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Accounting

Teaching the skills and ethics professionals need

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The advantages of studying accounting at a liberal arts college may not seem obvious, but dig a little deeper and you’ll discover why it’s a win for you — and why employers seek out Augustana accounting graduates.

In fact, most of our accounting majors have full-time jobs before they graduate.

Augustana has won over both the public and private accounting worlds of accounting because our accounting majors are not only technically prepared but also well-rounded people. At Augustana, you go beyond the numbers. The liberal arts setting helps you become a critical thinker, creative problem-solver and effective communicator, with an eye on ethics and integrity.

Your hard work and our accounting program’s reputation can help you land an internship at one of the Big Four firms (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, PwC) and other Top 10 national and regional firms. Or you may choose to intern with a large company. Deere and Company, with its world headquarters less than 15 minutes from campus, recruits heavily from Augustana.

By choosing a liberal arts college, you develop skills and gain experiences that make you stand out as an accounting professional. It’s the Augustana edge.

What you'll learn

Disciplinary knowledge

Disciplinary knowledge

Gain a deep understanding of your subject and how it connects to other subjects.

Quantitative literacy

Quantitative literacy

Interpret, represent and summarize information. Use math and statistics to solve problems.

Communication competence

Communication competence

Read and listen carefully. Express ideas (writing or speaking) suited to the audience.

Ethical citizenship

Ethical citizenship

Examine and embrace your strengths, passions and values. Develop ethical convictions and act on them.

Collaborative leadership

Collaborative leadership

Make decisions and act for the good of the community as a group.

Accounting Fair

On Sept. 19, 2022, Augustana students participated in the Chicago Area Accounting and Finance Career Fair in Oak Brook, Ill. Augustana alumni represented many of the nearly 50 companies at the fair.

Distinctions

• Augustana offers a major and minor in accounting. Majors study a core group of courses in accounting, and then shape their curriculum based on their career goals. Most students double major with other disciplines, such as Spanish for professional use or business administration, to complement their accounting skills.

• Augustana students earn internships with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) — the “Super Bowl” of accounting internships. Our students vie for these positions with students from other top U.S. accounting programs.

• At Augustana, you can serve the community through VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), a federally approved program designed to help people who cannot afford professional tax preparation. You also can conduct audit projects for local businesses and non-profit organizations.

• Our engaged accounting alumni fund scholarships, offer advice, and recommend internships and positions at the companies where they work. They share a deep appreciation for their preparation in the classroom and faculty mentors. In return, they welcome opportunities to pay it forward with current students.

• Candidates for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam must have 150 hours of college credit. Through the Accounting Extended Learning Program, Augustana offers coursework beyond the accounting major, at discounted tuition rates, for students planning to take the CPA exam.

Recent graduates

Zach Gooding '23 is pursuing an MBA in business analytics at the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Michaela Magee '23 is an audit/assurance intern at Ernst & Young in Tysons, Va.

Maeve Sheridan '23 is a tax associate with Andersen in Chicago.

Rachel Murray  '22 is an audit and assurance senior assistant at Deloitte, Milwaukee, Wis.

John Hayes  ’21 is a risk consulting associate at RSM in Chicago.

Lucas Simon  ’20 is a senior internal auditor at Aon Financial Services in Chicago.

Thao Chu  ’19 is an audit and assurance senior at Deloitte in Davenport, Iowa. 

Yemurai Mapurisa  ’19 is a senior associate with PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Hamilton City, Bermuda.

Abdou Allah Camara
More Than I Imagined Abdou Allah Camara
“My peak experience would have to be my internship with Deloitte.”
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Magee
More Than I Imagined Michaela Magee
“I knew at a smaller school the professors would be personal, but I did not expect to the extent they would support and encourage me.”
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Nick Dispensa
More Than I Imagined Nick Dispensa
“As an accounting and finance major, I was able to network with many firms with Augie alumni who were willing to give me advice.”
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Augustana grad

Several recent Augustana grads who are working for Deloitte met up while training at Deloitte University in Dallas in the summer of 2019. From left: Ben Heaton, St. Louis office; Laura Lucchetti, Davenport, Iowa, office; Mollie Magee, Kansas City office; Michelle Alano, Chicago office; Caitlin Amidei, Chicago office; Allison Wilkerson and Jacob Johnston, Davenport office; and Jasmine Wei, Honolulu office.

Delaney

Dr. John Delaney, professor of accounting, was one of three recipients of the Illinois CPA Society's Outstanding Educator Award in 2014. He was nominated by students (left to right) Kierra Smith, Tressa Czysz and Jennifer Evans.

Chicago Accounting and Finance Interview Day

Augustana students participated in a Chicago Accounting and Finance Interview Day in Oak Brook, Ill.

Senior Alexander Tosetti awarded Sikich Visionary Scholarship

Alexander Tosetti, a senior accounting and business administration major, plans to become a certified public accountant.

Josh Wintroub

Vikings coach keeps Wintroub '22 in the game

Pitcher Josh Wintroub  ’22 did not play his last year of high school and thought his playing days were over. But Augustana Coach Greg Wallace '88 saw Wintroub’s potential and recruited the right-hander to join the Vikings.

Team Metallic

Augie sends two teams to CFA Challenge finals

Augustana’s two CFA Institute Research Challenge teams presented their research at Morningstar, Inc., hosted by the CFA Society Chicago. Out of 16 teams, seven advanced as finalists, including Augustana’s two teams. “The competition was fierce,” said Dr. Lina Zhou, the teams' faculty advisor.