A non-research degree from a research university

So this might be one of my more controversial topics, but I think my outlook is worth noting…

According to the UC system’s website, “Through its teaching, research and public service, UC drives California’s economy and leads the world in new directions.” From my experience as a student I would put more emphasis on the research and less on the teaching. Most majors at UCSB were research focused and the focus was to prepare you for graduate school. Because of this, the faculty was more focused on their own research than teaching applicable skills.

I studied Accounting, a “rare” major with no grad program on campus, a full non-research faculty, (which technically means I was only taught by lecturers instead of professors) and I participated in one of the most real-world applicable programs offered, Technology Management. With both of these programs, I had multiple connections with working professionals for assignments and projects. This allowed me to see what I would be doing after college. I enjoyed that projects included speaking with a professional on LinkedIn instead of reading through a textbook in the library. Most of my peers in these programs all graduated with jobs, where as most of the research majors are pursuing grad school.

I think part of the problem is the lack of jobs, which pushes more students to pay high tuition prices for more years to obtain another degree in grad school. But then, what jobs are they qualified for? If still entry-level, I question the value of those extra years.

My point with this is to not devalue grad school but to emphasize the value of preparing students for jobs right out of college. I think schools should be more proud of the percentage of students who graduate with employment in this time of high unemployment. If you are a parent helping your child select a college, would you like one that works hard to prepare grads for employment or one that prepares them for more years of school on your budget?

To conclude, I feel like my graduation cap sums up my feelings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

lovin’ life- kelsey.

UCSB Accounting Association Reflection

Fall quarter 2012 will mark my last quarter as an officer for the UCSB Accounting Association and I felt like a rewind and reflection post was needed.

I first got involved with the Accounting Association two years ago during my sophomore year.  I went to the first few meetings of the quarter and meet the firms and then decided to run for tech officer midway thru fall quarter 2010.  I was elected to the position and started my role the following january.  I spent 3 quarters going to every weekly Wednesday meeting, assisting with the spring banquet and meet the firms, updating our website, starting a Facebook page, and helping the other officers with random things.

Being the only sophomore officer, last year, I was able to run again for another officer position.  Due to the experience and knowledge I gained the previous year, I ran for and was elected to President.  The past 2 quarters I have overseen all club operations, directed the other officers, and maintained relationships with the firms as well as campus faculty.  This fall marks my last quarter and since I have been so involved with the Accounting Association and program at UCSB it will be hard to let it go.  I am trying to go out with a bang as I have maintained a structure with the officers and developed some procedures to make future officers run smoothly.  Each officer is writing an addendum to their job descriptions on specific tasks and we are becoming more sustainable by using a constant office (Career Connection) to hold information.  We started a new website this year and are becoming more connected with professors and students.  I personally made announcements in 7 out of 10 accounting courses this quarter giving them info on meet the firms and what’s going on with the Accounting Association.  I am hoping to have a record turn-out at meet the firms this year as well as prepare UCSB students for recruiting.  I have worked hard to be a role model on campus and I have enjoyed getting to represent the accounting association this past year.  

I honestly have no idea what I will do with my free Wednesday nights for winter and spring quarter, but I will probably miss dressing business casual, answering student questions,  talking with the other officers, and attending every weekly meeting.

To my current officers: you have helped me succeed in this role because of the effort you all put in. This is a volunteer position and everything we do is outside of academics and other jobs.  Thank you for responding to last-minute texts and emails and always working together to make things happen.

To my faculty advisor and support staff: thank you for always being available for questions and allowing me the opportunity to create things and improve the Accounting Association. I hope to share as much knowledge so that we can sustain all the great practices and procedures we currently have. It has been a pleasure working with you and I will probably still come up with reasons to come by your offices to say hi.

To my successor: I wish you the best and I hope you realize the impact you can make on students while in this role…But I still have 7 meetings in this role and these last 7 meetings are going to be AWESOME!

The UCSB Accounting Program has provided so many opportunities for me and I am really thankful of all they have to offer. I am happy to leave such a great program in June and yet be excited to come back for recruiting events and see the continued progress.

lovin’ life- kelsey.

BDO Internship Last Thoughts

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my internship experience. I was able to try out my future career and I felt like I was learning the entire time.  The internship experience was great to learn about the firm, public accounting as well as network with countless professionals. It was a fun 8 weeks and I am happy to begin full time with BDO next fall.  8 internship applications, 7 first round interviews, 4 second round interviews, 1 internship, 1 job offer.  Through the process I obtained countless business cards, sent so many networking emails, attended socials and dinners all to lead me to here.  It takes a ton of work to go through the public accounting recruiting process but the reward of starting senior year already knowing you have a job for after graduation is awesome.

lovin’ life- kelsey.

BDO Internship Wk 8: Last 2 days

On Thursday, the senior on the job came out so the team started early at 8am.  I was working all day on cash, prepaids, and more revenue testing. For lunch we went to House of Chicken for some Mediterranean food and then I returned to work investigating and searching for answers to complete my revenue testing.  After work Thursday there was a social event planned as a farewell to the interns at Santa Monica Pier.  The firm catered food while we relaxed on the beach listening to a concert.  It was a fun event to see people from the firm that I was not currently working with but the timing was hard for everyone to make it since people were close to deadlines.  We stayed at the event till almost 10 and then I had a short drive back to my place.

Friday was my last day of work and I started nice at early at 8am.  I was trying to get to good stopping points on my tasks and relay information to other before I left.  I had more work with prepaids and expenses in the morning and then had an exit-interview phone call with HR to discuss my thoughts about the internship experience. After my call the team decided to take me out to lunch at Islands for some yummy chicken tenders! In the afternoon, I helped with a AP testing procedure and then packed up to return to the office to turn in my laptop and equipment.  After work, BDO planned a happy hour at BJ’s Brewery, so me and the other intern joined for some appetizers and dessert before ending our day.

lovin’ life- kelsey.

BDO Internship Wk 8: Mon-Wed

Monday, I was in the office unscheduled. This allowed me to listen in on my first Engagement Team Discussion, finish up some exit items, and work on my proposal presentation for Tuesday.  Overall, it was a quick day as being unassigned allows you to work independently, complete your tasks and end the day at your own schedule (at least for me as an hourly employee).

Tuesday I met the other interns at 8am to get set-up for our presentations. We were assigned a project during the internship to research and prepare a presentation to make a proposal to a company for BDO’s audit services.  I had an entertainment/audio company and it was interesting to then research BDO and all that they have to offer as an auditor.  After the presentation, my advisor took me out to lunch at Gulf Stream for a yummy scallop salad and to discuss my performance thus far and give advise on the accounting profession.  After lunch, I drove to my next client for the remainder of the week.  I was at this client at the beginning of the internship to do an inventory observation, so it was neat to be back for my last days.  The Controller remembered me when I walked in and the team I was working with was really nice.  On this day, the BDO manager was out at the client as well as an experienced staff (who I did the inventory count with) and a staff who has been working since October and is a UCSB alum.  The day went by really quick as I was getting instructions on my tasks and learning from the BDO team.

On Wednesday I was back at the client site for a day of working on prepaids and some revenue testing.  I also got to have some discussions with the client about matters that I found.  For lunch, myself and the other 2 staff went to Quiznos for a quick bite before heading back to work.

lovin’ life- kelsey.

BDO Internship Wk 7

On Monday, I was back at my client site to work on payroll testing and some cash confirms as well as finishing up some expense sampling. During my time, it is becoming more apparent that statistics are used quite frequently as part of the audit. This is something I was unaware of before, but it is an interesting part.

On Tuesday, the engagement team and myself worked from the office so we could be available for a visit by a Regional Director.  I worked on some payroll testing, outstanding checks testing, and worked to wrap up my other sections for the team to complete.  This marked my last day on that client, and it was sad to leave such a fun, big team of great people.

On Wednesday, I started my first day of work auditing a union. This side was definitely quite different as this team was looking to wrap up the audit, while at the previous client, we were planning and just beginning fieldwork.  Also the client is based more in downtown LA so the lunch choices were more enjoyable.  On this day, there was 4 members of the team at the client: myself, an associate, a senior, and a director.  I had various tasks such as investment testing, and agreeing the financial statements to the trial balance. For lunch we went to Marie Callendar’s for some quick food at the bar, it was nice to just walk next door to the building to have a variety of lunch options.

On Thursday, I was back at the union client for another day of work. I did some tie-ing of financial statements, drafting of representation letters as well as drafting of the financial statements. For lunch we ordered take-out from Gourmet Bites, a small, hidden place with some yummy chicken tenders. After lunch, it was back to work on the financial statements.

Friday was my last day at this client so I was wrapping up the financial statement draft and helping out with other various items. For lunch I enjoyed a make-your-own salad from Mixt Greens. After the day was done, I headed off to Santa Barbara for the weekend.  I had a nice relaxing time which included my traditional Friday night dinner at Hollister Brewing Co, going to see The Watch and a yummy dinner at Outback on Saturday all with my amazing boyfriend.

lovin’ life- kelsey.

BDO Internship Wk 6: Wed and Thurs

On Wednesday I was back at the client for more fieldwork.  I worked on more cash procedures, debt confirmations, and some planning procedures.  Today, the manager came so we enjoyed a nice lunch out at a nearby Cuban restaurant.

On Thursday I was working most of the day on a final analytic for one of the team’s audits. I also fixed a work-paper on fixed assets and assisted the other staff with projects as they came up.  Overall it was a good day. Only 8 hours on Friday left and then I’m off to Santa Barbara for the weekend.

lovin’ life- kelsey.

BDO Internship Wk 6: Mon and Tues

On Monday I got to begin some fieldwork on cash at the client.  I was basically starting on the cash confirmations and prepping the outstanding checks selections.  For lunch I went back to my chopped salad place and then returned to work.  It was a simple and quick day, just awaiting more documents to be able to move forward with my work.

Tuesday turned out to be a long day as after trying to go to bed early I was still quite sleepy on my way to work. During the day I worked on some additional walk-throughs, cash confirmations and some audit planning procedures.  I am continuing to learn a ton about auditing and the type of work that is actually involved.  Also, since we are working in groups, it is a great environment to learn about the business of the client and what their operations are.

lovin’ life- kelsey.

BDO Internship Wk5: Wed, Thurs, and Fri

On Wednesday and Thursday I was at the client site again working on some outstanding checks testing and sample selections. Basically some simple days that are going by fast now that I have a pile of work to complete.

During my time, I am learning a lot of information about audit procedures. I am finding it very interesting to see how much knowledge the associates have who started less than 1 year ago.

On Friday I arrived at the client for some work with the general ledger and preparing for expense testing.  I got to use a program called IDEA, which is basically excel on steroids to pull a random sample. I pulled various samples for someone else to complete testing on in the future.  I was also reviewing documents in excel and I was learning a lot of new shortcuts and tricks.

lovin’ life- kelsey.

BDO Internship Wk 5: Monday & Tuesday

Monday I arrive at the client for week 2 on this job.  We had one new L2 there who joined the group.  I mostly helped out with walkthroughs for internal controls and reconciling balances of various schedules.  For lunch I had Chop Stop where I made my own chopped salad and I definitely enjoyed it. After work, I went to the grocery store to get a few items then home to relax for the night.

On Tuesday we had a new senior transfer down to the LA office to start on this client.  She was great to begin the day checking on our workload and seeing our skill levels.  She also explain why we were doing certain things to add to the overall picture, which was nice.  The day went by really quick as I constantly had things to do and the group was more relaxed and chatty.  It was a good day overall and I made it home to eat my mac and cheese as usual.

lovin’ life- kelsey.