Internships Wanted for City-Funded Program

By Beth van Bladel, Northeast Chapter President, and Heather Drislane, Tax Manager at KPMG LLP

The Northeast Chapter of the NYSSCPA has recently created a new committee called the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession Committee (COAP Committee). This committee is teaming up with the City of Albany, the Department of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) and the Honorable Mayor Jerry Jennings to offer a summer youth program that will benefit targeted high school students interested in the accounting profession.

The Society’s COAP program was founded over 15 years ago, and focuses on recruiting high school juniors from minority groups (as they are historically underrepresented in the CPA profession) to participate in a summer program that includes five days on a college campus and five weeks of internship activity at local CPA firms, colleges, city and other business venues.

The students will spend five days and four nights at a college campus attending classes about accounting, financial analysis and computers. Other topics will include personal development workshops geared toward goal setting, networking, business etiquette, resume preparation and interviewing skills. While interacting with other students who share similar interests, the students will have the invaluable opportunity to preview college life.

COAP also encourages students to think beyond college and learn about the business world. At the conclusion of the five-day program held at the college, students will then participate in a five-week internship program. The City of Albany will be funding the internships, which pays the students for a thirty-hour workweek.

Everyone benefits from the program. The learning experience will encourage students to look to the future and explore their opportunities while earning a wage. Participating businesses will have the opportunity to assist in the development of a better-trained workforce.

At the conclusion of the program, the DYFS will orchestrate a Recognition Day to honor the students. In addition, students that have achieved a level of excellence will be recognized for their achievements, as well.

The costs and expenses of the program will be underwritten by the NYSSCPA and assisted by the participating colleges. However, internships are needed. Please contact Tim O’Connor, chairman of the COAP Committee, if you are interested in being part of this great opportunity to challenge a student to succeed and to build a stronger work force for the future.