Westminster College Auditing Students Network with Area Professionals
Posted on Monday, October 8, 2012
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Twenty-four Westminster College students from the "Auditing" course visited Carbis Walker in New Castle in mid-September for a presentation and networking luncheon.
"We always appreciate Carbis Walker's hospitality and highly value their commitment to serve Westminster College, the community, and the accounting profession," said Jesse Ligo, professor of accounting and course instructor. "For many of the students still determining their career paths, this event exposes them to industry information they had not previously considered. It also provides students with a unique opportunity to develop their interpersonal skills and business acumen while interacting with the Carbis Walker team one-on-one."
According to the Carbis Walker website, "The firm routinely welcomes area students from surrounding colleges and universities in order to give them background and first-hand information about the public accounting profession. Various levels of professionals from around the firm participate, and the students not only receive information, but have an opportunity to ask questions and interact with the team members."
"During the presentation, I found myself excited by everything described about Carbis Walker. Listening to well-established professionals speak about being a CPA and the work they do always intrigues me," said Mike O'Leary, a senior accounting major from Castle Shannon.
"I found that I really appreciated Carbis Walker's core values and beliefs," said Nicole Lawrence, a senior accounting major from Liverpool, N.Y.
In the "Auditing" course students study auditing standards, and procedures employed in the examination of business enterprises and verification of their financial statements. Students are introduced to the evaluation of internal control, preparation of work papers, report writing, professional ethics, and current auditing trends in this course. These tools will be essential in order for students find work after graduation. Students will also have to pass the CPA exam.
According to the American Institute of CPA's the exam has four sections: auditing and attestation, business environment and concepts, financial accounting and reporting, and regulation, making up a total of 14 hours of testing.
"After learning more about what the day-to-day life is like working in public accounting, I asked about the CPA exam and they informed us of how grueling the exam is but is worth it in the long run," said Kimberly Stickney, a senior accounting major from Fenelton.
"The employees gave very valuable career advice and helpful tips to tackle the exam," said Zach Cramer, a senior accounting and business administration major from Luthersburg.
The accounting major at Westminster is under the Economics and Business Department. Recent graduates have found employment with Carbis Walker, PNC Financial Services, UPMC, Moody Investor Services, Ernest & Young LLP, Deloitte LLP, and more. Furthermore Westminster graduates have recently held or are currently holding six seats on corporate boards of directors, over 40 presidential positions, and more than 30-vice-presidential positions in corporations such as Aetna, Alcoa, Citigroup, Columbia Gas, Fireman's Fund, General Electric, Liberty Mutual, Mellon Bank and PNC.
Contact Ligo at (724) 946-7167 or email for additional information.
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