The path to professional
ACCOUNTING MAJOR
ADVISING BOOKLET
Name _______________________________________________________
My faculty advisor is __________________________________________
Catalog for major _____________________________________________
Catalog for general education __________________________________
SPRING 2014
School of Business Administration Mission Statement
The University of Montana’s School of Business Administration (SoBA) is a collegial learning
community dedicated to the teaching, exploration, and application of the knowledge and skills
necessary to succeed in a competitive marketplace.
University of Montana, School of Business Administration Accounting Faculty
Director of Masters of
Accountancy program
teresa.beed@umontana.edu
243-6494, GBB 315
Teresa Beed is a CPA and received her Ph.D. from the University
of Colorado in Boulder. She is a professor of accounting and the
Director of the Masters of Accountancy Program. Her teaching
interests are intermediate financial accounting and the masterslevel accounting theory class. She is a member of AICPA, IMA,
and is serving a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the
MSCPA.
Dr. Teresa Beed, CPA
Professor of Accounting
Pat and Judy McDonald
Faculty Fellow
Dr. Josh Herbold, CPA
joshua.herbold@umontana.edu
243-2724, GBB 320
Associate Professor of
Accounting
Associate Dean
terri.herron@umontana.edu
243-6276, GBB 374
Josh Herbold is an associate professor and the Pat & Judy
McDonald Faculty Fellow at the University of Montana’s School of
Business Administration. Currently, he teaches a variety of
financial accounting topics, though he has also taught accounting
for MBA students, auditing, and a range of accounting-related
executive education courses. Josh received both his
undergraduate and graduate accounting degrees from the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is a CPA in the state of
Montana, is a member of the board of directors of the Bookstore at
UM, and serves as a volunteer and board member for the Missoula
County Search and Rescue team.
Terri Herron is a CPA in Montana and Texas and is also a CISA.
She received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington
and undergraduate degree from Baylor University. She is the
Associate Dean for the School of Business Administration. She
has practical experience with KPMG, LLP as an audit manager.
She has served on the MSCPA board of directors and is also a
member of the AICPA and the American Accounting Association.
Dr. Terri Herron, CPA,
CISA
Professor of Accounting
casey.mcnellis@umontana.edu
243-4698, GBB 309
Dr. Casey McNellis, CPA
Assistant Professor of
Accounting
Casey McNellis earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration
(Accounting) at Washington State University. Casey primarily
teaches upper-division financial accounting courses and the
graduate-level auditing courses, but also has teaching experience
in a variety of other areas including management accounting. In
2005, he became a member of the Board of Directors for Peaks
and Plains Inc., a medical supplier in Washington, and continues to
serve in this capacity. Casey is a CPA in the State of Washington
and is a member of the American Accounting Association.
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KPMG Faculty Fellow
ron.premuroso@umontana.edu
243-6464, GBB 341
Dr. Ron Premuroso, CPA,
CFE
Ron Premuroso is a CPA in Florida and a Certified Fraud
Examiner. He earned his Ph.D. and Masters of Accountancy
degrees from Florida Atlantic University and his undergraduate
accounting degree from Florida State University. He teaches
Accounting Information Systems, Fraud & Forensic accounting,
Cost Management, and Financial and Managerial Accounting
courses. He was an audit manager with KPMG, LLP and then
spent 20 years in private industry. He is a member of the
Sensormatic Hall of Fame and the American Accounting
Association.
Assistant Professor of
Accounting
John and Kathy Connors
Faculty Fellow
barbara.reider@umontana.edu
243-5145, GBB 311
Barbara Reider has been a faculty member at the University of
Montana since 2001. Her primary teaching interests are
intermediate accounting, government and not-for-profit accounting,
and auditing. Barbara has received several professional
certifications including Certified Public Accountant, Certified
Management Accountant, and Certified Internal Auditing. Barbara
received her PhD from Kent State University in Ohio.
Dr. Barbara Reider, CPA,
CMA, CIA, CFM, CGFM Professor of Accounting
kenton.swift@umontana.edu
243-4182, GBB 319
Dr. Kent Swift, CPA
Associate Professor of
Accounting
kristen.sohlberg@umontana.edu
243-5916, GBB 340
Kent Swift received his PhD in Accounting and his Masters in
Accountancy degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He also has a Master’s of Business Administration degree from the
University of California at Berkeley. Kent teaches the
undergraduate and graduate level tax courses at U of M. His
teaching interests also include financial reporting and managerial
accounting. Kent is a licensed CPA and has more than 25 years of
experience as an accounting professional.
Ms. Sohlberg completed her Masters of Accountancy in May 2002
at The University of Montana and passed the CPA exam. She has
a BA in Elementary Education from The University of Montana.
She is the accountant at a private school in Missoula. She currently
teaches financial and managerial accounting and the accounting
lab.
Kristen Sohlberg, CPA
Adjunct Instructor
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brent.russ@umontana.edu
243-6154, GBB 348-6
Brent Russ, CPA
Adjunct Instructor
Ed Guay, CPA
edward.guay@umontana.edu
243-5137, GBB 348-5
Adjunct Instructor
Brent graduated with high honors from The University of Montana
with a BS in Business in 1995 and received his Master of
Accountancy in 1996. After graduation he served on active duty in
the US Army until the spring of 1997 when he sat for the CPA
exam and started work in public accounting. He worked for a
regional public accounting firm until 2002 when he started his own
accounting firm, Russ Enterprises, LLC. Also in 2002, he began
working for Montana Preferred Properties, LLC as a Realtor. Brent
continues to work in his own accounting firm, as a real estate
broker for his company Russ Real Estate, and teach here at the
School of Business Administration at The University of Montana.
Mr. Ed Guay is entering his tenth year teaching as an adjunct
instructor for the accounting department. Mr. Guay holds
undergraduate degrees in both Political Science- Pre Law from
Montana State University and Business Administration with an
Accounting Emphasis from the University of Montana. He obtained
his Masters of Business Administration from the University of
Montana. He obtained his Certified Public Accountant status in
1992. Mr. Guay brings a strong practical experience aspect into
the classroom. Over the past 18 years he has worked in the
capacity of Controller, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
for several notable companies in Montana. In addition he is or has
sat on various profit and non-profit boards in the Missoula area.
The Department of Accounting and Finance seeks to instill high ethical
standards in all students. Students are expected to be familiar with and to
uphold the University of Montana Student Conduct Code .
(http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php
Academic misconduct is not tolerated.
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Table of Contents
About the Accounting Program…………………………………6
Career Advising…………………………………………………..6
Course Advising – Freshman and Sophomore Years……….7
Course Advising – Junior and Senior Years…………………..8
Advising Tips……………………………………………………..10
The Rules…………………………………………………………11
Department of Accounting and Finance Policies…………….12
Certificate in Accounting Information Systems……………....13
Masters of Accountancy………………………………………...13
Beta Alpha Psi……………………………………………….......14
Professional Organizations……………………………………..15
2013-2014 Major and General Education Requirements...…16
List of Other Designations………………………………………17
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About the Accounting Program
Undergraduate accounting majors may select from a variety of career and higher education
pathways. The undergraduate accounting program is designed to provide a broad base of
analytical and qualitative business knowledge that would apply to any accounting field.
The Accounting programs at the University of Montana are accredited by AACSB (Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International). Only 178 institutions worldwide hold this
“gold standard” accreditation, and no other accounting program in the State of Montana holds this
distinction. In fact, only 10 schools in all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana hold
separate AACSB accounting accreditation. We are very proud of earning this distinction and strive
to continually improve our programs in the spirit of AACSB accreditation.
The Department of Accounting & Finance values high quality teaching. Our full-time faculty teach
across the curriculum providing students the opportunity to gain exposure to a diverse collection of
teaching styles, while forming professional relationships with a number of faculty members.
Mission Statement - Undergraduate Accounting Studies
The undergraduate accounting program is committed to preparing students to apply accounting
and business knowledge in organizations.
Learning Goals:
Students graduating with a major in accounting will:
• Possess fundamental accounting knowledge
• Be effective business writers
• Critically analyze and solve problems, using technology where appropriate
• Understand the importance of ethics to the accounting profession and demonstrate ethical
decision making
Career Advising
Accounting majors are fortunate to have many, many options available as careers. All
organizations need accountants!! Some need accountants with only bookkeeping knowledge,
which you can acquire without getting an accounting degree. Most need accountants with detailed
knowledge of GAAP, financial statements, and management skills, which requires at least an
undergraduate degree.
Because we realize students may not have a clear idea of what field of accounting they would like
to enter, we bring in guest speakers and panels that represent a wide variety of careers. These
include:
External Auditing
Nonprofit Accounting
Internal Auditing
Financial Consultant
Tax Prep/Research
Tax Compliance
Forensic Accountant
IS Auditor/Consultant
Corporate Accounting
Government Accountant
Fraud Auditor
Entrepreneur
Most professional accounting positions either require or prefer the CPA certification. Some
positions also seek specialty certifications such as the CMA, CIA, CFE, or CISA (see last page of
booklet for a list of certifications). To earn a CPA in most states in the U.S., you must have 150
6
semester credits, though the specific requirements for licensure vary from state to state. Many
accounting programs accommodate this requirement by offering a one-year (30 credit) masters
degree in accounting. UM’s Master of Accountancy (MAcct) degree is structured to be completed
in one year. The MAcct has a reputation for high quality, advanced study in accounting,
development of interpersonal skills, and an extremely high job placement rate. UM’s MAcct
students succeed in much higher rates than the national average on the CPA exam. Because the
undergraduate program is not designed to be complete preparation for the CPA exam, those
wanting to be a CPA without obtaining our MAcct degree will be looking at significant self-study to
be successful on the exam.
Recruiters tell us that they assume all accounting majors will have the appropriate technical basis
for the job. What differentiates applicants is their ability to communicate, think on their feet,
present themselves professionally, and analyze complex problems without apparent black and
white answers. The more education you get, the more these skills will develop.
Course Advising – Freshman and Sophomore Years
To do list:
 Complete the 11 lower-core courses required for any business major (see below)
 Earn grades of C or better in these 11 lower-core courses
 Take some general education classes
 Take some elective classes
 Apply for the accounting major the semester before beginning 300-level business courses
 Begin attending Career Development activities in the SoBA
It is advisable to balance your schedule so that you do not find yourself with some of the more
challenging courses all in the same semester. If you expect to have difficulties with any
subject, take that subject early. This will allow you the most degrees of freedom. Because of
the requirement to earn a C or better in all 11 of these lower core courses, some students find the
need to repeat a course to achieve the C grade (note: C- does NOT count as a C). Prerequisites
are strictly enforced.
11 Lower Core Courses – Required for any business major
WRIT 101
M115 or M162
STAT 216
ECNS 201S
ECNS 202S
CSCI 172
COMX 111A
ACTG 201
ACTG 202
BGEN 235
BMIS 270
College Writing I
Probability & Linear Math
Introduction to Statistics (Prereq = M 115)
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics (Prereq = ECNS 201S)
Intro to Computer Modeling
Introduction to Public Speaking
Princ. of Financial Accounting (Prereq or Coreq = M 115)
Princ. of Managerial Accounting (Prereq = ACTG 201 and M 115,
each with a C or better)
Business Law
MIS Foundations for Business
Prereq = you must complete the prereq BEFORE taking the course (not with or after)
Prereq or Coreq = you must complete the coreq BEFORE or WHILE taking the course (not after)
7
A suggested course progression is below:
SEMESTER 1
WRIT 101
College Writing
M 115
Probability and Linear Math
ECNS 201
Prin of Microeconomics
Elective (consider BGEN 105S Intro to Business)
General Education Course
Total
3
3
3
3
3
15
SEMESTER 3
ACTG 201
Principles of Financial Accounting
STAT 216
Introduction to Statistics
Elective - Non - business
Elective - Non - business
General Education Course
3
4
3
3
3
Total
16
SEMESTER 2
COMX 111
Public Speaking
CSCI 172
Intro to Computer Modeling
ECNS 202
Principles of Macroeconomics
Elective - Non - business
General Education Writing Course
Total
3
3
3
3
3
15
SEMESTER 4
ACTG 202
Princ of Managerial Accounting 3
BGEN 235
Business Law
3
BMIS 270
MIS Foundations for Business
3
General Education Course
3
General Education Course
3
ACTG 203
Accounting Lab (or semester 5) 1
Apply for accounting major
Total
15-16
Course Advising – Junior and Senior Years
Most of your accounting courses will be taken in your junior and senior years. Important notes
about these courses:
 Many 300- and 400-level accounting courses are only offered one term per year – you
must plan ahead and do well in these courses to stay on track for graduation
 All required 400-level ACTG courses and the business capstone courses must be taken at
The University of Montana-Missoula.
 All course prerequisites and corequisites are strictly enforced for undergraduates
 You must first earn a C or better in ACTG 305 and ACTG 203 before you can take ACTG
306 or ACTG 307
 We recommend that you take ACTG 203 Accounting Lab right after you take ACTG 201;
but you must take it no later than the semester you are taking ACTG 305 or ACTG 321
(whichever you take first)
 It is highly recommended to take no more than two 3-credit accounting courses per
semester once you start the 300-level coursework
 BFIN 322 should be completed as early as possible to increase synergy with accounting
courses
 You must earn a C- or better in the four upper core classes BEFORE you take a capstone
course (BMGT 486 and BGEN 499 are capstone courses)
 You should meet with your faculty advisor in your junior year to discuss career options and
how those might impact your future coursework and plans
When you have completed the 11 lower core classes, achieved at least 60 credits, and applied for
and been accepted in your accounting major, then you can begin taking upper division business
classes. These are in three groups: (1) those required for your accounting major, (2) upper core
8
classes, and (3) capstone courses. Unless otherwise noted in a prerequisite, you must complete
these courses with a grade of C- or better. Courses and prereqs/coreqs are listed below:
ACCOUNTING COURSES
Required:
 ACTG 203 Accounting Lab (1 cr)
 ACTG 305 Corporate Reporting I
 ACTG 306 Corporate Reporting II
 ACTG 321 Accounting Info Systems
 ACTG 401 Prin. Fed Income Tax – Individual
 ACTG 410 Cost/Management Acct I
 ACTG 411 Auditing
 ACTG 425 State & Local Government ACCT
 ACTG 498 Internship
PREREQ / COREQ
Prereq=ACTG 201, C or better
Coreq=ACTG 203
Prereq=ACTG 203 and 305, Cs or better
Coreq-ACTG 203
Coreq=ACTG 306
Coreq=ACTG 306
Prereq=ACTG 321 and ACTG 306
Coreq=ACTG 306
Electives:
 ACTG 307 Corporate Reporting III
 ACTG 420 Cost/Management Acct II
 ACTG 426 Actg. for Nonprofit Organizations
Coreq=ACTG 306
Prereq=ACTG 410
Coreq=ACTG 306
UPPER CORE COURSES
BFIN 322 Business Finance
BMGT 322 Operations Management
BMKT 325 Principles of Marketing
BMGT 340 Mgmt & Org Behavior
PREREQ / COREQ
lower core done, Cs or better
lower core done, Cs or better
lower core done, Cs or better
lower core done, Cs or better
CAPSTONE COURSES
BMGT 486 Strategic Venture Management
BGEN 499 Integrative Business Simulation
9
2011-2012 Catalog and Later
The following is a suggested course plan for 300- and 400-level coursework.
SEMESTER 5
ACTG 305
Corporate Reporting I
3
ACTG 321
Accounting Information Systems
3
ACTG 203
Accounting Lab (if not already taken) 1
BFIN 322
Business Finance
3
Elective – Non-business
3
General Education Course
3
Total
15-16
SEMESTER 6
ACTG 306
Corporate Reporting II
Accounting Elective ^
BMGT 322
Operations Management
BMKT 325
Principles of Marketing
General Education Writing Course
3
2-3
3
3
3
Total
15
SEMESTER 7
ACTG 401
Prin Fed. Income Tax – Individual*
ACTG 410
Cost Management Acct I
SEMESTER 8
3
3
ACTG 411
Auditing I**
2
ACTG 425
State & Local Govt Acct
BMGT 486
Strategic Venture Management
and
and
3
BMGT 340S Mgmt & Organizational Behavior
3
BGEN 499
Integrative Business Simulation
1
Elective - Non – business
3
Accounting elective^
3
General Education Course
3
Elective – Non-business
3
Apply for spring graduation
3
Elective
14-15
Total
15 Total
^3 credits of accounting electives must be taken from ACTG 307 (2 cr.), ACTG 426 (1 cr.), ACTG 432 (1 cr.),
or ACTG 498 (1-3 cr.).
Those only offered for the one term listed are marked with **.
A maximum of 30 credits of ACTG courses can count towards the 120 credits in the degree.
All required 400-level ACTG courses and capstone courses must be taken at University of Montana-Missoula.
Advising Tips:

The following offerings are planned in the next year. Note that some courses are only offered
once per year. Variations to this plan are announced in classes, at group advising sessions,
and at 4Bear advising appointments.
ACTG 203 – fall, spring
ACTG 305 – fall, spring
ACTG 306 – fall, spring
ACTG 307 – spring only
ACTG 321 – fall, spring
ACTG 401 – fall only
ACTG 410 – fall only
ACTG 411 – spring only
ACTG 425 – spring only*
ACTG 426 – spring only*
ACTG 420 – not offered 2013-2014
ACTG 432 – spring only
*ACTG 425 and ACTG 426 will be offered in Fall 2013

Accounting majors should never depend upon a particular course being offered during the
summer. Summer offerings are determined early in the spring prior to summer session but
before registration for fall semester. It is at this point that students can determine if a particular
accounting class will be offered during summer session.

Each student should meet in person with his or her assigned faculty advisor starting in the
junior year. You can either see your advisor during regular office hours or make an
appointment. You will still get your advising number at the group advising sessions.
10

Accounting Information Systems (ACTG 321) is best taken in the same semester as Corporate
Reporting I (ACTG 305).

For those students interested in pursuing a CPA or entering the MAcct, ACTG 307 (and ACTG
426) should be taken.

Students are encouraged to take ACTG 432 (VITA—Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) in the
spring semester of their senior year. This is a 1-credit, C/NCR course where students provide
income tax preparation for lower-income taxpayers. Students also conduct outreach by going
to agency locations to prepare returns for underserved populations such as teen mothers,
homeless families, and disabled community members.

Accounting internships may or may not count towards graduation, depending on the catalog being
followed and the number of ACTG credits. All ACTG 498 Internships require department chair
approval and must involve work beyond bookkeeping that applies to upper division coursework.

Faculty are required to hold office hours to meet students one-on-one. If you have any
difficulties in a class, you should see your instructor as soon as possible. Do not try to solve
the problem on your own. If you are proactive, then you will likely succeed.
The Rules Applicable to the 2011-2012 and later catalogs:
The catalog dictates a number of rules that you must follow in order to graduate. These rules
cannot be waived, so it is important that you pay attention to them as you go along. We see
students every year who must delay their graduation because they fail to meet these.
1. All lower core courses must be completed with a grade of C or better (not C-).
2. All upper core courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
3. You must earn a C- or better in any course counted as a Gen Ed course.
4. Some courses in the accounting major require a grade of C or better (ACTG 203, 305).
5. You must earn at least 120 credits.
 Of the 120 credits, 60 must be non-business (ECNS may be counted as non-business).
 HHP activity courses cannot count in the 60 non-business courses.
 If you earn two business majors or the AIS Certificate, you will exceed 120 credits.
6. All courses counted towards the major or Gen Ed requirements must be taken for a letter
grade, except for courses offered only as CR/NCR.
7. A maximum of 30 credits of ACTG courses can count towards the 120 credits in the degree.
8. A maximum of 3 internship credits can count towards the degree.
9. All business majors are required to take experiential courses. Because ACTG 321, ACTG
401, and the capstone course are designated as “experiential,” accounting majors will
automatically meet the experiential requirement.
10. Your GPA must meet three tests:
a. Overall GPA at least 2.0
b. GPA in business courses at least 2.0
c. GPA in major courses at least 2.0
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11. You must pass the Major Field Test in Business to earn a business degree from UM. You
will be required to take this test as part of the capstone.
12. You must earn 39 upper division credits (upper division requirement).
13. All required 400-level ACTG courses and the capstone course must be taken at The
University of Montana-Missoula, in addition to other residency requirements. Transfers in
of these courses will not be approved.
14. You must earn 30 of your last 45 credits at UM (end of degree residency requirement). See
below for 2011-2012 catalog rules.
15. In the absence of a residency requirement, departments reserve the right to accept or deny
any transfer credits that apply in the major, so you must get these approved ahead of time.
16. In general, once you start your accounting major at UM, you are expected to take UM
accounting courses to complete the major (exceptions for exchanges apply).
Department of Accounting and Finance Policies
1. Department faculty members will sign drop slips until the University’s official mid-term drop
date. After that date, a petition is required. A petition will not be approved unless the
student can produce documentation of meeting one of the approved circumstances per the
UM catalog. The instructor reserves the right to deny petitions to drop.
2. The Department strictly enforces Accounting & Finance and School of Business
Administration prerequisites. Prerequisites are checked in all classes. If a student does not
meet course prerequisites, he cannot enroll in the course.
3. It is the student’s responsibility to plan his schedule, including the constraint that not all
classes are available every semester. To avoid the possibility of a delay in graduation,
students should regularly consult with their faculty advisor about the departmental plans for
course offerings.
4. A career in accounting is a professional career. Students are expected to act professionally
in all of their courses and in their contact with faculty members. Faculty members of the
department are dedicated to helping all students achieve their professional career goals.
To accomplish this, it is essential that students respect each other’s right to pursue their
education in the most beneficial atmosphere possible.
5. Students must use the approved calculator on examinations: Texas Instruments BAII+.
The instructor must approve the use of any other calculator.
6. Department faculty members maintain an open-door policy. Students are encouraged to
visit faculty during their office hours or to seek appointments to discuss any academic or
career questions.
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Certificate in Accounting Information Systems
The Accounting Information Systems (AIS) certificate prepares students for careers that bridge
accounting and management information systems, such as consulting, internal audit, external
audit, or other positions where more than a basic knowledge of either accounting or MIS is
necessary. See Dr. Ron Premuroso or Dr. David Firth for more information.
To obtain an AIS certificate, a student majoring in accounting must:
 Complete the requirements for accounting major,
 Meet with an AIS certificate advisor (Dr. Premuroso),
 Complete the certificate application with the graduation application, pay the fee, and
 Complete the following courses with an average GPA of 3.0 or better in these 25 credits: ACTG
203, ACTG 321, ACTG 305, ACTG 306, ACTG 411, BMIS 365, BMIS 370, BMIS 373 and
BMIS 479.
Accounting majors wanting to add the AIS certificate would typically incorporate the necessary
coursework as indicated below. Courses counting toward the AIS certificate are in bold italics:
Semester 5 (fall of junior year) – ACTG 203, ACTG 305, ACTG 321, BMIS 365
Semester 6 (spring of junior year) – ACTG 306, BMIS 370,BMIS 373, ACTG 307 or ACTG elective
Semester 7 (fall of senior year) – BMIS 479, ACTG 401, ACTG 410
Semester 8 (spring of senior year) – ACTG 411, ACTG 425, ACTG elective
Masters of Accountancy
The baccalaureate program does not offer full preparation for professional certification as a
Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Students wanting to become CPAs are strongly advised to
complete the Master of Accountancy (MAcct) degree.
Masters of Accountancy Mission Statement
The Masters of Accountancy program provides breadth and depth in accounting, taxation, and
business to develop a high level of understanding, skill and leadership capability for advancement
in the accounting profession and other related business careers.
Dr. Teresa Beed is the Director of the MAcct program. Any student considering the MAcct program
should make an appointment with Dr. Beed to fully understand the program admission
requirements and recommended application timing. We also provide MAcct information in a senior
level accounting class each fall.
CPA exam pass rates for MAcct students are significantly higher than non-MAcct students.
Students interested in the MAcct should be sure and choose ACTG 307 Corporate Reporting III
and ACTG 426 Accounting for Nonprofit Organizations in their undergraduate accounting program.
A $1,000 Junies Chase MAcct Scholarship will be awarded to every MAcct student during the final
year of graduate school if the student attends the MAcct fulltime, is a student in good standing
during the entire year and is receiving no other merit-based scholarships from the School of
Business Administration for that year. The scholarship is not awarded for more than one year and
is not awarded to students who are in their prerequisite coursework years.
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Beta Alpha Psi
Beta Alpha Psi is an organization geared for the serious financial information student who wants to
have a little fun and GET INVOLVED! Beta Alpha Psi has achieved national and professional
recognition as the outstanding Accounting, Finance, and Information System student organization.
Goals of Beta Alpha Psi:






Instill a desire for self-improvement
Foster high moral and ethical standards
Encourage and recognize academic and professional excellence
Cultivate responsibility and community spirit
Promote collegiate study of professional accountancy
Provide access to practicing professionals
Beta Alpha Psi Offers YOU…






Contact with local and national accounting firms
Social events sponsored by accounting firms
Presentations of job opportunities in public and private accounting
Faculty and student interaction
Travel to regional and national meetings
Community service opportunities
Students intending to major in accounting, finance, or MIS can become a candidate after
completing 30 credits with an overall GPA of 3.0. Candidates pay a one-time national initiation fee.
Membership Requirements





3.0 GPA overall (must be an accounting, finance, or information systems major with a 3.0
GPA in at least one upper-division course in your major)
Complete a semester in good standing as a candidate
Completion of 30 undergraduate credit hours
Attend all-member meetings, professional events, initiation celebration, community service
events, and fund-raising events
Pay semester dues
Many recruiters recognize the achievement of Beta Alpha Psi membership and involvement. The
UM chapter has been recognized as a Superior Chapter (the best category!) for ten years. This
is a great opportunity to get involved and know your peers.
For more information, visit the national Beta Alpha Psi website: www.bap.org
Dr. Ron Premuroso, advisor.
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Professional Organizations
We encourage all students to join at least one professional organization that serves working
accounting professionals in a variety of careers. All offer some kind of deeply-discounted student
membership rate, though students get full membership benefits. Not only does it look good on a
resume, but it also introduces students to the world of professional organizations, networking, and
resources. Most of these organizations have special sections of their websites dedicated to
student needs.
Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) – www.imanet.org
The IMA is the leading professional organization devoted exclusively to management accounting
and financial management. Its goals are to help members develop both personally and
professionally through education, certification, and association with other business professionals.
The IMA also runs the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification program. The CMA is
recognized globally as a credential signaling a high level of technical and management skills
necessary to be a corporate accountant. Student membership = $39 (full membership = $195).
American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) – www.aicpa.org
The AICPA is the national, professional organization for all Certified Public Accountants. Its
mission is to provide members with the resources, information, and leadership that enable them to
provide valuable services in the highest professional manner. In fulfilling its mission, the AICPA
works with state CPA organizations and gives priority to those areas where public reliance on CPA
skills is most significant.
Only students residing in the U.S. are eligible for student membership. Student membership is free
at http://www.thiswaytocpa.com/. (full partner membership - $395).
Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) – www.isaca.org
ISACA is a global organization addressing the needs of IS auditors both internal to organizations
and external (public accountants, regulators). ISACA runs the Certified Information System Auditor
(CISA) certification program. ISACA has lots of materials on internal controls and auditing.
Student membership = $25 (full membership = $130).
Montana Society of CPAs – www.mscpa.org
The MSCPA is the statewide professional organization of certified public accountants. With over
1,500 members, the Society is divided geographically into eight chapters. Nearly 70 percent of the
certified public accountants in the State of Montana belong to MSCPA. The MSCPA is an active
supporter of accounting students across the state and sponsors a number of scholarships. The
last few years, a group of Montana accounting firms have sponsored a program that offers free
student membership in the MSCPA. To become a student member, go to www.mscpa.org, and
click on “Student Section” on the left-hand menu bar. (full professional membership = $275).
Accounting Professions – Other Designations
On the next page is a list of other designations in the accounting profession which you could
consider, including the designation, sponsoring organization, web-site and other particulars.
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The Accounting Profession has many additional designations and opportunities beyond becoming a CPA…for example:
June 8, 2009
Sponsoring
Designation
Organization Web-site
CISA
ISACA
https ://www.i s aca.org
Certified Information Systems Auditor
Information Systems and Control Association
Low
Salary *
$46,750
Student
Online Career
High
CPA
Memberships
Center & Job
Salary * Required
available
Searches Offered
$127,000
$25
√
CISM
ISACA
https ://www.i s aca.org
Certified Information Security Manager
Information Systems and Control Association
$46,750
$127,000
CITP
AICPA
https ://i nfotech.ai cpa.org
Certified Information Technology Professional
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
$46,750
$127,000
CFE
ACFE
http://www.acfe.com
Certified Fraud Examiner
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
$58,500
$92,750
CFF
AICPA
http://fvs .ai cpa.org
Certified in Financial Forensics
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
$58,500
$92,750
CFFA
NACVA
http://www.nacva.com
$58,500
Certified Forensic Financial Analysts
National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts
√
√
$104,250
Employment possibilities
IS Program Manager
Securi ty Cons ul tant
IT Securi ty Speci al i s t
$25
√
Informati on Securi ty Di rector
Informati on Securi ty Anal ys t
Informati on As s urance Offi cer
$35
√
Securi ty Engi neer
IT Audi tor
Technol ogy & Securi ty Ri s k Servi ces
$25
√
Fraud Inves ti gator
Law Enforcement (IRS, FBI...)
Forens i c Accountant
$35
√
Forens i c Audi tor
Li ti gati on Support Servi ces
Forens i c Technol ogy Manager
$125
√
Ri s k Manager
Inci dent Res pons e Anal ys t
Securi ty Engi neer
√
Computer Forens i c Manager
Evi dence Techni ci an
Compl i ance Di rector
$35
√
Audi t Speci al i s t
Seni or Audi tor
Fi nanci al Audi t Manager
Cr.FA
ACFEI
http://www.acfei .com
Certified Forensic Accountant
American College of Forensic Examiners
$58,500
$92,750
√
CIA
IIA
http://www.thei i a.org
Certified Internal Auditor
Institute of Internal Auditors
$41,500
$114,750
ABV
AICPA
http://fvs .ai cpa.org
Accredited in Business Valuation
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
$41,000
$96,000
√
$35
√
Accountant/Fi nanci al Anal ys t
Apprai s er
Li ti gati on Support Servi ces
CVA
NACVA
http://www.nacva.com
$41,000
Certified Valuation Analysts
National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts
$96,000
√
$125
√
Val uati on Manager
Cl ai ms Speci al i s t
Trans acti on Advi s ory Servi ces
CMA
IMA
https ://www.i manet.org
Certified Management Accountant
Institute of Management Accountants
$33,500
$96,750
$39
√
Corporate Offi cer (CEO, CFO…)
Accounti ng Manager
Fi nance Di rector
CGFM
AGA
https ://www.agacgfm.org
Cettified Governmental Financial Manager
Advancing Governmental Accounting
$35,250
$103,000
$30
√
Internal Revenue Agent
Fi nanci al & Tax Anal ys ts
Regul atory Reporti ng Manager
* Robert Half, 2009 Salary Guide, Accounting & Finance, Corporate Accounting
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