Top 100 Firm Withum and Seton Hall University announced a one-year pilot program to help accounting students fulfill the 150-credit hours requirement for CPA licensure.
The CPA Pathway Apprenticeship Program seeks to make the profession more accessible by allowing students to earn the extra credits they need while getting access to firsthand professional experience — and getting paid during their final year of school.
"This an exciting new venture that will benefit both the firm and the students," said Theresa Richardson, chief talent officer at Withum, in a statement. "By getting real-life experience as a team member at Withum, students will be that much further ahead of their peers as they approach the job market. And, by exposing new talent to our unique benefits and culture, we can jumpstart long-lasting careers right here."
Five Seton Hall students were selected to participate in the program, which will begin in September.
In addition to their university coursework, students will earn extra credit as apprentice-level staff members at Withum, with an opportunity to work in all service lines and industries. The students will also be able to take the CPA exam during the program, meaning they may become licensed CPAs by the beginning of their careers as full-time, entry-level employees at the firm.
"We truly value Withum's partnership and investment in this innovative apprenticeship model and the Seton Hall accounting talent pipeline," said Mary Kate Naatus, dean of continuing education and professional studies at the school, in a statement. "The combination of a strong curriculum with excellent faculty members with the real world 'work for credit' experience on-site at Withum is an exemplary model that mutually benefits the students, the industry partner, and the broader accounting field."
The CPA Pathway Apprenticeship aims to expose students to the day-to-day life of a professional accountant, thus aligning with the
To create the program, Withum's Richardson consulted with Dan Geltrude, founder of Geltrude & Co., who was a driving force in creating the first initiative of this kind between Big Four firm PwC and St Peters University last
According to Pat Walsh, Withum CEO and Seton Hall alum (Class of 1990), the firm and Seton Hall already had common ground on which to build the program together.
"Withum has a longstanding relationship with Seton Hall and is a well-respected, nationally recognized firm with a reputation around campus for being a fun and innovative place to work," he said, in a statement. "We have a mutual desire to fuel the talent pipeline and support the longevity of accounting as a sustainable career. Our goal is to use this experiential learning program to help break accounting stereotypes, enable students to get a taste of what the profession truly is about, and highlight the value of this profession as an exciting career."
"We are proud to partner with Withum on a groundbreaking initiative that empowers aspiring accounting students with invaluable real-life experience while they pursue their academic goals," said Joyce Strawser, dean of the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, in a statement. "As we join hands with Withum to address the talent shortage in the accounting industry, the CPA Pathway Apprenticeship Program embodies our shared commitment to fostering a diverse, skilled, and vibrant accounting profession."
