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Christy Robison
Hometown: Louisville, Ohio
High School: Louisville High School
Major: Accounting
Why did you choose to pursue a major in Accounting at Mount Union?
I chose to major in accounting because I felt that I would enjoy it more than any other opportunity I had. I decided on Mount Union College after spending a year at a large university. I wanted to have smaller classes and teachers who knew my name and cared about me. That is exactly what I found when I came to Mount Union as a sophomore.
What types of jobs are available for students who share your major?
There are a lot of opportunities for accountants. One opportunity is working at a public accounting firm, which typically does taxes, audits, and consulting work for companies. There are many types of public accounting firms, ranging in size from small local firms to international firms with thousands of employees around the world. Other accountants work in industry, which means that they do internal accounting work for a company. Some of these accountants work their way up and become executives. There are also job opportunities with the government, such as working for the IRS. Most accountants specialize in a field such as tax, audit, forensic accounting, or business valuation.
How will you use your degree upon graduation?
In order to take the CPA exam in Ohio and become a certified public accountant, a person has to have 150 credit hours or a master’s degree. I will have completed my 150 credit hours while at Mount Union, so I plan on taking the CPA exam the summer after I graduate. I then plan on working at a public accounting firm. I hope to gain experience in audit and tax before deciding what I want to specialize in.
What activities are you involved in?
I am President of the Accounting Club, Student Senate Treasurer, and one of the Learning Assistants for accounting. Last year, I participated in a program called BEST (Bringing Executives and Students Together). Through this program, I analyzed confidential business issues with local executives. I also received the opportunity to work one-on-one with one of those executives.
I’ve also done two internships. My first internship was at H-P Products. I did things such as accounts receivable and accounts payable. My second internship was at Cohen & Company. I gained experience in both audit and tax while participating in a formal internship program.
Elements a person should possess to succeed in your major?
People generally think of accountants as being people that sit alone in their offices all day crunching numbers. This is just not true. Accountants today are in constant communication with others. Therefore, today’s accountants need to have technical, communication, and people skills in order to succeed.
What advice can you offer for someone who is considering having the same major as you?
Plan ahead. Try to find an internship as soon as possible. Don’t be afraid to talk to business people. Get involved, but don’t join twelve things. Instead, pick a couple of things you love and do those well.
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