NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management has established a committee of accounting industry leaders to serve as advisers for its new master of accountancy (MAcc) degree program.
The committee members will work closely with Owen School faculty and administrators to ensure the MAcc degree is relevant to the industry by offering insights on curricular issues and providing mentoring, internship and career opportunities.
The founding members of the new MAcc Advisory Committee are:
* Steve Appel, audit partner, KPMG (Orlando) – Appel has expertise in banking, manufacturing and high technology. He has more than 27 years of experience with KPMG in the United States and Mexico.
* James Brady, regional managing partner, Audit/Risk Services, Southeast Region, Deloitte & Touche (Atlanta) – Brady has more than 25 years of accounting and professional services experience, with expertise in SEC financial reporting, including public debt and equity offerings knowledge.
* David A. Costello, president and CEO, National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (Nashville) – Costello heads a voluntary organization of the 54 boards of accountancy in the United States and its territories. The boards are responsible for the licensing of certified public accountants nationwide, as well as monitoring the continuing competence of their licensees through continuing education and practice review programs.
* Michael P. Emmert, executive vice president and senior managing director, Mesirow Financial Consulting (Chicago) – Emmert, a CPA, has spent more than 30 years assisting clients and counsel with the accounting, financial and business aspects of complex business conflicts.
* Michael Hamilton, chief learning and development officer-Americas, Ernst & Young (Irvine, Calif.) – Hamilton leads Ernst & Young‘s learning and development organization in its mission to provide growth opportunities for its 28,000 people in North and South America.
* Sridhar “Sri” Ramamoorti, partner, National Corporate Governance Group, Grant Thornton (Chicago) – Ramamoorti has more than 20 years of auditing, consulting and academic experience. He provides technical consultation on Sarbanes Oxley, professional standards, financial reporting and auditing matters and anti-fraud programs and controls.
* Dion P. Sheidy, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (Atlanta) – Sheidy will be the partner in charge of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Nashville Office and Health Care Advisory Practice.
The Owen School announced in October that it will expand its degree offerings to include a master‘s degree in accountancy beginning in fall 2007. The 10-month program is intended for non-accounting undergraduates who aspire to launch their careers with one of the top global accounting firms, including Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
With its master of accountancy, Vanderbilt has built a program that supplements accounting courses with classes in business fundamentals and communications and leadership. In addition, MAcc students will receive intensive on-the-job training through a paid 10-week internship during the program. Graduates will be expected to take the CPA exam the summer following graduation.
Applications for the inaugural MAcc class of 2007 are now being accepted. Applicants will be required to submit an application and essay; provide letters of recommendation, a transcript and resume; and submit a GMAT or GRE score. Admissions interviews will also be required. In addition to a strong academic record and graduate test score, applicants should have exceptional communications skills and leadership potential, good analytical and problem-solving skills and have completed one introductory course in financial accounting from an accredited school, with a grade of “B” or better. Unlike the two-year Vanderbilt MBA, the master of accountancy does not require applicants to have any work experience after their graduation from college.
The Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt is ranked as a top institution by Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Financial Times and Forbes. For more news about Owen, visit www.owen.vanderbilt.edu.
For more news about Vanderbilt, visit VUCast – Vanderbilt‘s News Network at www.vanderbilt.edu/news.
Media contact: Princine Lewis, (615) 322-NEWS
Princine.l.lewis@vanderbilt.edu