On September 13th, six highly successful professionals spoke to W&M accounting students about the wide range of career choices available to them. In comparing and contrasting the choices they have made, the one common thread was that accounting was the springboard from which each started their career.
At one end of the spectrum, Steve Baker, Audit Partner with PwC, and Daryl Haynor, Tax Partner with KPMG, each spoke about how they have built successful careers within their respective firms and love the fact that the work has remained fresh and challenging throughout.
Like Baker and Haynor, Michelle Bolter, Managing Director with Veris Consulting, has built her career within one organization. She has chosen to do litigation consulting, applying her accounting education and CPA credential to dispute resolution and forensic accounting situations.
Alison Spivey, who is currently a National Office Partner with E&Y, and Marilyn Wilkins, Senior Director of Accounting Policy at Marriott Corporation, both worked at the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) between their inital experience in public accounting and their present jobs. Spivey is now one of E&Y's foremost experts in stock compensation, while Wilkins uses her expertise to advise Marriott about accounting implications of its business transactions.
After gaining public accounting experience with Deloitte and E&Y, Professor Brad Lindsey completed a PhD and has chosen to teach at William & Mary. He pointed out that there is a significant shortage of accounting PhDs, opening up great possibilities for those who might like the academic lifestyle.
Clay Perfall, is currently CEO of Union Street Acquisition Corp., a private equity firm, formed to acquire business services companies. Perfall got the experience he uses today by rising to Partner at Arthur Andersen, then joining Snyder Communications where, as CFO and Director of Corporate Development, he was responsible for 42 acquisitions and helped take the NFL’s Washington Redskins private.
We are extremely grateful to this group for doing such a great job of communicating the tremendously diverse opportunities for students with a strong accounting education.