Thursday, March 28, 2024

William & Mary School of Business Trek leads to job offers for students

Mason School accounting students travel to Washington to learn from insiders

There are no boots or Himalayan landscapes, but the intensity of the experience was just as invigorating for 64 William and Mary accounting students who joined a faculty-led exploration to Washington, D.C., full of meetings with national and international experts and immersion into the “hot” topics in the accounting profession.

Through the D.C. Trek, Raymond A. Mason School of Business students are discovering that the program’s experiential learning opportunities are leading to long-term career advantages.

This year’s Trek, held October 18 – 20, was led by Kimberly Smith, Chancellor Professor of Business, who describes the trip as a one-of-a-kind experience that brings the curriculum to life. “Visiting these organizations in person, and meeting such high-level professionals, provides our MAcc students with a unique perspective, one that allows them to stand out from the crowd, and feel prepared to take on the most challenging projects,” said Smith.

Bridging coursework and real work
The group of sixty-four students began their journey with a visit to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), an organization that “audits the auditors,” according to Smith. They met with senior members of the organization who shared insights into new auditing standards, investigation regulations, and enforcement procedures.

“We were one of the first universities to bring students to the PCAOB,” said Smith.

At the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the group was able to meet with a number of top professionals including a Commissioner. Students had the opportunity to learn more about enforcement, the impact of new technologies, and the challenges of securities regulation.

Students attending the Trek have already credited it with job offers.

Student Luoyi Chu appreciated the hands-on perspective. “It’s amazing that we get to visit agencies like the PCAOB and the SEC, and get to talk to the people who work on the issues that we read about,” said Chu.

“Everything I learned in Professor Picconi’s class about derivatives and hedging is valuable in the real world, and you will use it,” said student Alunique Smith.

The day also featured a panel discussion hosted by KPMG in their Washington D.C. office, and was led by several William & Mary alumni including Doug Williams, partner at KPMG. They introduced the group to a new accounting standard, “Current Expected Credit Losses” (CECL), that was implemented as a result of the 2008 financial crisis.

On Friday, October 8, students gathered at William & Mary’s Washington Center to hear from alumnus R. Scott Bell from the U.S. Treasury Department. He summarized the Financial Report of the United States Government, and answered questions from enthusiastic students.

Learning opportunities did not stop for lunch. Instead, lunch was shared with a senior legislative tax attorney from the United States Senate Finance Committee who provided firsthand insight into the Senate’s efforts to implement tax reform. The United States’ budget had narrowly passed the day before, so students were thrilled with the real-world connection. “It was like being on the front lines of learning,” said student Michael Kelly.

Other distinguished experts included a member of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board who discussed the importance of transparency in disclosing risks and opportunities related to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues. For the final session, international experts from Ernst & Young’s Office of Professional Practice offered a summary of the role they play in supporting their clients during the implementation of new accounting standards.

Experiential learning with a payoff
For many, the experience had tangible benefits. For instance, students have already credited the Trek with job offers. “The Trek experience put us ahead of the competition,” said MAcc student Albarou Sabi. “Because we are more knowledgeable about the trends in the industry, as well as the overall mechanism of the capital market,” said Sabi.

Professor Denise Jones, Chair of the Accounting Department, who, along with Smith, designed the trip back in 2004, believes the Mason School’s commitment to real-world experiences sets students apart. “Our MAcc program ranks in the top five for small schools for a reason,” said Jones. “We remain committed to these types of invaluable experiential learning activities.”

The students agree.

“The D.C. Trek is a perfect example of what makes the William & Mary Master of Accounting program so special,” said student Bella Kron. “You have the unique opportunity to engage with top thinkers and expand your understanding of relevant accounting issues. This is hands-on learning at its finest,” she said.

Jacob Headley is thankful for the opportunity, too. “I had a blast! I can’t believe how much I learned in two days.”

More on the Study of Accounting at the Mason School
Dr. Kimberly Smith, Professor and KPMG Accounting Fellow at the Mason School of Business at William & Mary adds important insights into the value of persistence in creating success in business in this video.


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