Accounting and Tax Student Organization - ATSO at Walsh College

We started on February 15th, 2013. Our purpose is to build relationships with students along with providing networking opportunities in the business and professional community. We invite guest speakers from the accounting industry to enhance our knowledge of current topics and issues facing the accounting firms.

Our “Discover Your Local CPA Firm” has also been a very well received initiative. This event is centered on educating students about career choices at small, mid-size and regional accounting firms. Students learn about “the firm, their clients, and their professional career paths.” Students visit the firm and have a chance to meet partners and staff.

Since inception, we have exceeded our members’ expectations. We have visited five firms, Croskey Lanni; ShindelRock; Clayton & McKervey; PwC; and UHY, where we learned about the firm, the people who work there, the culture, and had lunch with partners and staff in a very open question and answer environment.

We have also gone to 11 networking events. At one, we had breakfast with Barry Melancon, President of the AICPA. At another the MACPA invited us to meet with Bill Balhoff, Vice Chair of the AICPA. Business leaders as well as the students thoroughly enjoy the networking opportunities.

We have also had some fun social events, participated in charitable causes and volunteered for the Accounting Aid Society preparing tax returns for low income taxpayers.

We had a career fair dress rehersal for our members. Deb Mourray and Scott Wycoff, from advising helped us prepare ourselves by role playing recruiters. The goal was to practice our handshake and our 30 second elevator speech in order to make the best possible impression to all recruiters.

We coordinated on campus tax training with the Accounting Aid Society on January 18th. The training was to prepare us to complete tax returns for low income families in the Metro Detroit area and over 100 people showed to the all day training.

On February 21st, 2014 we had our 1 year Anniversary with students, faculty, business leaders, several accounting firm, and the MACPA. We had over 200 people celebrating with us

In June 2014, the Accounting Aid Society will be providing us with training to prepare 990's for Non Profits. This pilot program will give students first hand experience in preparing 990's for Non Profits.

We have accomplished a lot in our first year and there are many more great things ahead of us.

Join ATSO now and begin the first step on your path to a career in accounting.

If you have any questions please email us at atso@walshcollege.edu. I hope to see you around.


Live. Breathe. ATSO.