UAlbany-SUNY, State Society of CPAs Partner to Offer Career Advice to Local High School Juniors

Contact(s):  Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150, Cara Patterson (212) 719-8362

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 24, 2008) -- The University at Albany will partner with the Foundation for Accounting Education of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) to offer the Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program to some 20 area minority high school juniors.

The program will be held from June 29 through July 2 at University Hall on the UAlbany main campus.
 
COAP educates minority high school students on the many facets of the accounting profession and builds skills to help them succeed in college and the business world. This year, Albany students will tour PricewaterhouseCoopers and participate in a panel discussion about accounting. Albany business professionals will lead sessions on interviewing and networking skills, and students will learn to craft an effective resume during a workshop. They will learn the finer points of etiquette at a special dinner.
 
UAlbany business lecturer Suzanne Traylor, chair of the COAP program, and School of Business finance and administration director Tyrone Reid visited math, business and technical classes at Albany high schools this year in an effort to recruit students to the program. They found many of the students unaware of opportunities in the accounting profession. �Site visits to high schools have been really useful in trying to get across that this is a great career with tremendous opportunities for youth,� Traylor said.
 
�There are so many opportunities for accountants besides working as a CPA in a CPA firm. Accountants have diverse careers in government, industry, education and non-profit organizations. Many accountants are financial experts, consultants, and leaders of major corporations. � A business career might be the ticket for a lot of these kids to use their math skills,� said Traylor.
 
Historically, minorities have been underrepresented in the accounting profession, and the COAP program aims to increase diversity. A survey of COAP alumni has revealed that nearly 100 percent of respondents have gone on to college and that 70 percent are majoring or enrolled in accounting or business programs.
 
COAP programs will be held at 10 different colleges and universities across the state this year.  More than 1,900 students have taken part in COAP programs at 10 different universities since it began in New York State in 1987.
 

About the NYSSCPA
Representing 29,000 CPAs, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) is the oldest state accounting organization in the nation, celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. Chartered in 1934, the Northeast Chapter encompasses the counties of Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Washington. More than 1,000 members belong to the Northeast Chapter.
 
Incorporated in 1897, the Society is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to establish and maintain high standards of integrity, honor, and character among certified public accountants.  Its members are CPAs working in public practice, industry, government and education in a state that serves as the home of Wall Street and major financial institutions.
 
The New York State Society of CPAs is located at 3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016.  To learn more about the Society call (800) 633-6320 or visit the Society.

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