Multiple programs prepare students for successful careers in all sectors of the economy

The Accounting, Economics and Finance Department opens doors to unlimited opportunities to make a difference.

Taking Advantage of Different Experiences

Between a leadership role in the Financial Management Association and a teaching assistantship, Jonathan Jarjour ’18 found time to help others as a peer tutor. He spent the 2017 summer interning with JPMorgan and now works as an analyst at Hines Security, Inc. in Houston, Texas.

Accounting

Accountants serve as trusted advisors to leaders in every industry, including the government and non-profit sectors. Career possibilities are varied and include such opportunities as external auditor, internal auditor, tax advisor, contracting specialist, budget analyst, payroll accountant and forensic accountant. Companies frequently choose CEOs who have a strong foundation in accounting and finance because of their understanding of the financial consequences of business decisions and strategic initiatives.

The Accounting faculty's extensive experience as college professors and researchers is enhanced by their professional experience as auditors, tax practitioners, business consultants and administrators of governmental agencies. The department's connections with the Austin business community provide opportunities for students to network and intern with successful, well-respected alumni and other accounting professionals who have diverse regional, national and global experience.

An Accounting degree, especially when combined with a professional certification such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), prepares students for challenging and rewarding careers. Find additional information about professional certifications here.

Finance and Economics

The Accounting, Economics and Finance Department prepares graduates to meet the challenges of the real world. Small class sizes provide an excellent opportunity for students to forge a close relationship with faculty. Our students develop analytical and critical-thinking skills, and learn to apply economic models and financial tools to solve business problems while creating value for the stakeholders.

Career paths may include market research and forecasting future economic activity that can influence strategic planning. Students develop analytical skills as part of an Economics or Finance degree, and Graduates enter careers at a wide variety of private- and public-sector employers with responsibilities that can include forecasting financial trends and consumer spending habits, plus providing investment advice and venture capital. Graduates also pursue advanced degrees, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Student may choose from the following degrees:

Research

Faculty members in the Accounting Department are actively engaged in research that is applicable to the accounting profession, as well as pedagogical advances which enhance teaching and student learning. They present papers at international, national and regional accounting and educational conferences, and they have a strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals. Students in both undergraduate and graduate courses collaborate in conducting the research and in co-presenting and co-authoring articles with Accounting faculty.

Our Accounting faculty are active in research, and regularly present at professional and academic conferences and also publish in academic journals which are internationally recognized. Presentations include conferences such as the national American Accounting Association and the southwest regional American Accounting Association. Publications in academic journals have been in Issues in Accounting Education, Auditing, Journal of Business Ethics, The Journal of the American Tax Association, and the Case Research Journal.

Faculty and Staff

"Accounting is a form of communication that uses numbers, but it is so much more. Accounting activities, such as preparing and interpreting financial reports, applying tax law and assessing risk in business processes, all require development of a combination of qualitative, quantitative and ethical reasoning skills. Students who master the language of accounting will be prepared to make a contribution in every aspect of the global economy."

— Louise Single, Chair, Accounting Department

View Accounting Faculty

Scholarships

Multiple opportunities are available for scholarships, unique to Accounting majors. These include scholarships funded on-campus, as well as from external entities. Students should direct questions regarding accounting scholarships to Louise Single, chair of the Accounting Department. All students are encouraged to work with Accounting faculty to assure their scholarship applications meet all requirements. Most scholarships are paid directly to the university, with the award amount applied to the recipient’s tuition and fees.

Learn more about accounting scholarships.

Internships

The Accounting Department has close working relationships with local, regional and national CPA firms with offices in the Austin area as well as across the state. Faculty members work with students to identify internship opportunities and to assist with applications and preparation for interviews. Students may also identify internship positions on their own and then consult with the Accounting Department chair about such opportunities.

Students are encouraged to seek internships that qualify for academic credit as part of the required hours in their Accounting major. An internship course is included as an option in the undergraduate BBA degree program. The St. Edward’s academic internship courses are structured to meet Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA) requirements in order to ensure the courses are accepted by TSBPA when qualifying individuals sit for the CPA exam.

Academic Awards

Texas Society of CPAs Accounting Excellence Award

The Accounting faculty of every university in Texas may nominate a student for the TSCPA’s Accounting Excellence Award (established in 1969). The award is designed to promote excellence in the academic study of accounting and honors students who have a high GPA, ongoing involvement in extracurricular activities and a strong likelihood for success in the profession. Both undergraduate and graduate students may be eligible to receive the award. Members of the Accounting faculty nominate students for the award. After being selected by the faculty as the St. Edward’s nominee, the department chair contacts the student and assists them in preparing their application for submission to the TSCPA.

Master of Accounting (MACT) – Outstanding Student Award

The St. Edward’s University Accounting faculty selects a student each spring as the recipient of the Outstanding Master of Accounting (MACT) Student Award. The recipient is chosen on the basis of academic achievement at the graduate level, as well as personal traits, which make them an excellent representative of the Master of Accounting program. These include work ethic, dedication and professionalism, as well as ethics and values. The student is honored, along with other recipients, at the university’s annual Undergraduate Honors Night.

Meet Some of Our Graduates

Sarah Bode ’16, Accounting, is a senior associate at KPMG’s Austin office, where she works in the audit division with clients in the software and consumer goods industries and leads the local inclusion and diversity council.

Kate Lamoreaux ’18, Economics, is a research analyst for NORC at the University of Chicago. NORC is an independent research institution that provides data and analysis about social science and public opinion.

Theila Galvan ’19, Accounting, is a risk consulting associate at the audit, tax and consulting firm RSM.

Gerardo Chapa ’20, Finance, is a technical product associate at Elevate Growth Partners, a commercial real estate firm.

Jacob Gonzalez ’20, Finance, is a junior analyst at JPMorgan.

Ashley Nassy ’20, Finance and Accounting, is a student in the master of Accounting with Data and Analytics program at the University of Mississippi, with all expenses paid by KPMG.

Anthony Fragapane ’18, Accounting Information Technology, has interned on the asset management team at Vida Capital, which is a hedge fund in Westlake, Texas, and on the IT Advisory team at KPMG. He accepted a full-time offer to rejoin the IT Advisory team in KPMG’s Houston office after graduation in 2018.

Zachary Riola ’17, Accounting, is a senior accountant at Upside CFO in Austin, Texas.

Contact the Accounting Department

For additional information about the Accounting Department or its degree programs, reach out to:

Dr. Camelia Rotaru 
Accounting Department Chair
cameliar@stedwards.edu
512-492-3129