Annual Meet the Firms Event at USM Draws Impressive Turnout

Companies and students turned out in record numbers this year for the annual “Meet the Firms” event hosted by the College of Business and Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi.

A total of 81 representatives from 30 companies participated in the event, held Aug. 30 at the Trent Lott National Center for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship on USM's Hattiesburg campus. A total of 147 students attended the event.

“Meet the Firms” is national initiative designed to provide accounting firms throughout the country an opportunity to showcase their organization's attributes to accounting students. With 100 percent placement for USM students in the Master of Professional Accountancy Program, “Meet the Firms” offers that first opportunity for students to begin the career development process.

Participants at the event also network for internships. With more than 10 percent of accounting undergraduate students completing an internship, the event is an important milestone.

“I have been so impressed to see the growth of this program over the past several years. Our faculty in accounting are to be commended for working with students to connect them with companies from the Gulf South region and beyond who benefit from hiring our students,” said Dr. Faye Gilbert, dean of the USM College of Business and Economic Development. “These employers have consistently told me that Southern Miss graduates have the technological expertise, the poise, and professionalism that adds value to their organizations.”

This marked Dr. Marvin Bouillon's first “Meet the Firms” event at USM as the University's new director of the School of Accountancy. However, he has participated in similar events at other universities.

“Meet the Firms is a signature event for accounting students as the network with the people who hire them for internships and starting career positions,” said Bouillon. “The Southern Miss event in the Trent Lott center was one of the best I've seen as the firms networked and engaged students in that wonderful environment. I am grateful for the direction of Amber Hatten, the director of our Master of Professional Accountancy Program, for her coordination of this event.”

Firms participating included the following:  

Public Accounting:

Big Four Accounting Firms (International)

1.       Ernst and Young (EY) – New Orleans, LA and across the U.S. and around the world

2.       KPMG LLP – Jackson, MS and across the U.S. and around the world

3.       PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) – New Orleans, LA and across the U.S. and around the world

Regional/National Accounting Firms

4.       BKD LLP – Jackson, MS and across the U.S. 

5.       Carr Riggs and Ingram – Jackson, MS and across the U.S.

6.       Harper Rains Knight & Company, P.A. – Jackson, MS and Washington, D.C. 

7.       Horne LLP – Jackson, MS, Hattiesburg, MS, Gulfport, MS, and across the Southeast U.S. 

8.       MaloneBailey, LLP – Houston, TX (this is the first year for this Houston firm to visit campus at USM and recruit our students!)

Local Accounting Firms

9.       GranthamPoole PLLC – Jackson, MS

10.   Haddox Reid Eubank Betts, PLLC – Jackson, MS 

11.   Holt and Associates, PLLC – Laurel, MS

12.   Matthews, Cutrer and Lindsay – Ridgeland, MS

13.   May & Company LLP - Vicksburg, MS

14.   Piltz Williams Larosa and Company – Biloxi, MS

15.   Robert E. Donnell III, CPA – Hattiesburg, MS

16.   Silas Simmons, LLP – Natchez, MS

17.   Topp McWhorter Harvey – Hattiesburg, MS 

18.   William F. Horne & Company, PLLC – Laurel, MS

Governmental opportunities:

19.   Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

20.   Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR)

21.   Mississippi Office of the State Auditor

22.   Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)

Corporate/Industry Accounting opportunities:

23.   Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi (BCBS) – corporate headquarters in Flowood, MS

24.   CSpire Wireless – corporate headquarters in Ridgeland, MS 

25.   Jones Companies – corporate headquarters in Columbia, MS

26.   Jones Logistics (Jones Companies affiliate) – Columbia, MS

27.   YAK Access (Jones Companies affiliate) – Columbia, MS

Other:

28.   Becker Professional Education CPA Review

29.   Mississippi Society of CPAs (MSCPA)

30.   Wiley CPAexcel