was, she says, “just too good to pass up.”

She’s currently set to graduate at the end of the Spring 2024 semester, with an audit position awaiting her as she steps off the stage. She talks about accounting as both stable and dynamic, how the MPA Bridge program matched her ambitions, and how real-world exposure at McCombs gave her the confidence to land her first job.

Q: After studying both economics and accounting, what finally drew you toward a master’s in accounting?

A: I found economics coursework to be a lot more theoretical, while accounting is more structured and practical. So, the stability drew me in. But it’s also an exciting field because there are so many avenues to pursue, so many different types of jobs, and plenty of potential to work directly with clients. Some people who study accounting end up as investment bankers or as CFOs — it’s not sitting at a desk and booking journal entries.

Q: What benefits did you see in enrolling in the MPA Bridge program?

A: My plan was to graduate in three years, and I saw the Bridge program as a way to start my graduate studies in my third year of college and then finish my master’s in my fourth year. Finishing two degrees in four years was just too good to pass up. It definitely helped to save money, too.

Q: What aspects of the one-year MPA program have you enjoyed and have been helpful for you?

A: I’ve gotten so much help with professional development. McCombs’ career coaches have met with me multiple times, helping me with interview prep and to rework my résumé. Because of all their help, I now feel extremely confident in my networking skills.

It’s also been really helpful to hear from so many guest speakers in classes — people who are out working in the field right now. Hearing their experiences has helped me to understand that not everybody is on the same path, but that accountants come from many different backgrounds and succeed in a wide range of really interesting roles. Right now, for example, I’m in an internal audit class and we’re paired with a company to do internal audit work for them. It’s so great to get that experience while I’m in school.

Q: What’s your plan for after graduation?

A: Initially, I figured I would do general consulting after graduation. But during my MPA experience, I’ve been exposed to so many different ways in which to be an accountant, and I realized that I really like the internal side of audit versus the external side. I ended up taking a tech risk consulting position with EY, where I’ll be doing internal control work and risk assessment.

Q: What about advice for potential accounting program applicants?

A: The program is well worth it — and not just because of the coursework, even though that has been instrumental for me. It’s valuable because you have access to real-world experiences and one-on-one development opportunities. McCombs’ MPA program is one of the most well-known and prepares you very well for whatever accounting path you choose.

REGISTER NOW: Accounting++ Artificial Intelligence (Livestreamed Event)

April 3, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Are you currently exploring the possibilities a Texas McCombs Master in Professional Accounting degree can offer? Artificial intelligence (AI) is a strategic focus driving multi-disciplinary collaborations, groundbreaking research, and the development of future leaders poised to navigate an ever-evolving landscape.

Join us virtually at our upcoming  event on Wednesday, April 10 to learn about the future of accounting and AI and how these fields intersect to shape the future of business.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to see into the future of accounting!

Wednesday, April 10, 2024
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM CT

REGISTER NOW!

This event will be livestreamed from Robert Rowling Hall on The University of Texas at Austin campus. Join us virtually through Zoom.

Meet Current Student Josh Tarplin

March 22, 2024 / / 0 Comments
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: 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.

 

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