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 Navigator of the Profession – Randy Paschke, CPA
What made you decide to go into the accounting profession? It was really a fluke. I was in college actually studying to be an English teacher at a time when teachers could not find employment so I took an accounting course, liked it and did well in it. It led me to change my major and the rest is history. What makes going to work every day fun and exciting? I spent 32 years in public accounting with Arthur Andersen and I have now been with Wayne State University for more than six years as the Accounting Department Chair. When I was in public accounting, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges of working with a wide variety of clients, interesting transactions, and the best and brightest young professionals you could find. They always kept you on your toes. Now, I am able to continue to work with bright, eager and enthusiastic young people who are in the process of preparing themselves for careers in accounting. I enjoy meeting with them, discussing the career opportunities in accounting, and helping them plan their studies and make their career choices. Explain any obstacles you had to overcome to get to where you are today. I really don't feel I had any significant obstacles to overcome. I was very fortunate to get hired by an outstanding firm, work with great people who mentored me and helped me to be successful. I worked hard, but enjoyed it and it all paid off. As an educator, what are the biggest issues you face in terms of attracting and retaining students in your program? I still believe that the accounting profession is one of the least understood professions. Most students do not really know all of the career options available to them with an accounting major. One of the main issues is getting this kind of information out to students. The other significant issue is that the accounting courses are difficult courses and students often give up too quickly if they find the accounting principles courses too challenging or difficult. If we can help students more in their first accounting courses, I believe more of them will select and/or stay in accounting. You are instrumental in the development of a new partnership between Wayne State University and MACPA. Can you briefly explain the partnership and how it will benefit students? This partnership is focused on developing an orientation program for students interested in accounting. I believe that the more knowledge and information students have about the profession and what it takes to be successful in the profession, and the earlier they have this knowledge, the better prepared they will be to enter the profession when they graduate. Students are very busy and too often don't think about much beyond a term's classes. Our goal is to give them enough information so that they can look out further, plan their studies better, focus on getting internships timely and ultimately get great job offers as they graduate. What interests or activities are you involved in outside of work? I am involved with the Golightly Academy of Finance in Detroit, which is a program for high school students interested in business. I am the chair of the board of Artserve Michigan, which is a statewide organization that advocates for the arts and culture throughout the state. I serve on the board of a professional theater in Ann Arbor (Performance Network Theater), and I serve on the board and as audit committee chair of Mackinac Financial Corporation, a publicly-traded bank holding company. Now, I am also a member of the MACPA Board of Directors. What has been your most meaningful volunteer experience? I have enjoyed my volunteer work with both Artserve Michigan and Performance Network Theater the most. I believe that our lives are so much better when we live in communities that appreciate and support the arts and culture. I have seen the impact art and culture has on children through school art programs. If we want to build a creative economy in this state, the first place to start is to support all of our artists and our arts and cultural organizations who are the foundation for building and maintaining a creative economy. |
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| PO Box 5068 Troy, MI 48007-5068 Phone: 248.267.3700 Fax: 248.267.3737 E-mail: macpa@michcpa.org | |
