Beyond the Balance Sheet: Exploring Nontraditional Careers in Accounting and Finance
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, Ursinus College will host the Accounting and Finance Student Conference. This event, sponsored by the MidAtlantic Council IMA, is open to students and administrators from colleges and universities across the Philadelphia region. It offers a hands-on opportunity to explore nontraditional career paths in the accounting and finance fields and learn about the skills needed to take on an entrepreneurial venture, all while networking with local business leaders.
The day will include:
- “Why Do New Businesses Fail?”: In this presentation, attendees will hear from three professionals on some of the most common pitfalls new business owners face, as well as the most common mistakes which occur through the beginning stages of a business. It will feature Tom Gosee, TriCounty SCORE chapter chairperson, Stefan Laesig, All Balls Racing, Inc. founder and president, and Rachael Wolfe, Kutztown Small Business Development Center consulting manager.
- Accounting and Finance Panel Discussion: Many people are unaware of the accounting and finance-related jobs which exist outside of the big CPA firms. This discussion with four industry professionals will introduce students to nontraditional career paths which may not be on their radar. It will feature:
- Daniel Harley, vice president of client services, MBA, CMA, CSCA
- Amanda Bernard, CPA, CMA, CFE
- Kathy Weaver, CMA, CSCA
- Mike Zelko, CPA/ABV, CFF
There will be an opportunity for Q&A with all speakers as well as a hands-on exercise for students. With the help of Tim Trout, financial controller of Reading-based Burkey Construction, they will brainstorm a hypothetical business idea and talk through their target audience and advertising strategy.