The Accounting Society was a professional organization open to all accounting majors and minors. Its primary purposes were to provide opportunities for the students to learn about the various career paths, curriculum choices and networking capabilities for job placement.
Accounting Professor Dr. Philip Brown sponsored the Accounting Society. It met every three to four weeks, and meetings usually centered on speakers from prominent accounting firms or organizations.
According to Accounting Society president junior Chandler Davis, the speakers invited to the meetings offered the members career-related opportunities and advice.
“One benefit of having professionals come to meetings and speak is they offer applicable knowledge that is not taught in a classroom,” Davis said. “Often they share their story of how they got where they are today in their professional career. It is a good way to see that [what] we learn here at Harding is directly applicable to life after graduation.”
The visitors spoke on a variety of topics, but their most pertinent advice concerned students’ careers.
“There are many subjects discussed during our meetings,” Davis said. “The most popular one probably being the preparation needed for our future careers. Subjects usually include tips for the interview process, using the Center for Professional Excellence as a resource and the qualities that create professionalism. Some meetings have topics that are accounting specific, such as dealing with fraudulent accounting and how to avoid illegal situations in the workplace.”
Accounting Society member junior Selena Warren enjoyed attending the meetings because she interacted with accounting firms and made connections in the accounting field.
“We have had representatives from the Arkansas Certified Public Accountant board come to speak to us, as well as Nate Copeland from the Center of Professional Excellence,” Warren said. “I love that these meetings give us exposure to all of the different types of accounting firms out there. We can meet people and form connections because such great advice is given.”
For senior accounting major Morgan White, the Accounting Society meetings offered her a glimpse of the possibilities for her future career.
Accounting Society Hosts Professional Speakers
“The advice, personal experience and knowledge these speakers give us is a huge part of what I walk away with from the meetings,” White said. “These speakers give us a great idea of what day to day life as an accountant looks like and give us a sense of what we might be doing in a few years. I have learned so much about the accounting field through these meetings and have enjoyed getting to meet and connect with Harding graduates who have gone on before us.”
