Alumni Newsletter Fall 2019

Jason’s interest in using technology to understand data was piqued during his undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech. Per Jason, “My professors gave me opportunities to work with different software tools and consider how they could be used in practice.” He further developed an “interest in applying these tools to auditing and saw the MADA Program as a great step toward a career focused on innovation.” In a Forbes article entitled KPMG’s Lynne Doughtie On The Role Of Innovation And Collaboration In The Age Of Convergence , Lynne Doughtie, CEO and Chairman of KPMG LLP, was quoted as having said that “Innovation can’t just happen within the walls of your own organization.” This is a sentiment that resonates with Jason as he combines the MACIS coursework with hands-on auditing experience gained during his internship with KPMG. During the Fall semester, Jason was exposed to IDEA in the Forensic & Investigative Accounting course. This exposure gave him the knowledge and confidence to share ideas related to the usage of this tool and really add value to KPMG and its clients during his internship. Jason’s favorite part about Virginia Tech is being a member of the Virginia Tech community. He indicated that he has developed great relationships with his peers, professors, and alumni and specifically spoke to the collaborative nature of our MACIS Program as being a contributing factor. Jason looks forward to beginning employment with KPMG as an Experienced Associate, and is excited for the on-the-job learning that comes with public accounting. Omar was drawn to Virginia Tech as he had heard from close friends and mentors that Virginia Tech’s MACIS professors were extremely knowledgeable and that the MACIS coursework would best prepare him for a career as an auditor. He also became aware of KPMG’s MADA Program and, knowing that data and analytics is the future of business and auditing, recognized that “[t]he opportunity to learn about D&A and hopefully become a D&A champion at KPMG” was one that he could not forego. Omar has had positive experiences on campus and during his KPMG internship. He indicated that “[t]he MACIS Professors made every effort to make themselves available to students, whether it was for providing help on coursework or providing guidance on future careers.” He further indicated that he was able to make lifelong friends, especially with the other KPMGMADA students at Virginia Tech. With respect to his internship experience, Omar indicated that “[it] was amazing! I was able to experience working on a large public client and a medium-sized private client, which exposed me to numerous dimensions of an audit.” Omar looks forward to further applying the skills he gained from the MACIS Program to the audits he will be a part of as a full-time KPMG employee. Nick earned bachelor’s degrees in ACIS and Finance from Virginia Tech and, given his career aspirations and love for the University, believed that the MACIS Program was a natural progression. He had also previously interned with KPMG in Norfolk, VA and, upon learning of its MADA Program and all the benefits it offered, decided to combine the two (VTMACIS and KPMGMADA Programs) with the goal of learning more about emerging technologies and how they can be applied to accounting and assurance. When asked about his experience at Virginia Tech, he indicated that he “treasure[s] the relationships built with classmates and professors alike. Professors care about students’ education and always make time for one-on-one help as needed.” With respect to preparedness for his Spring internship with KPMG, he stated that “the statistics, tax, and investigative accounting courses helped immensely throughout the course of the internship. [Additionally,] the critical thinking and conceptual skills gained during the Fall semester helped bolster my confidence as a professional and gave me the tools needed to learn on the job.” Nick had the opportunity to work with clients in a wide array of industries during his internship, and he is excited to get back to his hometown and be with his family again and learn as much as he can about his clients.

Jason Ksanznak from Dumfries , VA

Omar Rivera from Falls Church, VA

Nick Stegmuller from Virginia Beach, VA

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