Full-Circle: How My Internship at Crowe Led to UC Davis—and Back

MPAc combined with field experience launches my rewarding career in auditing

View Video: Nicolas Oropeza and several Master of Professional Accountancy students share "Why UC Davis?"

After interning for two summers at Crowe LLP, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in audit. My internship experiences offered invaluable insight into what a career in accounting could look like—and I quickly discovered it was a great fit.

Crowe is a global leader in public accounting, consulting, and technology services. The firm is recognized by many organizations as one of the best places to work in the U.S. while part of one of the largest global accounting networks serving clients worldwide. I experienced Crowe’s culture and values first hand while gaining industry knowledge and skills in the auditing field.

However, I did not have the education requirements needed to obtain a CPA license. Without furthering my education in accounting, my career would stall out.

Growing up in Northern California, I recognized UC Davis as the ideal choice for my education and career goals. The Graduate School of Management’s Master of Professional Accountancy program has a rigorous curriculum, top faculty, a proven track record of placement, and strong ties to the Northern California accounting industry.

The Wide World of Auditing

While interning at Crowe, I gained insight into the industries and entities that require auditing beyond for-profit businesses. I learned about auditing school districts, nonprofits, government agencies, and various other entities. I came away even more aware of the impact and importance of auditing; and how the role of an auditor can differ significantly depending on the industry.

My second internship at Crowe allowed me to further develop my critical thinking skills. I grew to understand the audit cycle and the methodology of the auditors. I had hands-on experience applying the knowledge from my first internship to work on real audits.

Intersection between MPAc and Crowe

Following two summers at Crowe, I started the UC Davis MPAc program. In my first quarter, I took core accounting courses, including Financial Reporting with Professor Michelle Yetman, which focuses on how accounting at a firm and public accounting intersect.

The coursework and faculty insights are opening my eyes to the full picture of the accounting and audit cycles. It’s giving me a more holistic view of the entity at hand and its annual operations cycle. What’s more, the experience has reassured my goal to pursue audit as a career path.

I’m happy to share that I have accepted an offer to join Crowe as audit staff after graduation. I look forward to building a successful, rewarding career in my hometown of Sacramento.