August 2000

Students Learn About Accounting Careers

Committee Event Attracts 70 High School Students

Seventy New York City high school students learned about the accounting profession at the annual NYSSCPA career day, held at the Society offices on May 12. Sponsored by the Recruitment for CPA Careers Committee, the event featured speakers who discussed the diverse career paths available in the profession and offered personal insight on how they became interested in accounting and reached their goals.

Speakers included committee Chair Marc Zand and members Kathleen G. Brown, Mindy Chrystal, Angela Jervis, Don Kiamie, and Kevin Levine; Michael Gaines, human resources and administrative partner at Friedman Alpren & Green LLP; David Finn of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; and Fabia Poleminin, a senior at St. John's University.

"All the students had a great time," Zand said. "They are very focused and career-oriented, and we are glad that our committee could provide them with the insight they need to be successful professionals."

Representatives from the following Academy of Finance schools attended: Beach Channel High School, High School of Economics and Finance, Jamaica High School, Paul Robeson High School, and Tottenville High School. "Students in the Academy of Finance spend two years exploring finance as an academic discipline," said Kenneth Deaner, assistant director of the New York City Academy of Finance. "They take a year of college accounting along with courses in banking, financial planning, economics, securities, and insurance. The Society's career day offers Academy students an additional avenue of exploration as they consider their college and career options. They discover that becoming a CPA can be a ticket to a successful future."

In addition to the presentations, the career day featured mock interviews and field trips to CPA firms in the city to give students firsthand exposure to the accounting workplace. Ernst & Young LLP, Friedman Alpren & Green, KPMG LLP, Richard A. Eisner & Co. LLP, and Shapiro & Lobel LLP hosted the firm tours.

"The mock interviews and tours of accounting firms generate considerable interest from the students about accounting as a future career," Deaner said. "The Academy looks forward to working with the Society in the future."

For more information about the Society's student activities, contact Recruitment Specialist Sanjay Paranandi at (212) 719-8364, (800) NYSSCPA (697-7272), or sparanandi@nysscpa.org.