Read time 3 minutes
Published on Dec 12, 2018
Read time 3 minutes
Published on Dec 12, 2018
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
Grand Canyon University’s Accounting Society is one of the most professional and long-standing clubs on campus. The mission of the Accounting Society is to provide opportunities for business students to explore and develop their career paths through education, networking with business professionals and serving the community. The club has been a staple in the Colangelo College of Business for many years, transforming students into young professionals. One of our many goals, and arguably the most important, is to help members secure internships and job offers. Through our affiliation with the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), we allow students to get a first-hand glimpse of the continuing education and networking events that professionals in the accounting industry attend.
The Accounting Society strives to provide our members with the necessary tools and soft skills that organizations are seeking through offering numerous workshops and professional guest speaker events. One example of this our annual Excel workshop where we teach students some advanced Excel functions that are crucial for and expected of graduates entering the accounting field. Communication and public speaking are invaluable soft skills that are needed by every business professional; we allow our students to practice these skills through leading meetings, networking with professionals and attending mock-interview workshops. Mastering such skills will give student members an advantage when applying for internships and jobs.
As the current President of the Accounting Society, I can attest to the fact that the club has led me to numerous internship and job opportunities. When I first joined the society during my sophomore year, I had little to no knowledge about the accounting industry and all it has to offer. Moreover, when I first joined the club I was not even an accounting major. I believe this attests to our willingness to accept all business majors and allow them to learn about accounting and related fields through the club. It wasn’t until getting further involved in the club and attending events that I gained knowledge of the many different opportunities and career paths one can take with a degree in accounting.
Through the various opportunities and events the society has to offer, I was able to gain a vast knowledge of the accounting field and network with numerous professionals. The skills and newly-found network connections earned me an assurance internship with Ernst and Young, one of the Big Four accounting firms. I truly believe that the information translated through the club and the many different events and workshops it holds has set the foundation for me to obtain my internship.
The club has connected me with various people from many different backgrounds, including professors such as Accounting Society faculty advisor Dr. Donna DeMilia and DECA faculty advisor Dr. Kelly Damron. Through my involvement in the club, I have grown close to both of these professionals and have gained vast knowledge of not only the public accounting field, but also industry accounting. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the influence and impact that they both have had on me getting a Big Four internship.
This is just a small glimpse at what the GCU Accounting Society can offer to students. I would recommend that every business student, especially accounting majors, attend a meeting to see what the club can offer them. Thank you, and I hope to see you at the GCU Accounting Society.
To learn more about how Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business provides entrepreneurs will all the skills for success, visit our website or click the Request More Information button on this page.
