AICPA

From the Goal Line to the Bottom Line

By Michael Nagelin

I never imagined when I was growing up that I would become an accountant, much less certifiably so. As a kid in the South, I played every sport I could—soccer, football, racquetball, surfing, biking. When it came time for college, my decision was based on athletic and academic opportunities, knowing I'd never be a professional athlete.

I decided on the College of William & Mary, where the football team was strong and the academics were among the top in the country. At first I stumbled between majors undecided as to which academic building I wanted to spend the next few years of my time in. First it was math, then sociology and government. I even dabbled in women's studies at one point. It was eventually Principles of Accounting, a required intro in the business school that caught my attention. Dr. Dafashy made the material come to life. He brought the real world into the classroom, applying business concepts to everyday life. When we were talking about inventory, he'd relate it to a party and the number of beers in the fridge.

Accounting is a great major, especially if you want a job when you graduate. There is a growing need for accountants and firms recruit aggressively, and early, on campus. I made contacts as a sophomore, did three externships my junior year, and had multiple offers for summer internships after my junior year. As for a "real job," most accounting majors had offer letters in hand the summer after junior year—some with a signing bonus—so they had no job-related worries senior year.

My internship was with a Big Four firm where I worked in the state and local tax group doing research and various client projects. At the end, interns from around the country went to Disney World and stayed in the Grand Floridian, going through team-building exercises, and even getting to roam the park after it closed to the public. I got a feel for the professional work environment of CPAs, and a very nice paycheck to match. (Interns were paid like new hires, then around $42,000 a year.)

Since I had already finished my undergraduate program, I used my fifth year of NCAA eligibility to earn a Master's in accounting. That time allowed me to meet the criteria to sit for the CPA exam in most states—completing 150 semester hours of education.

As graduation loomed, the transition from school to work was somewhat scary. I backpacked around Europe with friends to relax before I started a CPA review course, then I passed the whole CPA exam on my first try!

Today I'm a senior accountant at XO Communications, a company that poached me from my job at a Big Four firm. I work hard, I love what I'm doing, and I am generously rewarded. I was surprised how necessary interpersonal skills are in the accounting world. I have to deal with clients and tax authorities, establish and maintain business relationships, and go to conferences and meetings that remind me of rushing a fraternity. Public accounting is a client-service industry, and you need people and technical skills to be successful.

My experience has been even greater than I had expected. As a CPA I have an interesting job that gives me the time to live the life I want to lead, coaching, traveling, and enjoying my nights and weekends. I am truly, certifiably happy.

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