Big Four Leadership Event Helps Students Advance Careers and Impress Employers

Written by Kathleen Poti, Master of Accountancy Student

Accounting students at BGSU are getting a college experience that goes beyond business as usual. Representatives from the Big Four Accounting Firms came to campus for one event to share valuable insight about the accounting profession as well as network with students. This was the first year the student chapter Beta Alpha Psi, the National Accounting Society, was able to welcome representatives from all four firms - Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG.

Sadie Purk is the current president of Beta Alpha Psi, and she stated, “It’s exciting to have all of the Big Four firms back on campus for this event. It’s a great way to provide students with an opportunity to network with potential employers.”

The event began with each firm giving a short presentation about their Summer Leadership Programs which entail a number of weeks where students go to the office and learn what it is like to work at the specific firm. 

The Summer Leadership Programs allow employers to help mold the students into leaders and stand out from other competing graduates. In describing their programs, the firms expressed a willingness to offer internships and full-time positions to those who stand out while participating in their leadership program. 

The firms’ presentations were followed by networking between Big Four employers and accounting students. 

The Leadership Event had an excellent turnout with students from all grade levels eager to make an impression with the Big Four. In describing her takeaway from the event, accounting student Jessica Keller says, “It was an amazing opportunity to be able to talk to all four of the firms at once and make comparisons about their programs.” 

Students were able to form new relationships with the employers, and strengthen established ties just in time for the upcoming spring EXPO Job and Internship Fair on February 9.

During the Beta Alpha Psi event, employers were enthusiastically interacting with students and offering them “swag” such as bags, stress balls, and notepads with their company’s logo. When asked what entices them to recruit at BGSU, Gregory Black ’14, ‘15, from EY stated, “There are fantastic students here who go above and beyond the classroom with great personalities.” 

Black added that a large number of the EY staff in Toledo are Falcon alums as well. There were familiar BGSU faces from all firms present. When asked to comment on the prospective recruits, incoming PwC associate, and current Master of Accountancy student Andrew Young stated, “The talent is far exceeding expectations.” 

The College of Business is focused on motivating and helping students with networking and maintaining relationships with employers, going beyond business as usual.