Mpa View Book Final

8/3/2019 Mpa View Book Final

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The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business

Master inProfessionalAccounting

Boundless Opportunies. Long-Term Success.



The Texas MPA was the best choice, not only for the academic preparation I'm receiving,t also for the professional opportunities that will be available to me after I graduate. Ally classes, every assignment and every team project adds value to my curriculum vitae.”ndbergh Mendoza, MPA ’08 Merida, Mexicoin American Joint Academic Program, Financial Reporting and Assurance and M anagerial Accounting and Control tracks



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The Master in Pro essional Accounting Program at The Universityo Texas at Austin is one o the top programs in the nation, and

with good reason. Since 1948, the program has re ected an entre-preneurial and orward-looking mindset—the Texas tradition o acan-do attitude that began with early settlers and still pervadestoday’s high-tech environment. As a result, the Texas MPA programconstantly evolves to keep up with advances in the accounting pro-

ession, accounting education and the business world.

Students can take two approaches to the Texas MPA degree.• The traditional MPA is a 12- to 18-month graduate program or

students who have earned a bachelor’s degree rom a our-yearaccredited institution. The traditional MPA approach welcomesstudents with undergraduate degrees in any feld, rom businessto liberal arts, science or engineering.

• The integrated MPA is a three-year program designed or studentsin the McCombs School o Business beyond their sophomore year

who are in the process o earning their bachelor’s degree. Uponcompletion o the integrated approach to the MPA, students gradu-ate with the bachelor o business administration (BBA) and masterin pro essional accounting (MPA) degrees concurrently.

The wide variety of available classes, the excellent faculty, the devoted and dedicatedaff and the diligence and eagerness of the students to excel all contribute to the TexasPA program’s high ranking.”nita Csizmadia, MPA ’08 Oroshaza, Hungary (left)O-MPA student, Member, MPA International Connection

really enjoy the caliber of MPA students, the smaller classes and the accessibility of theofessors and the advisors.”iana Hwu, BBA ’08, MPA ’08 Houston, Texas (right)rketing Vice President, Beta Alpha Psi, MPA Student Ambassador

The Texas MPAJoin a top-ranked program that will challenge and reward you.

Outstanding undergraduate students in the economics major aUniversity o Texas are eligible to apply or the ECO-MP

which enables students to complete 12 hours o graduate accoucourses in their senior year toward obtaining an MPA.

The Texas MPA welcomes motivated students whose records ra balance o academic ability, communication skills and quantskills. The admissions decision or the tradional approach takeconsideration numerous indicators o uture success, includiapplicant’s GPA, GMAT scores, statement o purpose essay,academic courses, letters o recommendation, extracurricularcommunity activities, honors and achievements, and work his(i applicable). Overall ethnic, geographic and socioeconomicsity within the MPA program is also key, and entering classes

ormed with this in mind. For the integrated approach, applicare considered based on academic per ormance and GPA d

their reshman and sophomore years at Texas.

McCombs MPA Program ranked#1 Graduate Program, Public Accounting Report (11/07)#1 Accounting (Graduate), U.S. News (4/07)



a Texas MPA, you’ll develop a reputation or competence, soundgment and accounting profciency—characteristics that seniorcutives recognize, value and reward. Employers say Texas MPAse in, possess a strong knowledge base and quickly become aued asset to their work orce.

ny graduates begin their careers in public accounting and endas executive o fcers in dynamic enterprises ranging rom globalerprises to innovative startups. You’ll hit the ground running,ether you’re seeking a position in the private or public sector—

essional services, fnance, consulting, industry, government,- or-profts—or aspire to be an entrepreneur.

Texas MPA prepares you or a wide range o careers, including:

ublic accounting

inancenvestment banking

Consultingndustryublic service, including government and nonpro t

EntrepreneurshipAcademia

“The strength of the Texas MPA lies in its ability to prepare students for many accountingcareers without focusing on strict specialization in any one area.”Oseloka Okagbue, MPA ’08 Kansas City, MissouriGeneralist track, Member, Black Graduate Students Association

A sampling of the many rms that eagerly recruit Texas MPAgraduates:

Public accounting frms: Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG,PricewaterhouseCoopers, BDO Seidman, BKD, Grant Thornton,UHY Advisors

Investment banking: Bear Stearns, Citigroup, Credit Suisse,Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Lehman

Brothers, Lazard, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, UBS

Consulting: Accenture, Bain and Co., BearingPoint, BostonConsulting Group, Hewitt Associates, McKinsey & Co., Protiviti,FTI Consulting

Industry: BP, Dell, Freescale Semiconductor, General Motors,Halliburton, IBM, Lyondell Chemical Company, TXU Corp.

Public service: CIA, FBI, U.S. Government Accountability Of ce,the U.S. State Department and various nonpro t, state and localgovernment organizations

A 2007 survey of graduating Texas MPA students found93% considered the McCombs MPA a good investment97% would recommend the McCombs MPA to a close fri end95% would choose to attend McCombs again96% were satis ed with their MPA experience

Boundless OpportunitiesSucceed in a variety of professions or business settings.

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My Texas MPA education clearly gave me a signi cant head start compared to graduatesother universities. It provided me the opportunity to stand out, which in turn led to meing considered for my international assignment.”

Warren Marine, BBA ’89, MPA ’89tner, Audit Commercial Clients, KPMG, Munich, Germany



The Texas MPA o ers a exible, challenging curriculum that takesinto account your experience, skills and career goals. Through par-ticipation in case-based graduate level classes, you will expand yourcreativity, think on your eet, and have the opportunity to apply what

you learn in the classroom to real-world situations.

Tailor your coursework to specifc career goals by choosing one o our tracks: Financial Reporting and Assurance, Managerial Account-

ing and Control, Taxation or Generalist. In each track, core coursesprovide a solid accounting oundation while relevant electives pro-

vide specialized knowledge. Each o the tracks ocuses on developing written and verbal communication skills, which executives in busi-ness organizations agree are vital to a success ul career.

The Financial Reporting and Assurance track ocuses on interpreta-tion, preparation and certifcation o publicly disclosed fnancial and

other data. The track provides students with a solid oundation infnancial reporting and in the expanding area o assurance beyondtraditional audits o fnancial statements. Besides work in assuranceservices and auditing, the track is an excellent oundation or otherpro essional services, such as orensic accounting, as well as consult-ing opportunities. Industry is eager to hire for positions in nancialreporting, internal audit, capital budgeting, project analysis and otherareas. In addition, nancial management and assurance are also criti -cal unctions in government and non-governmental organizations.

The Tax track is designed or students seeking employment in publicaccounting and private industry, or with governmental and regula-tory agencies. This track emphasizes the role o taxation in planningand structuring business transactions. Complemented by account-

ing courses that provide a wide breadth o knowledge, theleads to dynamic careers and leading certifcations. The distax-accounting blend is an excellent oundation or career m

within and outside o the tax feld in all sectors o the econrom leading public/pro essional services frms, to industries

types, to local, state and ederal levels o government, as non-governmental organizations.

The Managerial Accounting and Control track

accounting and auditing in ormation assists managers in min ormed decisions in planning, evaluating and controlling anStudents in this track also learn how to prepare reports or extgroups such as shareholders, creditors, regulatory agencies anauthorities. Graduates o the track are qualifed or positions wpro essional services frms, such as enterprise risk manageminternal audit services, orensic accounting and litigation suppIn industry, careers may involve work in a variety ofments within the organization, such as the controller’s o fce, inaudit, treasury and fnance, cost accounting, and planning and geting. Public service o ers positions in government entitie

nonproft organizations.

The Generalist track is or students who wish to design theiro specialization. Rather than completing a prescribed set o accouclasses, you have the exibility to select your own coursework bthe accounting core, including classes that cover the ull raaccounting o erings as well as a maximum number o non-accgraduate electives, including fnance, in ormation technology, strmanagement and international business, among others.

think the complicated accounting issues that our professors set before us to analyzentribute most to the Texas MPA program’s No. 1 standing.”

cott Derry, BBA ’08, MPA ’08 Pearland, Texasebacker, Texas Longhorns football, Winner, Men’s Athletics Academic Award ’07, Member, University Accounting Association

Innovative CurriculumGain broad-based accounting knowledge and hands-on experience.

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Professor Lillian Mills



A Exam SuccessTexas MPA curriculum lays a solid educational oundation or theform Certi ed Public Accountant examination. If your goal is tos y the requirements or the CPA exam, MPA academic advisorsl help you plan your coursework so that you will be eligible to

or the exam by the time you complete the program. Eligibilityuirements vary rom state to state; your educational backgroundthe state in which you plan to sit or the exam will determine

ether or not you will need to fne-tune your MPA coursework toet your goals.

Combs CPA candidates typically have pass rates much higher thanstatewide average on any given part o the exam. Our students’s rates also tend to exceed the national averages or each part o exam. In 2007, the average Texas MPA pass rate was 70 percent,

compared to a national average of 44 percent. Since 2000, sixas MPA students have been among the 54 national recipients o prestigious American Institute of Certi ed Public Accountants’

ls Award or the highest cumulative scores on the our sectionsthe exam on their frst attempt.

stigious Postgraduate Assistantship Opportunitiesch year, the Department o Accounting nominates up to ourdents or a prestigious one-year Postgraduate Technical Assis-tship with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) andGovernment Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The programpen to all graduating accounting students in the United States.

Competition or the internships is intense, with only 13 applicantsselected nationwide each year. A testament to the quality o theTexas MPA, our students have been named to the internship inthe past fve years.

A Global Perspective As the business world and the accounting pro ession take on globaldimensions, experience abroad gives graduates a special edge asthey enter the work orce. The Texas MPA gives you the option toparticipate in our international programs: the European DoubleDegree Program, the Latin American Joint Academic Program, andthe summer International Accounting Programs in Paris and HongKong. Through study abroad, you will acquire an intimate knowledgeo international business practices and a broad understanding o

oreign cultures—strong selling points with employers.

Hands-On ExperienceRound out your Texas MPA education with hands-on experienceby interning at major business partners or course credit. A popu-lar internship approach spans hal o a spring semester, enablingadditional degree progress through accelerated courses in the other

hal o the semester. Summer internships with numerous employersare also available. Internships emphasize leadership, teamwork andclient/management interaction and will give you a practical viewo organizations, practice areas and locations that may be suitablecareer options. In addition, many students nd that internships oftenlead to eventual job o ers rom companies they’ve interned with.

“The MPA Program is really amazing — it provides the opportunity to do whatever you wantin life.”Lina Dimachkieh, BBA ’06, MPA ’06 Houston, TexasAICPA Sells Award winner, Harvard Law student

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fessor Michael Clement Professor Yanfeng Xue



“Studying abroad was a truly fantastic experience, and I would recommend it to any student. Itopens your mind to think outside the box and allows you to see worldly challenges from a differ-ent perspective.”Rouzheen Arianpour, BBA ’08, MPA ’08 Tyler, TexasMember, Beta Alpha Psi, Recruited as staff auditor, Ernst & Young, Chicago, IL



As a Texas MPA student, you will take your place in a diverse yetclose-knit community. You’ll share viewpoints and engage in groupassignments with classmates rom wide-ranging backgrounds. You’llconnect with aculty members who are world-renowned or theirteaching and research, yet approachable both in and out o theclassroom. Dedicated academic and career advisors will partner with

you throughout your coursework and career search. Through theMPA Distinguished Speaker Series, you’ll interact with prominentpro essionals in accounting, fnance, government, trade and industry.These creative partnerships are an integral part o what makes theTexas MPA an exceptional experience.

FacultyTexas MPA aculty members are widely known and well respected ortheir accomplishments. They have authored textbooks you will usein the classroom, shaped the rules o fnancial accounting, testifed

be ore Congress, served on national and international standard-setting bodies, and articulated new ideas that have in uenced anentire generation o business pro essionals. Their cutting-edgeresearch is re ected in the innovative curriculum they design. MPAstudents consistently praise aculty or their ability to motivate,challenge and make learning un.

Communication with the MPA program staff prior to admission was very professional andxtremely helpful. The advisors are exceptional, the best I’ve ever encountered.”eid Schellhous, MPA ’08 Boston, Massachusettsrried to Beth with one-year-old daughter Lareine, Financial Reporting and Assurance track

Academic AdvisingThe Texas MPA academic advisors will help you plan your costudy rom day one. You will eel assured that you are on thepath toward obtaining your degree and that your academic prois aligned with your g oals. Your academic advisors will provion-one assistance with

• Course selection• Registration• Degree planning• CPA exam eligibility• Graduation requirements and eligibility

Academic events and workshops include

• Orientation

• Internship information sessions• Registration workshops• CPA exam workshops• Graduate admissions workshop (integrated approach)• Sponsored luncheons

William Kinney

Charles and Elizabeth Prothro Regents Chair in Business

• Recipient of the AICPA Distinguished Achievement in Account-ing Education Award

• Academic Fellow, Securities and Exchange Commission• Member, International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board• Past member, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

Advisory Council and Financial Accounting Standards AdvisoryCouncil

Lisa Koonce

Deloitte & Touche Professor in Accounting

• Member of the University of Texas Academy of DistinTeachers

• Recipient of more than 10 University of Texas teaching a• Author of more than 25 research articles published in top

arly journals• Leader in American Accounting Association committees

activities

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Dynamic PartnershipsCollaborate creatively with classmates, teachers and professionals.



MPA Distinguished Speaker SeriesEach all, leaders in public accounting, industry, standard setting, the

ederal government and academia address Texas MPA students aspart o the MPA Distinguished Speaker Series. Presentations coverhot topics such as international standards, progressive businesses,tax re orm and policy, and the uture o the accounting pro ession.

You’ll have the chance to interact ace-to- ace with the speakersthrough question-and-answer sessions and at receptions that olloweach presentation. As these pro essional service leaders, captainso industry and government decision makers rom across the nationshare their frsthand knowledge, you’ll gain real-world insight oncurrent business trends that takes you ar beyond the classroom.

The workshops offered by MPA Career Services provide students with invaluable interview-g, networking, etiquette and resume writing skills that many other universities do not.”eryl Boothmpus Sourcing Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Past distinguished speakers have included

Bill GradisonActing ChairmanPublic Company Accounting Oversight Board

David WalkerComptroller General of the United StatesU.S. Government Accountability Of ce

Robert P. HansonPartner, Mergers and AcquisitionsErnst & Young

Katherine SchipperProfessor, Duke UniversityFormer member, Financial Accounting Standards Board

Phil SmithManaging Partner

KPMG

Gary Kelly, BBA ’77Vice Chairman and CEOSouthwest Airlines

Thomas GoldenPartner, Midwest Region Investigations and Forensic ServicPricewaterhouseCoopers

Mary BarthInternational Accounting Standards Board MemberSenior Associate Dean of Academic AffairsStanford Graduate School of Business

Glenda Chamberlain, BBA ’73Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Of cerWhole Foods Market, Inc.

Ambassador Gregory W. EngleDiplomat in Residence, 2007-2008LBJ School of Public Affairs

Barry SalzbergCEO, Deloitte & Touche

Career Services A Texas MPA will afford you a world of career options. In addition tothe Big Four accounting rms, more than 200 entities representing25 different industries, Fortune 500 companies, and nonpro t andgovernment organizations recruit Texas MPA students or intern-ships and/or ull-time positions each year.

Prominent national frms rom San Francisco to Dallas to New Yorkaggressively seek Texas MPAs, and graduates also work at leadinginternational companies rom London to Shanghai to Mexico City.

A vast majority o Texas MPA students accept o ers or permanentpositions be ore or within a ew months o graduating.

The MPA program’s dedicated career services and advisors are your

partners in attaining your career goals. Through one-on-one advising,pro essional development events and career workshops, you willhave a head start at tackling your job search. MPA career services

will help you with

• Resume and cover letter writing• Researching career options and speci c organizations• Enhancing interview techniques• Professional networking• Evaluating offers

Pro essional development events include• Job search strategies• Mock interviews• Resume critiques• Etiquette dinners• Career fairs• Industry, networking and mid-cap careers nights• Technical computer training• Employer panels in accounting, nancial services and all other

market sectors• Alumni panels• Industry Internship Program

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Ambassador Gregory Engle



e Texas MPA culture promotes collegiality and camaraderie withr classmates, who hail rom the United States as well as romntries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and A rica.eir varied viewpoints and experiences add an important acet tor MPA program. The MPA lounge in the McCombs School pro-

es the ideal place or you t o socialize, study or just relax. Throughup projects in classes, participation in student organizations andial events, you’ll orge strong and lasting bonds as you draw romr classmates’ diverse backgrounds.

can become an active member o the MPA community by joining o the many student organizations, including

Master in Professional Accounting CouncilUniversity Accounting AssociationBeta Alpha Psi

MPA International Connectiontudent Ambassadorseer Tutors Program

ides providing networking, in ormation sessions, peer mentoringopportunities to get involved with MPA program events, these

ups are a great way to get to know your classmates throughormal gatherings and intramural activities.

AlumniTexas MPA graduates constitute a large, dedicated and cohesivealumni network. Many graduates share in ormation and know-howthat comes with being a seasoned pro essional by volunteeringto be a classroom speaker or part o a panel presentation. Texasalumni exempli y the outstanding reputation o our program and areinstrumental in helping MPA students fnd their career direction.

As a Texas MPA graduate, you will be proud to join their ranks as ariend, associate and colleague.

Business Partners and AdvisorsSince 1958, prominent members o the accounting pro ession, fnance,government, trade and industry have served on our department Advi-sory Council. The group advises aculty on current trends in business,new developments in accounting practice, career opportunities inthe feld and skills required or pro essional advancement. With their

input, we constantly adapt the MPA curriculum so that you are wellprepared or the challenges o today’s dynamic business world.

“All the students are very intelligent, and we tend to learn as much from each other as we dofrom the professors. The many group projects foster a sense of community and friendship.”Paul Albrecht, BBA ’08, MPA ’08 Sugar Land, TexasPlan II Honors, Recruited as business anal yst, McKinsey and Co.18

Energetic CultureEngage in a diverse community of scholars.

Yant, BBA ’77, MPA ’78tner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Houstonvisory Council Member,counting Program Texas Star Award winner



Features• 1,400,000 residents in the Austin metropolitan area• 172 city parks• 30 miles of urban hike-and-bike trails• Crystal-clear lakes, streams, and rivers for boating,

surfng, swimming and kayaking• 11,800 acres of greenbelt• 300 annual days of sunshine• Symphony, ballet, and opera• Art galleries and museums• 120 live music venues

Demographers call Austin a “City of Ideas” where a new creativeclass o business leaders, artists, entrepreneurs and visionaries arereshaping the urban model or American prosperity. While provid-ing the social and economic opportunities o a vibrant metropolis,

Austin remains a city o lakes, hills, live music and cosmopolitanculture, defned by its gregarious personality, endless opportunities

or growth and celebrated quality o li e.

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You need con dence to succeed personally and professionally. Graduating from the top-nked Texas MPA program gave me a lot of con dence as I began my career — and now ascontinue developing my career.”audia Torres Yañez, MPA ’98

nior Financial Analyst, Global Sales and Marketing, Freescale Semiconductor

Living in AustinExplore the unique culture of the Texas capital.



Dear prospective Texas MPA,

Hard work, personal integrity, and a Texas MPA are abination or pro essional success. You’ll graduate with thand capabilities you need to succeed in a ny pro essional consolid analytical skills, a team perspective, e ective communiskills, polish and pro essionalism, a global perspective an

world experience.

The Texas MPA has meaning, value and relevance or any ozation. Not surprisingly, many graduates have risen to the highlevels o public accounting, industry, fnance and public servia Texas MPA, you won’t just stand out—you will excel.

Sincerely,

Steve LimbergDirectorTexas MPA Program

To join in the Texas MPA partnership, contact us

Web site: http://www.mccombs.ut exas.edu/mpMailing Address: Texas MPA

McCombs School o BusinessOne University Station, B6400Austin, TX 78712-0211

E-mail: [email protected]: 512-471-6559

My Texas MPA not only opened tons of doors thanks to the knowledge and skills I gained, bute program’s culture of hard work and achievement also strengthened me as a person. ”ésar Guerra de León, MPA ’06 Monterrey, Mexicoerprise Risk Services Consultant, Deloitte & Touche, New York Of ce

Where Leadership Is Earne



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