The accounting concentration in Whittier’s business administration program facilitates a pipeline that helps usher in the next era of tax accountants.
“We prepare students to get on the certified public accountant track, leading them to audit, tax, consulting and accounting careers,” said Business Administration Co-Chair Lana Nino.
Since 2018, roughly 8-10 students per year have participated in the program. According to Lecturer in Business Administration Rik Ichiho, a shortage of accountants right now has increased demand just as Whittier’s broad liberal arts foundation helps students fast-track these in-demand skills and enter the workforce a step ahead.
“We've never had a student accepted into a graduate program who didn't finish it,” Ichiho said.
Graduates enroll at partnership universities such as the University of California, Irvine, Loyola Marymount University, and the University of Southern California.
“Since the California Board of Accountancy changed the CPA exam requirements to 150 credits, Whittier had to adapt and create paths for students to finish their fifth year in accounting at graduate schools and gain a master’s degree within one additional year,” Nino said.
Last year, Fayze Hindi ’23 graduated from UC Irvine’s Paul Merage Business School with a master’s degree in Professional Accountancy on a full scholarship from the firm Deloitte. Hindi went on to work at Deloitte’s Irvine office in its assurance practice.
“I love that the faculty in the business department truly value and invest in their students,” Hindi said. “It is one of the best qualities of Whittier College.”
With only one semester so far under his belt at USC's Leventhal Graduate School, Lawrence Dydell ’24 already has a job offer in place from Ernst and Young in his hometown of Seattle. He will join the firm after graduating with his master’s in May 2025.
Dydell originally went to Whittier to play soccer but his professors encouraged him to pursue accounting. He credits Whittier’s instructors with preparing him for graduate school and is thankful for the opportunity to network with professionals at USC.
Dydell also received invaluable, real-world experience through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which lets Whittier’s accountants-in-training give income tax preparation assistance for free throughout the season.
“It definitely helped me not only get into USC, but also gave me a good feeling of what it's like to be in a workplace,” he said.
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