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Tracy Noga

Associate Professor
Bentley University
Waltham, MA

 

Tracy Noga always liked puzzles. In fact, her love of problem-solving and puzzles was one reason she decided to go into accounting. But when it came to her career, it took her a while to find the missing puzzle piece.

She started her career as a CPA first for the FDIC then PricewaterhouseCoopers. While she was successful, she knew she wanted a change. She decided to become a teacher. “It took me a while to settle in to academia,” she says, “but I gained lots of valuable experience along the way.”

Today Tracy uses her first-hand experience as a CPA to provide real-world insights to students. She’s found her “best job” as an associate professor at Bentley University, in Massachusetts. “Working in academia is a bit different than being a practicing CPA, of course,” she says. “I love interacting with the students and helping them figure out which type of accounting career would be best for them. I always learn as much from them as they learn from me.”

Tracy tells her students that the great thing about being a CPA is all the options it offers. “It gives you options that aren’t available to any other type of professional,” she says. “A CPA is valued by everyone. Not only will you always have a job, but your skill set can be applied to so many different roles and industries. You’ll always be able to have a happy and satisfying career.”

Got questions of your own? Ask a CPA.