Tobin College of Business Inspires a New Generation of Accountants

The Department of Accounting and Taxation at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business and the Foundation for Accounting Education of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) celebrated five years of partnership in the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program, offering an invaluable learning experience to 28 minority high school juniors in the Queens area from June 26-30, 2011.

“The St. John’s program is entering its fifth year and has been extremely successful,” says Mark Ulrich, CPA, director of Budgets and Compliance and adjunct assistant professor of accounting and taxation at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business. He is also the chair of the COAP St. John's Advisory Board. “Through COAP, students get an edge in succeeding both in college and in the accounting profession. Many of our [COAP] alumni are now seniors studying accounting at various colleges across New York and the United States. Many of them hold internships at accounting firms.”

This year’s St. John’s COAP program offered a tremendous number of benefits to the high school students including a behind-the-scenes look at the accounting profession through field trips and guest speakers;  one-on-one interactions with numerous CPAs and professionals;  a sneak preview of the college life experience at a major metropolitan university;  various soft-skill seminars and team-building exercises; an ethics workshop, and access to accounting faculty and business school administrators in  the Tobin College. 

The agenda included site visits to three prestigious organizations: Robert Kalenka, CPA and corporate vice president of Global Procurement and Facilities at Broadridge spoke with the group during a tour of the company’s impressive facilities; a panel of young CPAs and three college interns at  Goldman Sachs engaged in a Q&A session with the students; and Campus Recruiters Dawn Thompson and Eleni Athanasiou discussed public accounting and the opportunities at Ernst and Young while the group sat in their executive boardroom overlooking the heart of Times Square.

“Our program brings in dozens of young CPAs to network with our students so they will have life-long contacts in the profession,” Ulrich notes. “We also have an internship program through the accounting office of Edward Torres, CPA, in Forest Hills to award summer internships in July and August to up to three outstanding COAP students.”

Back on campus, students participated in workshops and seminars about accounting, college, and personal development.  Students received a thorough introduction to accounting and what CPAs do from Ed Torres, CPA.  Two students from the 2010 St. John’s COAP program, currently interning at Mr. Torres’ firm, joined him at the presentation to share their COAP success stories.  Students heard from two FBI special agents and how the FBI hires qualified people with accounting backgrounds.  Students learned that there is a financial aspect to every crime and that the FBI actually needs people with accounting degrees.



There was also a career panel and speed networking session where students were able to interact one-on-one with young CPAs and accountants.  Other seminars and workshops included:  a resume writing seminar, a session about writing professional e-mails and using e-mail to maintain one’s professional network, a session all about college, college expectations, and the CPA exam, an etiquette dinner, a “Dress for Success” workshop, and presentation about college admissions and financial aid.

The program wasn’t all business -on the evening of Monday, June 27, the COAP students from St. John’s program and LIU Brooklyn met at Bowlmore in Times Square to enjoy an evening of bowling, food and fun.  The students networked, made new friends, and saw that accountants can have fun, too! 

The program concluded with a banquet celebration. In a room full of family, NYSSCPA representatives and St. John’s administrators and faculty, the students shared what they learned and how the program will affect them as they embark on the college application process this winter. Keynote speaker Patrick Payano, CPA and NYSSCPA’s controller, offered career advice and shared his success story.

The Peter J. Tobin College of Business has provided a high-quality business education for over eighty years, offering individuals from throughout the world the opportunity to study in New York’s dynamic business environment.  The innovative curriculum emphasizes an analytic and hands-on understanding of business practice that prepares graduates to excel in today’s global marketplace.

The Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program provides a learning experience developed to expose promising minority high school students to accounting and business careers. Founded in 1987, COAP offers students a tailored curriculum and extensive opportunities to interact with successful minority role models and gain exposure to the corporate environment.

For more information about the St. John’s University COAP Program, contact Mark Ulrich at (718) 990-6391 or ulrichm@stjohns.edu.

If you would like information about The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, contact Asia Hauter at (718) 990-6128 or hautera@stjohns.edu.