Finding the Best and the Brightest

As many CPAs are painfully aware, it is difficult to lure young college students to the accounting profession.

Recently, the New York State Society of CPAs’ Emerging Technologies Committee discussed this difficulty at one of their meetings and expressed interest in having college students join the committee. While the specifics have yet to be worked out, there are two primary reasons for this plan. First, the committee realizes how important relevant experience is to young professionals just joining the job market, and would like to give such candidates a leg up. And, second, the committee members believe that accounting majors could provide helpful input on the latest technological developments.

If they follow through with the idea, the members said it is imperative that they get the students who excel in all their classes and stand out to their professors. For the plan to work, faculty involvement may be necessary, but the members acknowledged this could be difficult as there appears to be a lack of member-known CPA professors. The members discussed another idea for finding appropriate students: an essay contest that most likely would pertain to why they would want to join the committee, which would be open to all New York state accounting colleges and universities and would include approximately 85 schools. Some members are wary of this idea, too, because of the amount of travel that students, especially those living upstate, would have to undertake to attend the committee meetings.

Though the selection process has yet to be determined, the committee’s idea should benefit both the members and the students. As they conduct their search, the committee will give serious consideration to the types of students they ask to join. While academic excellence surely is a logical requirement, work experience should also be carefully weighed.

The best and the brightest often can be found among kids who hold part-time jobs and attend school full time. Because of their financial obligations, however, these students’ academic performance sometimes suffers, but a grade point average fails to take such matters into account. The committee could, however.

While any student chosen for the committee needs to display a high level of competence and drive, the Emerging Technologies Committee and all other Society committees considering student participation should not overlook those students who don’t necessarily hold a 4.0 GPA. Young people who help pay their way through school recognize a good opportunity and are eager to make the most of it. The Emerging Technologies Committee is presenting a wonderful opportunity, and students, including those who are not necessarily first in their class, could be vital members of the committee.