undergraduate accounting major - - … accounting... · web viewms. sohlberg completed her masters...
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The path to professional
ACCOUNTING MAJORADVISING BOOKLET
Name _______________________________________________________
My faculty advisor is __________________________________________
Catalog for major _____________________________________________
Catalog for general education __________________________________
SPRING 2014
School of Business Administration Mission StatementThe University of Montana’s School of Business Administration (SoBA) is a collegial learning community dedicated to the teaching, exploration, and application of the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a competitive marketplace.
University of Montana, School of Business Administration Accounting Faculty
Dr. Teresa Beed, CPA
Professor of Accounting
Director of Masters of Accountancy program
[email protected] 243-6494, GBB 315
Teresa Beed is a CPA and received her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in Boulder. She is a professor of accounting and the Director of the Masters of Accountancy Program. Her teaching interests are intermediate financial accounting and the masters-level accounting theory class. She is a member of AICPA, IMA, and is serving a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the MSCPA.
Dr. Josh Herbold, CPA
Associate Professor of Accounting
Pat and Judy McDonald Faculty Fellow
[email protected], GBB 320
Josh Herbold is an associate professor and the Pat & Judy McDonald Faculty Fellow at the University of Montana’s School of Business Administration. Currently, he teaches a variety of financial accounting topics, though he has also taught accounting for MBA students, auditing, and a range of accounting-related executive education courses. Josh received both his undergraduate and graduate accounting degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a CPA in the state of Montana, is a member of the board of directors of the Bookstore at UM, and serves as a volunteer and board member for the Missoula County Search and Rescue team.
Dr. Terri Herron, CPA, CISAProfessor of Accounting
Associate [email protected]
243-6276, GBB 374
Terri Herron is a CPA in Montana and Texas and is also a CISA. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington and undergraduate degree from Baylor University. She is the Associate Dean for the School of Business Administration. She has practical experience with KPMG, LLP as an audit manager. She has served on the MSCPA board of directors and is also a member of the AICPA and the American Accounting Association.
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Dr. Casey McNellis, CPA
Assistant Professor of Accounting
[email protected], GBB 309
Casey McNellis earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration (Accounting) at Washington State University. Casey primarily teaches upper-division financial accounting courses and the graduate-level auditing courses, but also has teaching experience in a variety of other areas including management accounting. In 2005, he became a member of the Board of Directors for Peaks and Plains Inc., a medical supplier in Washington, and continues to serve in this capacity. Casey is a CPA in the State of Washington and is a member of the American Accounting Association.
Dr. Ron Premuroso, CPA, CFE
Assistant Professor of Accounting
KPMG Faculty [email protected]
u 243-6464, GBB 341
Ron Premuroso is a CPA in Florida and a Certified Fraud Examiner. He earned his Ph.D. and Masters of Accountancy degrees from Florida Atlantic University and his undergraduate accounting degree from Florida State University. He teaches Accounting Information Systems, Fraud & Forensic accounting, Cost Management, and Financial and Managerial Accounting courses. He was an audit manager with KPMG, LLP and then spent 20 years in private industry. He is a member of the Sensormatic Hall of Fame and the American Accounting Association.
Dr. Barbara Reider, CPA, CMA, CIA, CFM, CGFM - Professor of
Accounting
John and Kathy Connors Faculty Fellow
[email protected] 243-5145, GBB 311
Barbara Reider has been a faculty member at the University of Montana since 2001. Her primary teaching interests are intermediate accounting, government and not-for-profit accounting, and auditing. Barbara has received several professional certifications including Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Certified Internal Auditing. Barbara received her PhD from Kent State University in Ohio.
Dr. Kent Swift, CPAAssociate Professor of
Accounting
[email protected], GBB 319
Kent Swift received his PhD in Accounting and his Masters in Accountancy degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also has a Master’s of Business Administration degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Kent teaches the undergraduate and graduate level tax courses at U of M. His teaching interests also include financial reporting and managerial accounting. Kent is a licensed CPA and has more than 25 years of experience as an accounting professional.
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Kristen Sohlberg, CPAAdjunct Instructor
243-5916, GBB 340
Ms. Sohlberg completed her Masters of Accountancy in May 2002 at The University of Montana and passed the CPA exam. She has a BA in Elementary Education from The University of Montana. She is the accountant at a private school in Missoula. She currently teaches financial and managerial accounting and the accounting lab.
Brent Russ, CPAAdjunct Instructor
[email protected], GBB 348-6
Brent graduated with high honors from The University of Montana with a BS in Business in 1995 and received his Master of Accountancy in 1996. After graduation he served on active duty in the US Army until the spring of 1997 when he sat for the CPA exam and started work in public accounting. He worked for a regional public accounting firm until 2002 when he started his own accounting firm, Russ Enterprises, LLC. Also in 2002, he began working for Montana Preferred Properties, LLC as a Realtor. Brent continues to work in his own accounting firm, as a real estate broker for his company Russ Real Estate, and teach here at the School of Business Administration at The University of Montana.
Ed Guay, CPAAdjunct Instructor
[email protected], GBB 348-5
Mr. Ed Guay is entering his tenth year teaching as an adjunct instructor for the accounting department. Mr. Guay holds undergraduate degrees in both Political Science- Pre Law from Montana State University and Business Administration with an Accounting Emphasis from the University of Montana. He obtained his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Montana. He obtained his Certified Public Accountant status in 1992. Mr. Guay brings a strong practical experience aspect into the classroom. Over the past 18 years he has worked in the capacity of Controller, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for several notable companies in Montana. In addition he is or has sat on various profit and non-profit boards in the Missoula area.
The Department of Accounting and Finance seeks to instill high ethical standards in all students. Students are expected to be familiar with and to uphold the University of Montana Student Conduct Code .
(http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/ student _ conduct .php 4
Academic misconduct is not tolerated.
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Table of Contents
About the Accounting Program…………………………………6
Career Advising…………………………………………………..6
Course Advising – Freshman and Sophomore Years……….7
Course Advising – Junior and Senior Years…………………..8
Advising Tips……………………………………………………..10
The Rules…………………………………………………………11
Department of Accounting and Finance Policies…………….12
Certificate in Accounting Information Systems……………....13
Masters of Accountancy………………………………………...13
Beta Alpha Psi……………………………………………….......14
Professional Organizations……………………………………..15
2013-2014 Major and General Education Requirements...…16
List of Other Designations………………………………………17
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About the Accounting ProgramUndergraduate accounting majors may select from a variety of career and higher education pathways. The undergraduate accounting program is designed to provide a broad base of analytical and qualitative business knowledge that would apply to any accounting field.
The Accounting programs at the University of Montana are accredited by AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International). Only 178 institutions worldwide hold this “gold standard” accreditation, and no other accounting program in the State of Montana holds this distinction. In fact, only 10 schools in all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana hold separate AACSB accounting accreditation. We are very proud of earning this distinction and strive to continually improve our programs in the spirit of AACSB accreditation.
The Department of Accounting & Finance values high quality teaching. Our full-time faculty teach across the curriculum providing students the opportunity to gain exposure to a diverse collection of teaching styles, while forming professional relationships with a number of faculty members.
Mission Statement - Undergraduate Accounting StudiesThe undergraduate accounting program is committed to preparing students to apply accounting and business knowledge in organizations.
Learning Goals:Students graduating with a major in accounting will:• Possess fundamental accounting knowledge • Be effective business writers• Critically analyze and solve problems, using technology where appropriate• Understand the importance of ethics to the accounting profession and demonstrate ethical
decision making
Career AdvisingAccounting majors are fortunate to have many, many options available as careers. All organizations need accountants!! Some need accountants with only bookkeeping knowledge, which you can acquire without getting an accounting degree. Most need accountants with detailed knowledge of GAAP, financial statements, and management skills, which requires at least an undergraduate degree.
Because we realize students may not have a clear idea of what field of accounting they would like to enter, we bring in guest speakers and panels that represent a wide variety of careers. These include:
External Auditing Tax Prep/Research Corporate AccountingNonprofit Accounting Tax Compliance Government AccountantInternal Auditing Forensic Accountant Fraud AuditorFinancial Consultant IS Auditor/Consultant Entrepreneur
Most professional accounting positions either require or prefer the CPA certification. Some positions also seek specialty certifications such as the CMA, CIA, CFE, or CISA (see last page of
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booklet for a list of certifications). To earn a CPA in most states in the U.S., you must have 150 semester credits, though the specific requirements for licensure vary from state to state. Many accounting programs accommodate this requirement by offering a one-year (30 credit) masters degree in accounting. UM’s Master of Accountancy (MAcct) degree is structured to be completed in one year. The MAcct has a reputation for high quality, advanced study in accounting, development of interpersonal skills, and an extremely high job placement rate. UM’s MAcct students succeed in much higher rates than the national average on the CPA exam. Because the undergraduate program is not designed to be complete preparation for the CPA exam, those wanting to be a CPA without obtaining our MAcct degree will be looking at significant self-study to be successful on the exam.
Recruiters tell us that they assume all accounting majors will have the appropriate technical basis for the job. What differentiates applicants is their ability to communicate, think on their feet, present themselves professionally, and analyze complex problems without apparent black and white answers. The more education you get, the more these skills will develop.
Course Advising – Freshman and Sophomore YearsTo do list:
Complete the 11 lower-core courses required for any business major (see below) Earn grades of C or better in these 11 lower-core courses Take some general education classes Take some elective classes Apply for the accounting major the semester before beginning 300-level business courses Begin attending Career Development activities in the SoBA
It is advisable to balance your schedule so that you do not find yourself with some of the more challenging courses all in the same semester. If you expect to have difficulties with any subject, take that subject early. This will allow you the most degrees of freedom. Because of the requirement to earn a C or better in all 11 of these lower core courses, some students find the need to repeat a course to achieve the C grade (note: C- does NOT count as a C). Prerequisites are strictly enforced.
11 Lower Core Courses – Required for any business major
WRIT 101 College Writing I M115 or M162 Probability & Linear MathSTAT 216 Introduction to Statistics (Prereq = M 115)ECNS 201S Principles of MicroeconomicsECNS 202S Principles of Macroeconomics (Prereq = ECNS 201S)CSCI 172 Intro to Computer ModelingCOMX 111A Introduction to Public SpeakingACTG 201 Princ. of Financial Accounting (Prereq or Coreq = M 115) ACTG 202 Princ. of Managerial Accounting (Prereq = ACTG 201 and M 115,
each with a C or better)BGEN 235 Business Law BMIS 270 MIS Foundations for Business
Prereq = you must complete the prereq BEFORE taking the course (not with or after)Prereq or Coreq = you must complete the coreq BEFORE or WHILE taking the course (not after)
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A suggested course progression is below:
SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2WRIT 101 College Writing 3 COMX 111 Public Speaking 3M 115 Probability and Linear Math 3 CSCI 172 Intro to Computer Modeling 3ECNS 201 Prin of Microeconomics 3 ECNS 202 Principles of Macroeconomics 3Elective (consider BGEN 105S Intro to Business) 3 Elective - Non - business 3General Education Course 3 General Education Writing Course 3Total 15 Total 15
SEMESTER 3 SEMESTER 4ACTG 201 Principles of Financial Accounting 3 ACTG 202 Princ of Managerial Accounting 3STAT 216 Introduction to Statistics 4 BGEN 235 Business Law 3Elective - Non - business 3 BMIS 270 MIS Foundations for Business 3Elective - Non - business 3 General Education Course 3General Education Course 3 General Education Course 3
ACTG 203 Accounting Lab (or semester 5) 1Apply for accounting major
Total 16 Total 15-16
Course Advising – Junior and Senior YearsMost of your accounting courses will be taken in your junior and senior years. Important notes about these courses:
Many 300- and 400-level accounting courses are only offered one term per year – you must plan ahead and do well in these courses to stay on track for graduation
All required 400-level ACTG courses and the business capstone courses must be taken at The University of Montana-Missoula.
All course prerequisites and corequisites are strictly enforced for undergraduates You must first earn a C or better in ACTG 305 and ACTG 203 before you can take ACTG
306 or ACTG 307 We recommend that you take ACTG 203 Accounting Lab right after you take ACTG 201;
but you must take it no later than the semester you are taking ACTG 305 or ACTG 321 (whichever you take first)
It is highly recommended to take no more than two 3-credit accounting courses per semester once you start the 300-level coursework
BFIN 322 should be completed as early as possible to increase synergy with accounting courses
You must earn a C- or better in the four upper core classes BEFORE you take a capstone course (BMGT 486 and BGEN 499 are capstone courses)
You should meet with your faculty advisor in your junior year to discuss career options and how those might impact your future coursework and plans
When you have completed the 11 lower core classes, achieved at least 60 credits, and applied for and been accepted in your accounting major, then you can begin taking upper division business classes. These are in three groups: (1) those required for your accounting major, (2) upper core
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classes, and (3) capstone courses. Unless otherwise noted in a prerequisite, you must complete these courses with a grade of C- or better. Courses and prereqs/coreqs are listed below:
ACCOUNTING COURSES PREREQ / COREQ Required:
ACTG 203 Accounting Lab (1 cr) Prereq=ACTG 201, C or better ACTG 305 Corporate Reporting I Coreq=ACTG 203 ACTG 306 Corporate Reporting II Prereq=ACTG 203 and 305, Cs or better ACTG 321 Accounting Info Systems Coreq-ACTG 203 ACTG 401 Prin. Fed Income Tax – Individual Coreq=ACTG 306 ACTG 410 Cost/Management Acct I Coreq=ACTG 306 ACTG 411 Auditing Prereq=ACTG 321 and ACTG 306 ACTG 425 State & Local Government ACCT Coreq=ACTG 306 ACTG 498 Internship
Electives: ACTG 307 Corporate Reporting III Coreq=ACTG 306 ACTG 420 Cost/Management Acct II Prereq=ACTG 410 ACTG 426 Actg. for Nonprofit Organizations Coreq=ACTG 306
UPPER CORE COURSES PREREQ / COREQ BFIN 322 Business Finance lower core done, Cs or betterBMGT 322 Operations Management lower core done, Cs or betterBMKT 325 Principles of Marketing lower core done, Cs or betterBMGT 340 Mgmt & Org Behavior lower core done, Cs or better
CAPSTONE COURSESBMGT 486 Strategic Venture ManagementBGEN 499 Integrative Business Simulation
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2011-2012 Catalog and LaterThe following is a suggested course plan for 300- and 400-level coursework.
SEMESTER 5 SEMESTER 6ACTG 305 Corporate Reporting I 3 ACTG 306 Corporate Reporting II 3ACTG 321 Accounting Information Systems 3 Accounting Elective ^ 2-3ACTG 203 Accounting Lab (if not already taken) 1 BMGT 322 Operations Management 3BFIN 322 Business Finance 3 BMKT 325 Principles of Marketing 3Elective – Non-business 3 General Education Writing Course 3General Education Course 3Total 15-16 Total 15
SEMESTER 7 SEMESTER 8ACTG 401 Prin Fed. Income Tax – Individual* 3 ACTG 411 Auditing I** 3ACTG 410 Cost Management Acct I ACTG 425 State & Local Govt Acct 2
BMGT 340S Mgmt & Organizational Behavior 3
BMGT 486 andBGEN 499
Strategic Venture Management andIntegrative Business Simulation 3
Elective - Non – business 3 Accounting elective^ 1General Education Course 3 Elective – Non-business 3Apply for spring graduation 3 Elective 3Total 15 Total 14-15^3 credits of accounting electives must be taken from ACTG 307 (2 cr.), ACTG 426 (1 cr.), ACTG 432 (1 cr.), or ACTG 498 (1-3 cr.).Those only offered for the one term listed are marked with **.A maximum of 30 credits of ACTG courses can count towards the 120 credits in the degree.All required 400-level ACTG courses and capstone courses must be taken at University of Montana-Missoula.
Advising Tips: The following offerings are planned in the next year. Note that some courses are only offered
once per year. Variations to this plan are announced in classes, at group advising sessions, and at 4Bear advising appointments.
ACTG 203 – fall, spring ACTG 410 – fall onlyACTG 305 – fall, spring ACTG 411 – spring onlyACTG 306 – fall, spring ACTG 425 – spring only*ACTG 307 – spring only ACTG 426 – spring only*ACTG 321 – fall, spring ACTG 420 – not offered 2013-2014ACTG 401 – fall only ACTG 432 – spring only
*ACTG 425 and ACTG 426 will be offered in Fall 2013
Accounting majors should never depend upon a particular course being offered during the summer. Summer offerings are determined early in the spring prior to summer session but before registration for fall semester. It is at this point that students can determine if a particular accounting class will be offered during summer session.
Each student should meet in person with his or her assigned faculty advisor starting in the junior year. You can either see your advisor during regular office hours or make an appointment. You will still get your advising number at the group advising sessions.
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Accounting Information Systems (ACTG 321) is best taken in the same semester as Corporate Reporting I (ACTG 305).
For those students interested in pursuing a CPA or entering the MAcct, ACTG 307 (and ACTG 426) should be taken.
Students are encouraged to take ACTG 432 (VITA—Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) in the spring semester of their senior year. This is a 1-credit, C/NCR course where students provide income tax preparation for lower-income taxpayers. Students also conduct outreach by going to agency locations to prepare returns for underserved populations such as teen mothers, homeless families, and disabled community members.
Accounting internships may or may not count towards graduation, depending on the catalog being followed and the number of ACTG credits. All ACTG 498 Internships require department chair approval and must involve work beyond bookkeeping that applies to upper division coursework.
Faculty are required to hold office hours to meet students one-on-one. If you have any difficulties in a class, you should see your instructor as soon as possible. Do not try to solve the problem on your own. If you are proactive, then you will likely succeed.
The Rules Applicable to the 2011-2012 and later catalogs:The catalog dictates a number of rules that you must follow in order to graduate. These rules cannot be waived, so it is important that you pay attention to them as you go along. We see students every year who must delay their graduation because they fail to meet these.
1. All lower core courses must be completed with a grade of C or better (not C-).
2. All upper core courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
3. You must earn a C- or better in any course counted as a Gen Ed course.
4. Some courses in the accounting major require a grade of C or better (ACTG 203, 305).
5. You must earn at least 120 credits. Of the 120 credits, 60 must be non-business (ECNS may be counted as non-business). HHP activity courses cannot count in the 60 non-business courses. If you earn two business majors or the AIS Certificate, you will exceed 120 credits.
6. All courses counted towards the major or Gen Ed requirements must be taken for a letter grade, except for courses offered only as CR/NCR.
7. A maximum of 30 credits of ACTG courses can count towards the 120 credits in the degree.
8. A maximum of 3 internship credits can count towards the degree.
9. All business majors are required to take experiential courses. Because ACTG 321, ACTG 401, and the capstone course are designated as “experiential,” accounting majors will automatically meet the experiential requirement.
10. Your GPA must meet three tests:a. Overall GPA at least 2.0b. GPA in business courses at least 2.0c. GPA in major courses at least 2.0
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11. You must pass the Major Field Test in Business to earn a business degree from UM. You will be required to take this test as part of the capstone.
12. You must earn 39 upper division credits (upper division requirement).
13. All required 400-level ACTG courses and the capstone course must be taken at The University of Montana-Missoula, in addition to other residency requirements. Transfers in of these courses will not be approved.
14. You must earn 30 of your last 45 credits at UM (end of degree residency requirement). See below for 2011-2012 catalog rules.
15. In the absence of a residency requirement, departments reserve the right to accept or deny any transfer credits that apply in the major, so you must get these approved ahead of time.
16. In general, once you start your accounting major at UM, you are expected to take UM accounting courses to complete the major (exceptions for exchanges apply).
Department of Accounting and Finance Policies
1. Department faculty members will sign drop slips until the University’s official mid-term drop date. After that date, a petition is required. A petition will not be approved unless the student can produce documentation of meeting one of the approved circumstances per the UM catalog. The instructor reserves the right to deny petitions to drop.
2. The Department strictly enforces Accounting & Finance and School of Business Administration prerequisites. Prerequisites are checked in all classes. If a student does not meet course prerequisites, he cannot enroll in the course.
3. It is the student’s responsibility to plan his schedule, including the constraint that not all classes are available every semester. To avoid the possibility of a delay in graduation, students should regularly consult with their faculty advisor about the departmental plans for course offerings.
4. A career in accounting is a professional career. Students are expected to act professionally in all of their courses and in their contact with faculty members. Faculty members of the department are dedicated to helping all students achieve their professional career goals. To accomplish this, it is essential that students respect each other’s right to pursue their education in the most beneficial atmosphere possible.
5. Students must use the approved calculator on examinations: Texas Instruments BAII+. The instructor must approve the use of any other calculator.
6. Department faculty members maintain an open-door policy. Students are encouraged to visit faculty during their office hours or to seek appointments to discuss any academic or career questions.
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Certificate in Accounting Information Systems
The Accounting Information Systems (AIS) certificate prepares students for careers that bridge accounting and management information systems, such as consulting, internal audit, external audit, or other positions where more than a basic knowledge of either accounting or MIS is necessary. See Dr. Ron Premuroso or Dr. David Firth for more information.
To obtain an AIS certificate, a student majoring in accounting must: Complete the requirements for accounting major, Meet with an AIS certificate advisor (Dr. Premuroso), Complete the certificate application with the graduation application, pay the fee, and Complete the following courses with an average GPA of 3.0 or better in these 25 credits: ACTG
203, ACTG 321, ACTG 305, ACTG 306, ACTG 411, BMIS 365, BMIS 370, BMIS 373 and BMIS 479.
Accounting majors wanting to add the AIS certificate would typically incorporate the necessary coursework as indicated below. Courses counting toward the AIS certificate are in bold italics:
Semester 5 (fall of junior year) – ACTG 203, ACTG 305, ACTG 321, BMIS 365Semester 6 (spring of junior year) – ACTG 306, BMIS 370,BMIS 373, ACTG 307 or ACTG electiveSemester 7 (fall of senior year) – BMIS 479, ACTG 401, ACTG 410Semester 8 (spring of senior year) – ACTG 411, ACTG 425, ACTG elective
Masters of Accountancy
The baccalaureate program does not offer full preparation for professional certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Students wanting to become CPAs are strongly advised to complete the Master of Accountancy (MAcct) degree.
Masters of Accountancy Mission StatementThe Masters of Accountancy program provides breadth and depth in accounting, taxation, and business to develop a high level of understanding, skill and leadership capability for advancement in the accounting profession and other related business careers.
Dr. Teresa Beed is the Director of the MAcct program. Any student considering the MAcct program should make an appointment with Dr. Beed to fully understand the program admission requirements and recommended application timing. We also provide MAcct information in a senior level accounting class each fall.
CPA exam pass rates for MAcct students are significantly higher than non-MAcct students.
Students interested in the MAcct should be sure and choose ACTG 307 Corporate Reporting III and ACTG 426 Accounting for Nonprofit Organizations in their undergraduate accounting program.
A $1,000 Junies Chase MAcct Scholarship will be awarded to every MAcct student during the final year of graduate school if the student attends the MAcct fulltime, is a student in good standing during the entire year and is receiving no other merit-based scholarships from the School of Business Administration for that year. The scholarship is not awarded for more than one year and is not awarded to students who are in their prerequisite coursework years.
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Beta Alpha PsiBeta Alpha Psi is an organization geared for the serious financial information student who wants to have a little fun and GET INVOLVED! Beta Alpha Psi has achieved national and professional recognition as the outstanding Accounting, Finance, and Information System student organization.
Goals of Beta Alpha Psi: Instill a desire for self-improvement Foster high moral and ethical standards Encourage and recognize academic and professional excellence Cultivate responsibility and community spirit Promote collegiate study of professional accountancy Provide access to practicing professionals
Beta Alpha Psi Offers YOU … Contact with local and national accounting firms Social events sponsored by accounting firms Presentations of job opportunities in public and private accounting Faculty and student interaction Travel to regional and national meetings Community service opportunities
Students intending to major in accounting, finance, or MIS can become a candidate after completing 30 credits with an overall GPA of 3.0. Candidates pay a one-time national initiation fee.
Membership Requirements 3.0 GPA overall (must be an accounting, finance, or information systems major with a 3.0
GPA in at least one upper-division course in your major) Complete a semester in good standing as a candidate Completion of 30 undergraduate credit hours Attend all-member meetings, professional events, initiation celebration, community service
events, and fund-raising events Pay semester dues
Many recruiters recognize the achievement of Beta Alpha Psi membership and involvement. The UM chapter has been recognized as a Superior Chapter (the best category!) for ten years. This is a great opportunity to get involved and know your peers.
For more information, visit the national Beta Alpha Psi website: www.bap.org Dr. Ron Premuroso, advisor.
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Professional OrganizationsWe encourage all students to join at least one professional organization that serves working accounting professionals in a variety of careers. All offer some kind of deeply-discounted student membership rate, though students get full membership benefits. Not only does it look good on a resume, but it also introduces students to the world of professional organizations, networking, and resources. Most of these organizations have special sections of their websites dedicated to student needs.
Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) – www.imanet.orgThe IMA is the leading professional organization devoted exclusively to management accounting and financial management. Its goals are to help members develop both personally and professionally through education, certification, and association with other business professionals. The IMA also runs the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification program. The CMA is recognized globally as a credential signaling a high level of technical and management skills necessary to be a corporate accountant. Student membership = $39 (full membership = $195).
American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) – www.aicpa.orgThe AICPA is the national, professional organization for all Certified Public Accountants. Its mission is to provide members with the resources, information, and leadership that enable them to provide valuable services in the highest professional manner. In fulfilling its mission, the AICPA works with state CPA organizations and gives priority to those areas where public reliance on CPA skills is most significant. Only students residing in the U.S. are eligible for student membership. Student membership is free at http://www.thiswaytocpa.com/. (full partner membership - $395).
Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) – www.isaca.orgISACA is a global organization addressing the needs of IS auditors both internal to organizations and external (public accountants, regulators). ISACA runs the Certified Information System Auditor (CISA) certification program. ISACA has lots of materials on internal controls and auditing. Student membership = $25 (full membership = $130).
Montana Society of CPAs – www.mscpa.orgThe MSCPA is the statewide professional organization of certified public accountants. With over 1,500 members, the Society is divided geographically into eight chapters. Nearly 70 percent of the certified public accountants in the State of Montana belong to MSCPA. The MSCPA is an active supporter of accounting students across the state and sponsors a number of scholarships. The last few years, a group of Montana accounting firms have sponsored a program that offers free student membership in the MSCPA. To become a student member, go to www.mscpa.org, and click on “Student Section” on the left-hand menu bar. (full professional membership = $275).
Accounting Professions – Other DesignationsOn the next page is a list of other designations in the accounting profession which you could consider, including the designation, sponsoring organization, web-site and other particulars.
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June 8, 2009
DesignationSponsoring Organization Web-site
Low Salary *
High Salary *
CPA Required
Student Memberships
available
Online Career Center & Job
Searches Offered Employment possibilitiesCISA ISACA https://www.isaca.org $46,750 $127,000 $25 √ IS Program ManagerCertified Information Systems Auditor Security Consultant
Information Systems and Control Association IT Security Special ist
CISM ISACA https://www.isaca.org $46,750 $127,000 $25 √ Information Security DirectorCertified Information Security Manager Information Security Analyst
Information Systems and Control Association Information Assurance Offi cer
CITP AICPA https://infotech.aicpa.org $46,750 $127,000 √ $35 √ Security EngineerCertified Information Technology Professional IT Auditor
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Technology & Security Risk Services
CFE ACFE http://www.acfe.com $58,500 $92,750 $25 √ Fraud InvestigatorCertified Fraud Examiner Law Enforcement (IRS, FBI...)
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Forensic Accountant
CFF AICPA http://fvs.aicpa.org $58,500 $92,750 √ $35 √ Forensic AuditorCertified in Financial Forensics Litigation Support Services
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Forensic Technology Manager
CFFA NACVA http://www.nacva.com $58,500 $104,250 $125 √ Risk ManagerCertified Forensic Financial Analysts Incident Response Analyst
National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts Security Engineer
Cr.FA ACFEI http://www.acfei.com $58,500 $92,750 √ √ Computer Forensic ManagerCertified Forensic Accountant Evidence Technician
American College of Forensic Examiners Compliance Director
CIA IIA http://www.theiia.org $41,500 $114,750 $35 √ Audit SpecialistCertified Internal Auditor Senior Auditor
Institute of Internal Auditors Financial Audit Manager
ABV AICPA http://fvs.aicpa.org $41,000 $96,000 √ $35 √ Accountant/Financial AnalystAccredited in Business Valuation Appraiser
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Litigation Support Services
CVA NACVA http://www.nacva.com $41,000 $96,000 √ $125 √ Valuation ManagerCertified Valuation Analysts Claims Special ist
National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts Transaction Advisory Services
CMA IMA https://www.imanet.org $33,500 $96,750 $39 √ Corporate Offi cer (CEO, CFO…)Certified Management Accountant Accounting Manager
Institute of Management Accountants Finance Director
CGFM AGA https://www.agacgfm.org $35,250 $103,000 $30 √ Internal Revenue AgentCettified Governmental Financial Manager Financial & Tax Analysts
Advancing Governmental Accounting Regulatory Reporting Manager
* Robert Half, 2009 Salary Guide, Accounting & Finance, Corporate Accounting
The Accounting Profession has many additional designations and opportunities beyond becoming a CPA…for example:
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