Alex Dadashev, a 2012 Accounting alumnus, has reconnected with his alma mater to explore ways in which Woodbury’s Accounting majors can become better prepared for a successful career in their field. Dadashev, once an eager Accounting student who explored all of the career development resources at his disposal to help land a desirable job at one of the “Big Four” accounting firms, has emerged as a successful audit manager at Ernst & Young. Now he wants to do his part to help current Woodbury Accounting students receive the highest level of professional preparation, enabling them to land their own dream job.
In order to achieve this, Dadashev met with members of the Accounting Department as well as School of Business Dean Joan Marques. Together they created an operational infrastructure designed to further enhance how faculty engage with students and provide them with real-world information and skills that will assist them as they begin their careers. In addition, Dadashev and a contingent of other successful Woodbury Accounting alumni will hold session on campus each semester, providing one-on-one guidance with Accounting students to assist them in polishing their interviewing skills.
Dadashev praised the skill set and the wide spectrum of coverage that the faculty of the Accounting Department provides to students — Dr. Alice Shiotsugu, a taxation-auditing expert and well-connected former IRS manager; Dr. Kevin Park, a seasoned and broadly oriented accounting scholar; and Mr. Jeff Neumeister, a full-service accounting business professional.
These new accounting career preparation workshops will be mandatory for juniors and seniors in the Accounting program and optional for freshmen and sophomores. The workshops will begin during the fall 2019 semester, before the School of Business’ annual “Meet the Firms” event, to ensure that participating students are fully prepared to put their best foot forward when they meet with local accounting firms.