2010 Newsletter part 1 - Long Island University

ACCOUNTING SOCIETY BETA ALPHA PSI
2010-2011 NEWSLETTER
Our BAP Chapter Earned Superior Status for the 7th Consecutive Year
Accounting Society
Beta Alpha Psi
The BAP and A/S officers welcome you to the 2010-2011 academic year. We hope that you will
join us at our professional networking events, community service activities, and fun celebrations! Our meetings are Tuesdays 12:45pm-1:45pm in Lorber Hall 207
Important Dates to Remember
♦
Sept. 14th: First Meeting: 12:45pm-1:45pm, LH 207
♦
Sept. 23th: Annual Accounting Reception: 6-8pm, Pioneer Room,
Hillwood Commons (see details inside)
♦
October 1st: 9th Annual Meet-the-Firms Volleyball Night: 6:30pm,
Pratt Center
2010-2011
Officers
Megan Cayea
President
Yaroslav Burak
Vice President
Jeffrey Scott
Secretary
Jennifer Alzona
Treasurer
2009-2010
Officers:
(left to right)
Robert Schwartz
Cheryl Sieczkowski
Dinora Adames
Jackie Joseph
Megan Cayea
Dr. Christie Comunale
Faculty Advisor
Contact Us:
Location: LH 208
Phone: 516-299-3272
E-mail: CWPBAPAS@Yahoo.com
Facebook: C. W. Post BAP/
Accounting Society
What is the Accounting Society?
Long Island University’s Accounting Society was established in 1966. The Society acts as a liaison between
students and the accounting profession. It provides opportunities for self-development, community service, and
association among its members and professionals. The Society stimulates interest and cooperation in accounting and develops leadership skills within its membership. Each semester since its inception, it has sponsored
meetings with speakers from the accounting profession. For over 10 years, the Society has been active in Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA). Additionally, past projects include visiting the homebound, assisting in
food and clothing drives, and painting the homes of low income families. The Society is supported by the University and must report all of its activities to the Office of Student Life.
Why Become a Member of the Accounting Society?
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Learn about the profession and the many career
paths it offers
Network with speakers from the FBI, SEC, IRS,
public accounting, private industry, and academia
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Need an internship or want a mentorship? Come
to our meetings
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Engage in informative lectures
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Strengthen your communication skills for your
job interviews
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Learn the elements of the CPA exam
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Visit local high schools to speak with their
accounting students
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Enhance your resume
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Volunteer in community service events: VITA,
Walk-a-thons, and soup kitchens
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Have fun at our annual volleyball challenge,
holiday party, and dinner dance
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Connect with colleagues in accounting
What are the Requirements for A/S Membership?
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Major: Accounting Major or Accounting Minor
•
Minimum GPA: 2.5 overall & accounting
•
Involvement:
5 Professional Meetings per semester (Tuesdays 12:45pm-1:45pm)
2 Community Service Events per year
Toys for Tots
Fall Food Drive
Spring Food Drive
VITA
1 Student Government Association Meeting (Tuesdays 6:30pm)
2 Social Events per year (Fall: Meet-the-Firms Volleyball Challenge; Spring: Dinner Dance)
•
Application and Annual Membership ($15) due September 21, 2010
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What is Beta Alpha Psi?
BETA ALPHA PSI is an international honorary organization for Financial Information students and
professionals. The primary objective of Beta Alpha Psi is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and
professional excellence in the business information field. This includes promoting the study and practice of
accounting, finance and information systems; providing opportunities for self-development, service and
association among members and practicing professionals, and encouraging a sense of ethical, social, and public
responsibility. Beta Alpha Psi was founded in 1919. By 2009, there will be 279 chapters on college and
university campuses with over 300,000 members initiated since Beta Alpha Psi's formation.
Why Become a Member of the Beta Alpha Psi?
BAP members enjoy all the benefits of the Accounting Society, plus much more...
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Recognition for outstanding academic achievement
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Affiliation with an international honors organization
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Opportunity to participate in national and regional activities
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Opportunity to interact with accounting majors nationwide
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Reputation that opens doors to outstanding career opportunities
What are the Requirements for Membership?
BAP Requirements = CPAFUN
C - 12 Hours Community Service
P - 12 Hours Professional Meetings
A - Academic Standing 3.0 GPA (in accounting and overall)
F - Fernando’s Student Government Association Meeting
U - U Need 8 More Hours of C or P
N - Active Involvement in National/Regional Activities
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Pledge Requirements
Major: Accounting
Member: Accounting Society
Courses: 1 year of courses including ACC 11 & ACC 12
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Application & One-Time Membership Fee
Attendance: CPA FUN
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Membership Requirements
Major: Accounting
Member: Accounting Society
Active pledge for 1 semester
Courses: 2 years of courses, one upper-level (ACC 21)
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Application
Attendance: CPA FUN
3
Fall 2010 Schedule (Tentative)
August 3, 7 and 12 – Orientation Club Fair – 12-2:30
August 5-7 – Beta Alpha Psi National Meeting, San Jose, CA
August 26-27 – Long Island University: Bi-Campus Retreat
September 10 – Long Island University: Club Training
September 14 – Introduction to Beta Alpha Psi/Accounting Society
September 21 – KPMG LLP
September 23 – Accounting Reception
September 28 – Panel Discussion:
Margolin Winer & Evans LLP
Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Company P.C.
Cerini & Associates LLP
Sheehan & Company P.C.
October 1 – Meet-the-Firms Volleyball Challenge
October 5 – Panel Discussion:
Weiser LLP
Holtz Rubenstein Reminick LLP
Raich Ende Malter & Co. LLP
Grassi & Company
October 12 – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC
October 19 – Panel Discussion:
Schwartz & Company LLP
J.H. Cohn LLP
Marcum LLP
Gettry Marcus Stern & Lehrer P.C.
October 26 – Becker CPA Review
November 2 – Roger CPA Review
November 9 – Grant Thornton LLP
November 16 – Ernst & Young LLP
November 23 – CPAexcel
November 30 – Holiday Party
December 7 – Professor Persoff Presents...
September – December: High School Visits (TBA)
September – December: M-TH Tutoring
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9th ANNUAL MEET-THE-FIRMS VOLLEYBALL NIGHT
Sponsored by:
Long Island University/C.W. Post
Beta Alpha Psi Chapter
&
Accounting Society
Meet, Play, and Have Fun. Don’t want to play? You can be a
spectator and still network with firms and friends
When: Friday, October 1st at 6:30pm, Pratt
Recreational Center
Who: Accounting Recruiters, Accounting
Students, Faculty
Cost: Students: $5; Faculty/Friends: $10
__________________________________________________________________
Name of Attendee: _________________________Email:______________________
Please complete above information and return with cash to Vinnie Simon (LH 214) or Dr.
Comunale (LH 308). Please contact Dr. Comunale at 516-299-2366 if you have any questions.
5
Congratulations Professor Persoff!!
Professor Ilene Persoff received the 2010 Long Island University – C.W. Post David Newton Award for Excellence
in Teaching. The David Newton Award is the highest teaching award bestowed upon a faculty member at C.W.
Post and is given to only three faculty members each year.
Who is Professor Persoff? Professor Persoff, M.S., CPA, has a bachelor’s degree in both economics and urban
studies from Brandeis University and studied for two summers at Harvard University. Professor Persoff received a
master’s degree from the C.W. Post School of Professional Accountancy – Long Island University. She has been a
C.W. Post faculty member since 1980 where she has taught accounting, tax, and audit in the graduate and undergraduate programs. Professor Persoff was part of the campus development plan for cooperative education at C. W.
Post that is administered through the Academic and Career Planning Office and received the first annual Faculty of
the Year award from the Professional Experience and Placement program on campus. She also received the Outstanding CPA in Education Award from the NYSSCPA. Professor Persoff served 10 years on the New York State
Board for Public Accountancy and chaired its CPA Exam and the Education committees. She was a member of the
Board of Directors of the NYSSCPA and a Trustee of the Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE). Professor
Persoff has served as Chairperson of the Cooperation with Attorneys and the Cooperation with Educational Institutions committees for NYSSCPA, Suffolk and Nassau chapters, was the Chair of the Advancement of Women in the
Profession and the Diversity in the Profession committees, statewide, and Chair of the Development of the Profession Committee which oversees several statewide NYSSCPA committees. She was also the recent chair of the
Practice Management Division of the NYSSCPA which oversees the committees regarding large, small, and medium size CPA practices in New York. She received the FAE Outstanding Discussion Leader Award and has authored articles for
the CPA Journal
and the MidAtlantic Journal
of Business. Professor Persoff has been
quoted in the Wall
Street Journal, New
York Post, CFO,
CNN, Long Island
Business News, and
the Trusted Professional, appeared on
cable TV shows, and
chaired the Long
Island Business and
Accounting Show.
She has an accounting Practice in Huntington, NY. Professor Persoff loves to
travel and her rollerblades have seen
several states and
countries.
Students on the bus Professor Persoff chartered. Destination: Brooklyn Campus where Professor Persoff
was honored in a bi-campus ceremony.
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Professor Persoff...In Her Own Words
I am not a popular teacher, as in Oh! you must take Professor Persoff! Rather, if you are an accounting
student, you must take Professor Persoff because of your required courses. In fact some words in the letters of support for my receiving this award were “tough” – “demanding” – “every class was a challenge”
- “the rumors were true – her classes are hard and her exams are even harder” – a student advisor even
wrote that students come into my classes with “abject fear” – and I thought “this is a letter of support”?
The pages, though, were actually filled with anecdotes and accolades that elicited awe and joyful tears.
We professors just never know how we affect the lives of people we teach.
When I learned of receiving the award, an immediate reaction was to search for my favorite undergraduate professor who I found still active and now at Harvard University and my favorite accounting professor from graduate school who made the numbers come alive – who I found retired in Florida. And I realized that I was doing exactly what all my supporters in the award package did for me – giving a professor
tribute and not even realizing that at the same time I was helping him personally understand the lasting
effect on my own intellectual and professional life.
My world was amazingly broadened by my professors because I learned to take facts and figures and to
question behind the results to the factors that created them. The point is that teaching is so much more
than just repeating what is in a textbook. We professors must give you that which will open your eyes and
ears to the world around you and to help you to be receptive to all the people you meet --- because you
never know what information will become truly useful outside the classroom, whether it is tomorrow or
years ahead. If we as teachers can do this, then we fulfill the mission for the students of the C W Post
Campus: to have horizons expanded, to have “highly individualized educational experiences”, and to
have a “faculty’s devotion to excellence in teaching”.
We as teachers will also help to epitomize the vision and mission of Long Island University -- for students to be empowered and changed from their LIU experience; to cherish and nurture “the expansion of
knowledge; intellectual inquiry, and critical thought”, through teaching and learning, and community service, and to embrace these things as their own core values to carry through their personal and professional
lives.
And for me to receive the Long Island University Newton Teaching Award means that I am part of fulfilling these missions. But I can not teach effectively without learning from my students. The professor’s
cycle of acquiring and dispensing knowledge can not be as continuous as it is without the experience of
learning from all of you. It is a never-ending process, and I thank you all for the opportunity to keep it
going. Please stay in touch and let me know how you are doing as years go by!
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Alumni Corner: Where Are They Now?
Rosa Mendoza (Medrano): 2003
Upon graduation from C.W. Post in 2003 with a BS in Accounting, Rosa worked for KPMG LLP Melville office for three years. In June 2006 Rosa transferred to their Phoenix AZ office, where she worked
for an additional two years. In 2008, Rosa accepted an Assistant Controller
position for Superlite Block, a block and paver manufacturer. Currently
Rosa is the Assistant Controller for Tetco Stores Inc, a wholesale and retail
fuel provider in San Antonio, Texas. She resides in San Antonio with her
husband, a member of Beta Alpha Psi at University of Texas, and their four
year old puggle, Boogie."Being part of Beta Alpha Psi was one of the best
decisions I ever made. I was able to work side by side with some of the
most intelligent students in our class. The lectures and discussions were
very informative and provided a great opportunity to meet professionals in
the industry."
Angela Bradish: 2005
Angela graduated from C.W. Post in 2005 with a BS in Accounting. During her participation in oncampus recruiting , Angela expressed the desire to move back to Washington, her home state. In January
2006, Angela accepted a position with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) as a Tax Associate in the Seattle
office. Angela was promoted to Senior Associate in PWC’s specialty tax group in the fall of 2007. She is
currently pursuing the IRS Enrolled Agent certification. Angela has been married for 7 years and has two
sons, Taylor (9 ½) and Blake (1).
Andrew Kwasnik: 2005
Andrew graduated from C.W. Post in 2007 with a BS Accounting. Andrew launched his accounting career at Condon O'Meara McGinty and Donnelly, LLP, a small accounting firm that primarily audits golf
and country clubs as well as non-profit organizations. Andrew left the firm after two years and began at
BDO Seidman, LLP, where he stayed for 2 years. Currently, Andrew is working at Buchbinder Tunich,
LLP, a small auditing firm that specializes in non-profits and employee benefit plans. Andrew enjoys the
feel of a “small firm” stating “ I feel like I have a family-type relationship with my co-workers.” Andrew
is currently a senior auditor with Buchbinder Tunich, LLP. Andrew resides in Greenpoint, Brooklyn .
Chris Jones: 2007
Chris graduated from C.W. Post, magna cum laude, in May 2007 with an Accelerated B.S./M.B.A. degree. Chris was a member of the inaugural class of students completing the Accelerated B.S./M.B.A. in
the School of Professional Accountancy. While a student, Chris was a member of the Accounting Society
and Beta Alpha Psi (Induction Class of 2004) and also held the position of Activities Coordinator for the
2004-05 and 2005-06 school years. During the fall of 2006, after many on-campus interviews and offers,
he accepted a position with Grant Thornton as an Audit Associate within their Not-for-Profit and Higher
Education Practice. In November 2008, Chris became a Certified Public Accountant and has subsequently
become a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. In the summer of 2009, Chris was promoted to Senior Associate in
the firm's Melville office, a position he currently holds.
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Alumni Corner: From Accountant to Owner of a Pet Sitting/Dog
Walking Business
Sylvia Yolinsky: BS 2005: While going to school, I was offered a part-time job for my family's CPA. I answered phones, entered checkbooks into Quicken and handled small responsibilities such as payroll taxes and
easy income tax returns. I reached the point where I realized that taxes were not the path that I wanted to take,
and so I started an internship with the CPA firm Weiser LLP. I worked in their internal accounting department
full-time and gained a great deal of experience building financials, budgeting, and analyzing. I worked directly
with the Controller and CFO, which was where I really gained my base knowledge of the industry.
Once I graduated, I was offered a job as a staff auditor for Weiser. I believed that this was the right path to
take. My first audit job was for a public company in NYC where I spent a few weeks looking through payroll
files to be sure that they were collecting the proper information from their employees. It wasn't thrilling, but it
was exciting to be on a big team and get my feet wet. Throughout the first busy season I was put on various
jobs, ranging from big to small, long to short, far and local. I was able to travel a bit on some audits, which
was also pretty exciting. I also had the opportunity to work in different industries such as garment, real estate
and service. Towards the end of my first busy season, I wasn't sure the audit path was where I was happiest. I
missed the internal job I had previously.
On my last job for the busy season, I was sent down to Atlanta for a review of a new court reporting company,
Alexander Gallo Holdings. I spent a week there, and got along well with the management team of the company. After the job was complete, they called and offered me a job to be the first staff in their accounting department. Previously all they had in the accounting department was the CFO and a part-time accounts payable
clerk. I accepted their offer and moved down within a few weeks. I began as a staff accountant handling journal entries and bank reconciliations. When I started working for the company, their annual revenue was about
$15 million. After four years, they grew close to $225 million. As they grew, we grew the department; I managed a team of five. We were also acquiring companies frequently, so I was always involved in the acquisitions and integrations of the new companies. I was able to roll out new products and systems as we grew, and
provided a lot of training and efficiencies. After a couple years, my responsibilities became too much for one
person, so I broke out of the accounting department and started my own department – The Special Projects
Group. In that position I had the experience of working with every department in the company including marketing, billing, sales, production, development, and collections. I eventually moved into the operations side of
the company, reporting to the COO. Our biggest acquisition put me on the road for five months straight, hitting a different city every week. My accounting background was a huge piece of my success, as I was one of a
few that could bridge the gap between the finance and operations sides of the business.
After about four years, I felt that I had gotten as much as I could from the company. I was also completely exhausted. I knew it was time to move on, but wasn't sure where I wanted to go. While I was working for Gallo,
I volunteered for a local animal rescue group on the weekends. I would get the dogs out of the cages, walk
them, socialize them, and help to get them adopted. It was something I was really passionate about. I began
taking a certification course to become a dog trainer. As I was getting serious about finding a new opportunity, a previous co-worker let me know he was starting a dog walking business down in Orlando. I immediately informed him of what I had been doing in my spare time. Today, I am the proud new owner of a dog
walking and pet sitting business in Orlando, Florida. It has only been a few weeks since I've started, so I am
still in the sales and marketing stage. I can't tell you how unbelievably successful it is...that is, not yet!
Without question, the education I received while at C.W. Post in addition to the intense and diverse experience
I received in the profession were invaluable to my ability to launch my very own business.
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Have You Visited...Academic and Career Planning in
Kumble Hall Lately?
ACADEMIC & CAREER COUNSELING
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION & INTERNSHIPS
GRADUATE & ALUMNI CAREER SERVICES
♦
♦
♦
We can help you:
Fine-tune your resume with the assistance of a counselor
Enhance your interviewing skills with mock interviews and workshops
Network with accounting professionals looking for new employees
Get assistance with internship placements and with your full-time job search
Participate in our annual accounting recruitment event
For more information visit us at http://www.liu.edu/CWPost/StudentLife and click on
the Career Services or Cooperative Education links.
You can reach us at (516) 299-2251to schedule an appointment.
10
FALL 2010 C.W. Post
ACCOUNTING RECRUITMENT
Where:
Who is an eligible candidate?
C.W. Post Campus
Schwartz Library
College of Management Suites
•
When:
•
Undergraduate Accounting Students
graduating in Fall 2010 or Spring 2011
Graduate Accounting Students
Interviews begin Oct. 18, 2009
To Register and Prepare for Accounting Recruitment
1. Register for JobNet at www.liu.edu/cwpost/jobnet, click the link under the Student/Alumni Login banner.
Update your profile if you already have one.
2. Your resumes must be critiqued by a career counselor first! Email your updated resume to
resumes@cwpost.liu.edu as an attachment (please indicate in your email that you would like to participate in
recruitment) or schedule an appointment with a career counselor.
3. Upload a copy of your updated and critiqued resume to JobNet. Deadline for registration and upload is
October 1, 2010. Information about where to upload your resume will be provided in a workshop.
4. Attend a MANDATORY Recruitment Orientation and Interview Workshop (see dates below). RSVP for
workshop dates in the Career Events section of JobNet. Search Career Event Name: Accounting. Additional
ESSENTIAL information about participating in recruitment will be provided in the mandatory
workshop.
Required Orientation/Interview Workshops:
Monday, Sept. 13, 5-6 PM
Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1-2 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1-2 PM
Thursday, Sept. 16, 5-6 PM
Workshop location
will be indicated in
JobNet
Videotaped Mock Interviews
are available by appointment
Call 516.299.2251
ACCOUNTING RECEPTION: Thursday, 9/23/10, 6-8 pm
Pioneer Room, Hillwood Commons
CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND!
Network with participating recruiters! Business attire!
Only candidates participating in recruitment may attend.
Academic & Career Planning and Graduate & Alumni Career Services
C.W. Post, Long Island University
Kumble Hall, 2nd Floor, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville, NY 11548
516.299.2251
careerservices@cwpost.liu.edu
www.liu.edu/cwpost/careerservices
11
A Look Back at 2009-2010
Our 2009-2010 academic year was once again a great success…...
♦ Held 16 professional meetings
♦ Visited four local high schools
♦ Provided one-on-one tutoring to accounting students
♦ Offered tax assistance on campus and at Hillside Public Library and Williston Park Public Library
♦ Volunteered time for Toys for Tots
♦ Helped clean up Riverside Park
♦ Hosted accounting firms in our 8th annual meet-the-firms volleyball challenge
♦ December Holiday Party that benefited Toys for Tots
♦ Hosted the ever-popular Dinner-Dance.
The number of activities and the active participation enabled our chapter to earn SUPERIOR STATUS
for the 6th consecutive year, the highest ranking of a chapter. Well Done!
2009-2010 Statistics Corner
Accounting Society Members, BAP Pledges, BAP Members: 51
Professional Hours: 328
Tutoring Hours: 321
Community Service Hours: 800
VITA Hours: 86
2009-2010 Sponsors
Holtz Rubenstein Reminick, LLP
KPMG, LLP
Sheehan & Company, CPA
Weiser, LLP
If your firm is interested in becoming a 2010-2011 SPONSOR, please contact Dr.
Comunale (516-299-2366)
Dinner Dance Spring 2010
8th Annual Meet-the-Firms Volleyball Night
Beta Alpha Psi National Meeting
San Jose, California
2009-2010 Events
August 1 and 6: Club Fair
August 6-8: BAP National Meeting, Brooklyn, NY
August 25-26: LIU Bi-Campus Retreat
September 15: Organizational Meeting/Internships/Mentorships
September 22: Panel Discussion:
Weiser, LLP
Raich Ende Malter & Co. LLP
Holtz Rubenstein Reminick, LLP
Margolin, Winer & Evans, LLP
September 25: Meet the Firms Volleyball Challenge
September 29: Panel Discussion:
Sheehan & Company, CPA
Grassi & Company, CPAs, P.C.
Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Company, P.C
Cerini & Associates, LLP
October 2: Bethpage High School Visit
October 6: KPMG
October 13 :PricewaterhouseCoopers
October 20: Panel Discussion:
J.H. Cohn, LLP
Marcum, LLP
Gettry Marcus Stern & Lehrer, CPA, P.C.
October 25: Annual Multi-Chapter Park Clean Up
October 26: Commack High School Visit
October 27: Professor Persoff – Resume Building Tips
November 1-21: Interchapter Event with Hofstra and Adelphi: Food Drive
November 3: Grant Thornton, LLP
November 5: Toys for Tots Wrap Party
November: 10: Schwartz & Company, LLP
November 20: Multi-Chapter Food Drive Dinner
November 24: Becker CPA Review
December 1 : Holiday Party—Bring a Toy to Support Toys for Tots
January 26: Organizational Meeting/Internships/Mentorships
January 30: VITA Training (PricewaterhouseCoopers) 10 AM
February 9: Professor Persoff: Finding Your Fit in the Accounting Profession
February 23: Long Island Internal Auditors
March 9: Bisk CPA Review
March 23: C.W. Alumnus Presentation by Christie Dorsa
April 20: 150 Hour Requirement
April 29: Annual Dinner Dance
Interested in Becoming an
2011-2012
Accounting Society or Beta Alpha Psi Officer?
Let us Know!
Contact Us:
Location: LH 208
Phone: 516-299-3272
E-mail: CWPBAPAS@Yahoo.com
Facebook: C. W. Post BAP/Accounting Society
Have A Great Year!