Meet the Firms Night Introduces Students to Top Accounting Firms

Thirty-four accounting firms were in attendance, including representatives from the "Big 4" accounting firms, Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG, local and regional firms, and government agencies.

Organized by the SMC Accounting Association, led by President Lyric Kadir, the event featured tables where accounting companies shook hands with students dressed in business professional attire while giving away free products and information. For the duration, students were able to talk with and learn more about potential employers. The event was also designed to enable employers to connect with current students and recent graduates who could be suitable for current and future positions with their firms.

Accounting professors Gregory P. Merril and Sankaran Venkateswar were in attendance, welcoming an enthusiastic crowd and a packed floor.  Professor Venkateswar told the audience he was proud of his students, a few of whom were accepted to attend the  Accounting Scholar’s Leadership Conference this year.

Kadir, who has been President of the SMC Accounting Association for two years, said she was happy to put the event together. She enjoys leading a group that represents all accounting majors, graduate and undergraduate.  “It’s a non-exclusive club,” she said. “So anyone who wants to learn about accounting is welcome, even accounting minors and people who aren’t studying accounting.”

“From my standpoint it has been an amazing experience working with SEBA. I didn’t know how much work is needed to put an event like this on. I’ve learned a lot from Deborah Parish and Larisa Genin as well as everyone in the career center. Through that I get to connect with my peers and learn more what they want to do,” said Kadir.

Twenty graduate students also attended a preliminary event on September 7, where they were able to look over their resumes and talk to graduate career services staff.  A number of additional workshops held through the month of September were curated to help students make the most of their Firm Night opportunities, including presentations by Deloitte, Armanino, KPMG and JGR.

The SEBA Admissions and Recruitment team was also at the event, promoting the school’s M.S. in Accounting program. Tammy Soulsby, Director of Admissions, was greeting students for the entire two hour block, along with Joshua Rosenthal, Associate Director of Admissions, Saint Mary's MBA Programs. “Not only can students potentially be hired by one of the firms here,” said Soulsby, “But they can also learn about earning their part-time degree tonight at the same time.”