Accounting

Beyond the Balance Sheet

Throughout my Accounting career, I have come to see accounting as more than just numbers in a book; it is a puzzle where you piece data together and understand transactions to a better extent.

Honors I-Core and my audit/tax internship with the executive officer role in a student organization showed me how accountants in different departments connect together, whether it be through the work or the community culture. These experiences helped support those core ideas and objectives from class.

This artifact shows the progression from Honors I-Core to performing real-world work, and my future as a Tax Associate at Forvis Mazars, Indianapolis, all part of my ongoing pursuit to better understand the world of accounting.

Honors I-Core (24')

Honors I-Core is an integrated academic experience that brings together courses in Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Leadership Dynamics. Throughout the program, students collaborate in teams to develop strategic solutions and ultimately present their ideas to a real company. I had the pleasure of working alongside Becca Holly, Harjod Keema, Noah Kirsch, Peter Loughran, and Eli Mercer.

By the end of the Fall 2024 semester, our team delivered a final pitch to the company, presenting an idea we had spent months developing together. Beyond the project itself, the experience allowed us to build meaningful connections with one another. Those relationships continued beyond the classroom. During the following semester, Eli, Becca, and I had the opportunity to study abroad together in Japan.

Forvis Mazars Internship (25')

During my college career, I had the opportunity to intern at one of the top ten accounting firms in the nation, Forvis Mazars. I began in the spring of 2025 as a tax intern, where I gained hands‑on experience preparing returns, researching issues, and supporting client engagements. That summer, I transitioned into an audit internship, which allowed me to broaden my skills and understand the firm from a different perspective. I continued my journey with Forvis Mazars as a student associate in the spring of 2026, further strengthening my technical knowledge and professional confidence.

This internship has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic and professional development. I learned the technical foundations of both tax and audit, and I also developed essential soft skills such as communicating with clients, collaborating with teams, and navigating real‑world situations with professionalism and adaptability.

Forvis Mazars Tax Associate (26')

As my school career comes to an end, I am excited to begin a new chapter filled with opportunities to grow, learn, and build meaningful connections. Last year, I was offered full‑time positions in both the audit and tax departments, and after thoughtful consideration, I chose to pursue the tax route because it aligns best with my interests and long‑term goals.

I am proud to share that I will be joining Forvis Mazars as a full‑time Tax Associate beginning in October 2026. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to developing my skills, contributing to the firm, and beginning a career I am truly excited about.

Reflection

I have always chosen accounting because I see a logical answer to everything. I love the feeling of taking messy receipts or confusing data and turning it into a system where everyone can read it clearly.

In most peoples eyes, they might think accounting is just about looking at what happened in the past or bookkeeping. I see it differently. To me, every spreadsheet is like a map for the future. While working on my project returns, I realized that behind every number is a person working hard to reach a goal. My job isn't just to make sure the math is right. It is to give people the clear information they need to make smart choices and grow their business with confidence.

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