海角社区

A team of six E. J. Ourso College of Business students will advance to compete in Deloitte鈥檚 national 2021-2022 Audit Innovation Campus Challenge (AICC). The 海角社区 team is one of 12 teams selected for the national competition out of 45 colleges and universities. Team members are Brooks Belanger of Shreveport, La; Kaitlyn Bowlin of Bossier City, La.; Veronica Cannon of Houston; Carly Carpenter of Baton Rouge, La.; Michael Fernandez of Covington, La; and Kyle McDonald of Celina, Texas.

In this annual competition, teams are tasked with illustrating how cutting-edge audit technologies could be applied to a real-world business issue. This year鈥檚 challenge statement asks students to explore the role of the audit and assurance profession in companies鈥� environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting. For the preliminary round, teams submitted written submissions for evaluation by a panel of judges consisting of Deloitte audit and assurance professionals.  

鈥淧articipating in the challenge as a team leader led me to grow exponentially in terms of coordinating schedules, as well as prioritizing and delegating work,鈥� said Carpenter, a junior accounting major with a concentration in internal audit. 鈥淭hroughout the challenge, I recognized the importance of asking my peers for their thoughts. Some of the most effective aspects of our submission were only included after noticing that a participant had fallen silent and making a point to ask for their opinion. Learning to create balance in a group setting and not allowing anyone to dominate the decision-making ensured we put our best, most creative idea forward.鈥� 

The student team was supported throughout their preparation by faculty advisor Sanaz Aghazadeh, assistant professor in the Department of Accounting, and Deloitte advisors Patrick Brandau, partner, and Helen Karam, manager.

鈥淧articipating in the AICC has shown me the diverse career paths within the field of accounting,鈥� said Belanger, a sophomore. 鈥淚 learned a lot about the field of ESG and the broad scope of accounting. For example, I was previously unaware data other than financial data could be audited.鈥�

AICC is a national program hosted by the Deloitte Foundation and Deloitte鈥檚 Audit Innovation group. The competition helps students test their thinking and research skills and promotes the development of professional skills like networking and communication. This win represents the fifth time that an 海角社区 team was selected to advance to nationals in AICC鈥檚 seven-year history. The 8th annual national AICC will be held in April of 2022 at Deloitte University in Westlake, Texas.

About the Department of Accounting
The Department of Accounting at 海角社区鈥檚 E. J. Ourso College of Business strives for excellence in teaching, research, and service to the accounting profession. With a mission of producing graduates at all levels who excel in their pursuits, the department offers undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for careers in various fields, including industry, auditing, finance, government, and academia. For more information, visit lsu.edu/business/accounting, call 225-578-6202, or email accounting@lsu.edu.

鈥淟ike鈥� us on Facebook (海角社区OursoCollege) or follow us on Twitter (@lsuoursocollege).     

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