N.C. A&T Hosts Accounting Career Awareness Program

N.C. A&T Hosts Accounting Career Awareness Program

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 18, 2019) – The North Carolina A&T State University College of Business and Economics (COBE) Department of Accounting and Finance hosted the 2019 Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP), July 7-12.

The program, in conjunction with the Greensboro chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, had 20 student participants.

ACAP aims to reinforce a pipeline of future accountants and build awareness of potential business career paths among underrepresented ethnic groups, said Dr. Ron Campbell, assistant professor of accounting and director of student affairs, who led the program.

COBE faculty, recent graduates and area business professionals presented topics such as accounting history, potential careers, necessary coursework and certifications, resume writing and interview preparation, personal branding, social etiquette and striking a work-life balance.

“Accountants don’t run adding machines all day, as many people may think,” Campbell said. “They can work as advisors and consultants and run businesses as CEOs.”

The students, 10 young men and 10 young women, split into five teams to develop business plans, then present them to a panel of judges who awarded first- and second-place recognition in addition to superlatives for other elements of the intensive program. Campbell said each student demonstrated talent that impressed the program’s facilitators.

Students also toured the campus and took a field trip to Ernst & Young and the Spectrum Center in Charlotte where they talked with employees and interns alike about the work they do and growth opportunities in the workforce.

The students in this year’s program, which returned after a one-year hiatus, are rising N.C. A&T freshmen as well as rising high school juniors and seniors. Most hailed from North Carolina, with two from Georgia and one from New York.

In its previous incarnation at A&T and until 2007, the program was known as Professional Accounting Career Exploration. COBE revived it in 2016 as ACAP, which NABA established in 1980.

“This program does what we want it to do and ultimately pays great dividends,” Campbell said.