Betsy Jacobson, MS in Accounting/MBA'14, is taking over our Instagram account @damoremckim this week to share her experience in our Master in Accounting/ Master of Business Administration program. Follow along!
Q:What has your career path looked like so far?
I started my career at a Big Four firm in Audit. After five years at the firm and obtaining many valuable skills, I left for an opportunity at an AP Automation software company in Cambridge. It's interesting to see myself and other friends in the industry change career paths. For me, each experience allows you to gain new skills and more knowledge about how the world of accounting works from all angles.
Q: Why the MS in Accounting/MBA?
The MS in Accounting/MBA program was a great way to gain concrete, attainable skills that set you up perfectly for a career path in accounting. You earn a combined degree in only 15 months, and gain first-hand experience during accounting busy season through the corporate residency. The program also prepares you for the CPA examination from both a work ethic and technical knowledge point of view. It was a no-brainer.
Q: What's your favorite memory for your time in the MS in Accounting/MBA?
The people. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of my closest friends through the program. Going through the intense 15-month program, I couldn't have asked for a more supportive and relatable group of people to call my close friends.
Q: Where did you attend school for your undergraduate degree and what was your major?
I went to Brown University and majored in public health policy.
Q: What skills from your undergrad major have you been able to apply to your post-graduation career?
I think that non-accounting undergrad majors provide a different perspective on problem-solving and great interpersonal skills that are required for the accounting profession.
Q: Where's the most fun place you've had to travel to for work?
The most interesting place I have traveled for work is New Delhi, India. I went there for a week to train some of our colleagues. I never thought this profession would land me on the other side of the world but it was a great opportunity to experience such a different culture.
Q: What surprised you the most about the industry or what's a stereotype that you've found to be untrue?
A lot of people think that accountants are all introverted, number-crunchers. The truth is, to be a successful accountant you need to have great interpersonal skills, think creatively, and manage teams on a day-to-day basis.
Q: What do you think the future of the accounting industry looks like?
Innovation! Working on both the public and private accounting worlds, innovation is a current and future focus for the industry. From my experience, there has been a major focus on finding more effective ways to process information to focus on more complicated issues.