Growing Tax Experiential Learning Opportunities for Students

Connecting Accounting Practice, Academia, and the Community

Jenice Prather-Kinsey, PhD, CPA, Jim Byrd, PhD, CPA, CGMA, CHFP, and Judy Allen

Three consistent themes emerge from the AICPA's 2015 Trends in the Supply of Accounting Graduates and the Demand for Public Accounting Recruits. First, the gap between the supply of and demand for master's in taxation graduates is widening, and this gap is likely to continue to expand. Second, the demand for diverse individuals within the profession continues to exceed the supply; the AICPA found that the supply of diverse accounting graduates at the bachelor's and master's level is on a downward trend, while accounting firms continue to strongly recruit diverse graduates, especially from business programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Third, firms are optimistic that their need to hire experienced recruits will continue to increase, because firms expect to need to hire experienced professionals in the future.