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USM Accounting Students Get Jump on Careers with “Meet the Firms”

Fri, 09/06/2019 - 10:22am | By: Van Arnold

Students meeting representatives of a firmThe School of Accountancy in The University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Business and Economic Development hosted another highly successful “Meet the Firms” event, featuring more than 250 participants in the annual program held Thursday, Sept. 5 at the Trent Lott Center on USM’s Hattiesburg campus.

“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.

Those attending included firm and company representatives, current accounting students, Southern Miss accounting alumni, faculty members, and staff. 

“The School of Accountancy at Southern Miss is committed to student success, and ‘Meet the Firms’ is our flagship event designed to provide professional networking opportunities for our accounting students to connect with future employers,” said Dr. Amber Hatten, CPA - Professor of Practice and Director of USM’s MPA Program. “We are so proud of our students and are excited about the opportunities available to them through these internships and full-time positions. It is truly a great time to be an accounting student at Southern Miss.”

The USM School of Accountancy offers an accounting undergraduate program and a Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) program, both of which are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Meet the Firms is just one of many opportunities the school provides to set their students up for success.

“Meet the Firms is a great networking opportunity for our students because they are able to interact with representatives from a wide range of companies. Additionally, it is an excellent opportunity for our faculty to meet with their former students,” said Dr. Marvin Bouillon, Director of the School of Accountancy. “Many people have made this a success. I want to specifically thank Amber Hatten, Mary Ann Iverson and Bailey Harris for their exceptional efforts from the College of Business, as well as Beta Alpha Psi and the USM Career Services Office. The success of Meet the Firms is a truly a team effort."

The School of Accountancy and College of Business and Economic Development extends a special thank you to all of the professional participants:

  1. C Spire
  2. Alexander, Van Loon, Sloan, Levens & Favre, PLLC
  3. Becker CPA Review
  4. BKD CPAs & Advisors
  5. Carr, Riggs, & Ingram CPAs and Advisors 
  6. Ernst & Young, LLP
  7. GranthamPoole PLLP
  8. Haddox Reid Eubank Betts, PLLC
  9. Hancock Whitney Bank
  10. Harper Rains Knight & Co., P.A. 
  11. Holt & Associates, PLLC
  12. Horne LLP
  13. Jones Companies
  14. KPMG LLP
  15. Laura Brame Cerra CPA, PLLC
  16. Matthews Cutrer and Lindsay, P.A.
  17. May & Company LLP
  18. Mississippi Department of Revenue
  19. Mississippi Legislative Budget Office
  20. Mississippi Society of CPAs
  21. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
  22. Palazzo & Co., LLP
  23. Piltz, Williams, LaRosa, & Co. 
  24. Postlethwaite & Netterville
  25. Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP (PwC)
  26. Silas Simmons, LLP
  27. TMH, PLLC
  28. Yak Access 

To learn more about the USM School of Accountancy, call 601.266.4641 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/accountancy/