Graduate education provides an opportunity to expand academic horizons, to learn practical skills for real world applications, and affords the opportunity to do advanced research and influence future generations of students in a given field. A Masters in Accounting program will afford me the opportunity to conduct research, advance my knowledge of the field and study with a energetic student body and exceptional faculty. I will be able to advance my knowledge in a vibrant profession that has implications for a broad range of industries and services that are used daily by millions of people throughout the world.
There are many challenges that the modern accountant must face while working in the professional world. Accounting standards are in flux and it is imperative to stay up to date with the most current techniques applicable to an industry and a task. Furthermore, different government entities require compliance with different rules and an accountant must be intimately familiar with GAAP, International Financial Reporting Standards, and compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. My Masters education will prepare me to understand the regulatory environment as it presently stands, and to understand new regulations as the authorities promulgate them.
My undergraduate education in Business Administration from University of Nebraska-Lincoln has prepared me to face the many challenges that await me in both the academic and professional realm. I have always been an active learner and enjoy reading diverse topics ranging from philosophy to psychology. My work experiences with the UNL Tax Credit Campaign, where I helped Chinese speakers prepare their taxes, exposed me to the practical side of tax preparation. Furthermore, through my association with Students in Vita as a Tax Intern, I became an IRS certified tax preparer. I enjoyed interacting with the taxpayers and assisting them in getting the highest refund possible. I enjoyed the look on taxpayer’s face when they realized how much money they saved and even gained because of us. Knowing that I helped ease the burdens of many individuals and families through the VITA program made my experience very fulfilling. While a student, I was also fortune enough to be an Accounting Tutor with Beta Alpha Psi where I helped students with homework, preparing for exams, and aided in the formulation of ideas for papers. Finally, through Students Today Leaders Forever, I proved myself a team player capable of successful collaboration; in a team of 40 members, over nine days, in six different cities, we performed varied service projects.
Academic challenges must be met with an inquisitive mind anchored by scientific method, and towards this end I chose to minor in Mathematics due to my firm belief that it is the foundation of academic and professional development. My department offered us comprehensive training in diverse fields such as computer science, mathematics and social sciences. In addition to basic accounting skills, I also can use Statistics Analysis Software (SAS) to analyze data. SAS can provide new information that derives revenue and helps organizations satisfy and retain valued customers. With my extensive foundation in mathematics, I am convinced that I can cope well with the demands of the master’s program.
My career goals are modest insofar as I would like to become a CPA with an emphasis in Tax. Such a position would allow me to combine the skills that I have learned in my undergraduate studies with the education I receive during my Master’s program. The broad-based interactions that will occur during my master’s studies will expose me to many fields that will serve me well as I collaborate with the diverse groups involved in accounting and tax. Proficient with several software suites, I would take increasing responsibility for tax preparation, as I continue to learn new methodologies and procedures as the firm incorporates them. The program will provide me with insight that will serve my clients as they seek to maximize their understanding of their finances and taxes as they become increasingly complex. The ability to communicate that will be honed at the University will be of prime importance as I navigate this challenge.
Ultimately, I hope to find a position in accounting as a CPA for a large non-profit. In a non-profit I would be able to insure the viability of a noble endeavor dedicated to the improvement of society at large. In such a position I will be responsible for making decisions regarding other peoples hard earned money that they altruistically give for global improvement. The position is one of high responsibility, which my training will prepare me for. At this juncture of my life a masters’ degree will familiarize me with the financial analysis rules that the current regulations require of companies. The training in management, business, and mathematics that the degree provides serves many professions, and is applicable in commerce, insurance, and government jobs. The enormous amount of flexibility of the degree enables the holder to branch out and discover areas beyond their immediate expertise, and in turn expand the scope of enterprise and discover novel solutions to old problems.
