More Than 100 New Jersey CPAs Visit High Schools in 2019 to Discuss Accounting Careers

ROSELAND, N.J. — More than 100 certified public accounts (CPAs) from the New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA) visited high schools in New Jersey during 2019 to educate students about choosing an accounting career. As part of the CPA Career Awareness program, NJCPA members discussed the accounting profession with more than 3,000 students, covering topics ranging from what accountants do and what courses are necessary to how to become a CPA.

The program encourages NJCPA members, who often have local ties to a particular community or high school, to speak about the benefits of the accounting profession and the career opportunities that are available to students. The NJCPA has made reaching out to the next generation of young professionals a priority.

“It’s a great opportunity to explain first-hand what it means to be an accountant,” said Christopher Haspilaire, a tax consultant II at Deloitte and a CPA Candidate member of the NJCPA. “The students are always very interested and eager to learn.”

“I am always impressed with how much time and energy our members give to help students and aspiring CPAs. It’s very rewarding to hear why someone went into the profession and find out what steps others can take,” added Ralph Albert Thomas, CPA (DC), CGMA, CEO and executive director at the NJCPA.

Presenters also discussed the ways in which students could apply for scholarships from the NJCPA Scholarship Fund, which awards $7,000 scholarships to college-bound New Jersey high school seniors who intend to major in accounting or obtain a concentration in accounting. The Fund also awards $6,500 one-year scholarships to accounting students at New Jersey colleges or universities who are currently in their junior year or in their senior year and are entering an accounting-related graduate program. This year, the fund awarded more than $350,000 in scholarships to 75 high school and college students. Learn more at njcpa.org/scholarships.

# # #