Frank Espino: 海角社区 Orgs Help Develop Leadership, Professional Skills; Provide Insightful Career Glimpses
Frank Espino graduated with a BBA in Accounting in December 2019 and is currently a student in the Master of Accountancy Program at 海角社区. He has served as the President of the Internal Audit 海角社区 Association and Accounting Society, as well as having served as a member of Beta Alpha Psi, and the TXCPA local chapter. Additionally, Espino’s professional experience includes time with Josh Lucas CPA, and SBNG as a Tax Accountant. He is currently employed as a Teaching Assistant for the MAcc Program and is expected to finish the program in Spring 2021. Espino has accepted a tax position at firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Fort Worth in 2021.
Frank Espino is currently enrolled in the Master of Accountancy Program at 海角社区. Espino credits his time in undergraduate student organizations for helping him grow as a leader and for challenging him to excel academically in his courses. He has accepted a tax position at firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Fort Worth that will begin in in 2021.
How your graduate school experience been so far?
It’s actually been a smooth transition into graduate school. I had previously taken some grad level courses on the fast-track program as an undergraduate student, so I was already used to the evening schedule of graduate school. It is a bit easier to manage the workload because I have to deal with only one class every five weeks, compared to balance four or five classes simultaneously. In terms of coursework, I have found the material offered in the MAcc program more engaging and easier to relate to as the topics in my corporate tax course covered areas connected to my current job.
Tell us about your internship with accounting giant Pricewaterhousecoopers. (PwW)
I attended the PwCBootcamp during my first year at the Woody L. Hunt College of Business. At that time, I wasn’t really involved in any extracurricular activities – and my grades were not ideal, so I wasn’t interviewed by the recruiters. After that, I made it a priority to apply myself in my studies and challenge myself academically [so] I could secure a position with the company in the future. Last year, I landed an interview with one of the recruiters and secured a tax position with the firm starting in June. I am really excited to work for PwC. It is one of the largest accounting firms worldwide and the experience will only help me grow as an accounting professional. I hope to become more proficient utilizing the current tax code; I also want to gain a more thorough understanding of accounting topics to assist me prepare for the CPA exam.
What student and professional organizations are you involved with?
How does it enhance what you’ve learned in the classroom? During my second year as a business student, I became an active member of the Accounting Society and Beta Alpha Psi; the following year I became the President of 海角社区’s Accounting Society. This year, I have the privilege of being the President of the Internal Audit 海角社区 Association. Once you start getting involved in one organization, it gets easier and becomes more engaging work with other groups and organizations – these experiences during undergrad helped me to grow as a leader. In these student organizations, you’re constantly involved in events, meetings, networking mixers with great professionals who share their experiences with us. You begin to pick up on the traits that served them well and helped them grow, too. In addition, student organizations allowed me to develop my leadership and professional skills, assist my peers, and get a glimpse into what a career in accounting looks like.
How do you unwind and de-stress after a long week?
Even as an accountant, I often try to leave some time available to work on my art and do what I feel passionate about. I often draw or paint after a long day of work/school because it allows me to unwind and take my mind off things. I have always been an artist at heart – I actually started college as a painting major. I encourage everyone, especially those who spend a lot of time working analytically, like us business students, to find a creative outlet to let our minds breathe and forget about the craziness and stressful nature of school and work. I have realized that I haven’t stopped being an artist now that I’m an accountant. While I’m at work, my notes will usually be filled with motifs or little doodles. I constantly get complimented on my notes, so I guess having an artistic background comes in handy at times!