Accounting & Finance Faculty Host First Virtual Accounting Networking Event
On October 8, 2020, the accounting and finance faculty hosted our annual Accounting Networking Event (ANE) virtually. ANE 2020 brought more than 40 accounting professionals, representing 14 different employers and other accounting organizations, together with more than 100 CSUMB accounting and finance students to talk about careers in accounting and financial management, including current full-time job openings, internships, graduate school applications, and community service opportunities.
“Unlike networking events [at other schools], where students asked generic questions, the questions I received today showed that your students did research our firm and thought carefully about their career paths,” said Evan Benevento, a CPA at Wheeler Accountants and a CSUMB alum.
Jonathan Ryan, a partner at Ryan and McDonald LLP, said of the event, “It was well organized and facilitated our meeting CSUMB students.”
The pandemic threw a technical challenge at CSUMB. In years past, we always held the event in the University Ballroom. Our University Events team worked with the ANE steering committee, Professors Sharon Hua, Mary Anne Majadillas, Gary Schneider, and Distinguished Lecturer Jeffrey Froshman, to find a way using Zoom technology to enable students, faculty, and industry partners to move among virtual rooms effectively, allowing attendees to interact and engage comfortably.
Despite the difficult economy, students felt the represented employers were optimistic about hiring plans for this year. Several firms conducted informal discussions about internships and jobs on the spot, with interviews scheduled shortly after the event.
Students appreciated the ANE, as Vanessa Vidauri, a junior accounting concentration student put it, “Experiencing the ANE for the first time was such an amazing experience. I got to meet people with so much experience in the field. I learned a lot about the field that I am trying to pursue.” In addition to internships and jobs, students learned about further education, too. As student Kai Komachi expressed, “I spoke with representatives of the UC Davis graduate accounting program and a CPA review course and learned a lot about [those opportunities]. I’m really glad I attended the event and got to speak with so many business professionals.”
The success of our virtual ANE this year shows CSUMB’s commitment to keeping students connected to the professional community, even during a pandemic.
The College of Business would like to thank all Accounting and Finance industry partners that participated in ANE 2020 –
Brandon & Tibbs Accountants
Deloitte, LLP
Driscoll's
Dole Fresh Vegetables
Hayashi Wayland
Hutchinson & Bloodgood LLP
Ryan & McDonald LLP
Rudisill Accountancy
Stevens, Sloan & Shah CPAs
University of California Davis Graduate Accounting Programs
UWorld Roger CPA Review
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program
Wheeler Accountants LLP