t h e d e pa rt m e n t o f ACCOUNTANCY&INFORMATION The Newsletter for the Department of Accountancy and Information Systems SYSTEMS at Villanova School of Business SUMMER ’15

TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE CHAIR With this edition of our newsletter, it is my pleasure to share New Advisory Council Members 2 our accomplishments and find ways to continually improve our national reputation. We work hard to educate a well-rounded student and such is evidenced by: Firm Leadership Visits 3 • the strong demand for our majors. • feedback from alumni about leadership roles they are taking on in the workplace and how their Villanova education Student Features 4 helped get them there. • the continued momentum over the last five years to attract prestigious faculty. Faculty Awards 6 • our exceptional rankings. Recently, VSB was ranked #1 for Undergraduate Accounting Professionals by LinkedIn University Ranking and #9 in the Top 10 U.S. Colleges for an Accounting Degree by USA Today. A Visit To Pepperidge Farm 6 And still, we strive to improve and find new and better ways to continue this momentum. In this issue, we highlight the many awards and accomplishments of our students. The most pres- Class of 2015 Job Placements 7 tigious are the Bartley Medallion Awards, which are given to the most outstanding students for each discipline during the graduation ceremonies. Helen Lin of Accounting and Marc LePrince of MIS were the selected recipients for this past academic year. We also recognize more of our best and brightest who have received other awards and scholarships. This issue also provides updates on the accounting advisory board. I want to personally thank Bob Mulhall ’80 VSB of EY and Laura Iacona ’96 VSB for their efforts while serving on this board and the different ways they worked to benefit both students and faculty. Bob will continue to share his talents as a new member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. At the end of the day, these successes would not be possible without the support from our friends, so thank you for all your help. I must also thank our students for continuing to inspire us in ways that make us better each passing year. I hope you take the time to read and enjoy this newsletter. If you have any comments or suggestions, please be sure to contact me. Best Regards,

Michael F. Peters, PhD Chair, Department of Accountancy & Information Systems Villanova School of Business

RANKED #1 RANKED #9 Undergraduate TOP 10 U.S. Accounting Professionals Colleges for an By LinkedIn University Rankings Accounting Degree BY USA TODAY v i l l a n o va s c h o o l o f b u s i n e s s DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTANCY & INFORMATION SYSTEMS 2 3 NEW ADVISORY COUNCIL FIRM LEADERSHIP VISITS ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS KPMG’s Tom Duffy lends his experience to VSB during the role of accounting in the economy and the responsibility audit Timothy Boehmer ’95 VSB Leonard Gatti ’83 VSB campus visit professionals have to investors and society. Building on this base, he Brendan Cox Partner Vice President, Financial spent the remainder of class challenging students to brainstorm bar- Crowe Horwath LLP Reporting Brendan Cox ’92 VSB is a Partner and riers to professional excellence. Platt and the Deloitte staff members Corporation serves as a Revenue Recognition Leader then offered anecdotes about situations faced in practice, assisting for Tax in EY’s Northeast Region Federal Timothy Boyle students in identifying potential underlying issues and reinforcing Tax Practice, with over 20 years’ experience Vice President, Tax Robert Hagemann ’03 PA the importance of making the right decisions. The frank and candid SunGard SCT Inc. Senior Vice President and as a tax professional and 13 years of nature of this discussion and Platt’s ability to navigate the classroom, Chief Financial Officer specialized federal tax planning experience. drawing out student’s concerns, left a tremendous impression on the Quest Diagnostics Incorporated He also serves the EY Center for Tax Policy group of soon to be business professionals. David Burns (CTP), where he focuses on tax policy Following his class presentations, Platt toured campus and shared in Partner, Audit and Practice issues and provides guidance on legislative a lively lunch discussion with accounting faculty members about the Leader of Financial Services Wayne Kaplan procedure, modeling and planning. Grant Thornton Office Managing Partner challenges facing audit firms today and the importance of cultivat- Grant Thornton LL He has spent substantial time working with clients in the pharmaceu- ing professional skepticism in audit staff. Many faculty members ticals, life sciences, manufacturing, consumer products, retail, media, KPMG’s National Managing Partner of Audit, Tom Duffy, visited additionally engaged him in discussions around audit judgment and Brendan Cox ’92 VSB telecommunications, computer software, and utilities industries Villanova on April 20, 2015. Duffy has more than 30 years of experi- technical areas of accounting. Such topics are the focus of Deloitte Partner and Revenue Scott King ’92 VSB Because of this experience, he is frequently asked to speak on federal ence including significant experience serving global clients in the Foundation’s Trueblood Seminar for Professors, in which Platt is Recognition Leader Partner, Audit and tax matters and has addressed the Tax Executive Institute, internal EY information, communication and entertainment, technology and heavily involved and three faculty members have had the privilege of for Tax Enterprise Risk Services education programs and client seminars. manufacturing industries. serving on the planning committee. EY Deloitte & Touche LLP Brendan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova Univer- Duffy started his visit with a campus tour by Kat McAssey ’16 VSB sity and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. He is licensed by who will be joining KPMG’s Audit practice in 2016. Throughout the Bob Moritz of PwC Visits VSB to Discuss Global Joseph Croasdale ’85 VSB Stephen McNamara ’88 VSB the States of , Maryland, and New Jersey as a Certified day, Duffy had the opportunity to interact with students, faculty, and Megatrends, curriculum, recruiting and more Global Controller Vice President and Controller Public Accountant. alumni. Additionally, he joined Accounting Society and Beta Alpha Psi Liquidnet Armstrong World Industries, Inc. for lunch and open discussion, presented to Financial Management In October 2014, Villanova University Regulation (FMR) and Fraud classes, met with Dean Maggitti, and welcomed Bob Moritz, PwC U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner, to campus for a Albert Deana ’84 VSB facilitated a faculty roundtable. The meetings were filled with lively Michael Murphy David Burns two-day visit. Moritz and 20 PwC Partners Partner Vice President, discussion about data and analytics, how audit is changing and the joined two dozen Villanova faculty and ParenteBeard LLC Audit and Controls Villanova’ Accounting Advisory Council future of the profession, and the skills and competencies that KPMG welcomed David M. Burns in the fall of looks for from campus candidates. administrators for a dinner and conversa- 2014. Burns is an audit partner and the tion surrounding Global Megatrends— Stephen Delaney ’91 VSB local Practice Leader of Financial Services His visit concluded with a Success Dinner at the Radnor Hotel to macroeconomic forces that are shaping Partner, Audit and Robert Olszewski in the ’s Grant Thornton office congratulate the VSB students who will be joining KPMG as full-time, the world. The conversation focused Enterprise Risk Services Director and leads the office’s Group. intern, and summer leadership candidates. around how companies need to adapt to Deloitte & Touche LLP Kreischer Miller With more than 25 years of experience take advantage of the opportunities that megatrends present, and providing professional services to the Auditing Students Engage in Professional Excellence how ultimately that affects the services PwC provides, and the skill financial services industry, he specializes Discussion with Bill Platt, Managing Partner of sets they look for in their future hires. Saverio Fato ’88 VSB Kristina Parker ’94 VSB Professional Practice at Deloitte Assurance Partner Audit Partner in regulations and compliance issues affecting public companies, The following day, Moritz interacted with students, faculty and admin- PricewaterhouseCoopers KPMG LLP mortgage and equity REITs, investment partnerships, private equity, Bill Platt, Managing Partner of Professional registered investment advisors, real estate operations, specialty Practice at Deloitte, visited Villanova on istrators on campus, visited several of the FMR classes and hosted a finance companies, broker-dealers and banking as well as initial and April 30th, 2015 to discuss professional lunch with student leaders. Moritz had the opportunity to meet with Frank J. Frabizzio ’91 VSB Mark Spelker ’82 VSB secondary public offerings, mergers and acquisitions. excellence with auditing students. In President Donohue, Dean Maggitti and Terry Nance to discuss Univer- Partner Partner sity initiatives and offer his insight. He also met with select faculty to Burns is an active member of the Association for Corporate Growth, addition to his current role leading the PricewaterhouseCoopers CohnReznick LLP discuss VSB’s curriculum and the increased focus on STEM (science, Bank Member, Inc., NJ Bankers Association, PA Bankers Association, national office, Platt has more than 30 technology, engineering and math) skill sets, and with the Clay Center Financial Managers Society and the American and Pennsylvania Insti- years’ experience at Deloitte and is about the firm’s recruiting relationships. The visit generated tremen- Richard Furtek ’91 VSB tutes of Certified Public Accountants. actively involved in the AICPA, American Valerie Wieman ’92 VSB dous feedback and allowed Villanova University the opportunity to Principal Assurance Partner Accounting Association (AAA), and He holds a Bachelor of Arts in accounting from Lycoming College. interact and engage in conversation with the U.S. Chairman of one of Furtek & Associates PricewaterhouseCoopers Center for Audit Quality. Deloitte Partner, Scott King VSB ’92, and two members of Deloitte’s Philadelphia office, the world’s largest professional services firm. Sean Hannan VSB ’13 and Melissa Schroeder VSB ’13, also joined Platt Moritz is the Chairman and Senior Partner of the U.S. firm of PwC. in his visit, providing key insights to students about to embark on He is a member of the PwC global network leadership team, which internships or full-time positions in accounting and finance. includes the senior partners from the network’s four largest territories. Beginning with the Pathways Commission’s model “Accounting: The language of business,” Platt’s discussion with students centered on v i l l a n o va s c h o o l o f b u s i n e s s DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTANCY & INFORMATION SYSTEMS 4 5

STUDENT FEATURES STUDENT FEATURES

BASF Scholarships TEI Scholarship Leadership Learning Community, was a treasurer of the Accounting Society during Jennifer L. Kane Scholarship SIM Future Leader Award her junior year. In addition, she is a member This past spring, Established by member and facilitator in the Service Learning Karl Li ’15 VSB was awarded the Society for of the Women in Business Society and has representatives the Philadelphia Community, and acted as the vice president Information Management (SIM) Future Leader participated in Villanova’s Day of Service from BASF pre- Chapter of the of marketing for the Villanova School of Award for outstanding achievement and every year. She also works in the VSB Office sented $2,500 BASF Tax Executives Business Peer Advisors. Helen also served as potential for leadership in the Information of Communication and Marketing as a Academic Excellence Institute, Inc., the a campus representative for the Princeton Systems field. SIM is a not-for-profit profes- website and marketing assistant. Jeanette Scholarships to TEI Scholarship is Review and participated in the Spring sional association comprised of Information participated in the inaugural Global Citizens Elizabeth “Liz” Anne awarded to a Accounting Internship program, completing Technology leaders including CIO’s, CTO’s, Program in Singapore during her spring Suizzo ’17 VSB and high-achieving a three-month audit internship with PwC. Directors and other key professionals within semester freshman year where she interned Julia Roop ’16 VSB. rising senior with an interest in pursuing a Originally from Queens, N.Y., Helen will study the technology community. With over 3,000 with KPMG in its audit practice. The following Students considered for this scholarship must career in taxation. Nestor Zavala Bedolla’16 for the CPA exam this summer and will begin members and 31 chapters throughout the U.S. summer, she interned at SAP Americas in its be a sophomore or junior majoring in VSB from Parkesburg, Pa., was selected as working at PwC in New York City as an audit The Jennifer L. Kane Endowed University and Canada, SIM is the premier society for IT Mission Control Center. This summer, Jeanette Accounting with a GPA of 3.2 or above, and the recipient of a $2,000 TEI Scholarship. associate in the fall. Scholarship at Villanova, named after Jennifer L. executives focused on networking, leadership, accepted an intern position with Deloitte have an interest in pursuing a career in From Fremont, Calif., Marc is a recent graduate Kane ’97 VSB, is awarded to an accomplished and education. Triple-majoring in Accounting, Finance, and Consulting in its technology consulting prac- corporate accounting. who majored in Management Information female accounting student who possesses MIS, Nestor serves as president of the Busi- tice in Philadelphia. Systems with a minor in Business Analytics. the qualities that Jennifer exemplified. A CPA From Orlando, Fla., Liz is majoring in ness and Leadership Society, vice president of employed by Marsh & McLennan on the 100th Accounting and MIS with minors in Interna- the Student Leadership Advisory Council, and During his time at Villanova, he was an avid member of MIS Society and served as vice PICPA Most Outstanding Student floor of the north World Trade Tower, Jennifer tional Business and Business Analytics. She a mentor for the Leadership Academy. He lost her life on September 11, 2001. Jennifer is actively involved in several student groups is also a member of the Accounting Society, president his junior year. He coordinated site Mara Pisco ’15 VSB visit and emerging technology presentations, from South River, believed in the importance of traditional values, on campus such as VSB Ambassadors, the MIS Society, Campus Activities Team, and the as well as a strong academic and professional Multicultural Business Association, and MIS indoor and outdoor intramural soccer team. attended conferences, and competed in the N.J., was recog- AIS national case competition and won third nized as this work ethic. The 2015 recipient of the two-year Society. She also tutors at the Center for Along with his involvement at Villanova, scholarship is Stephanie Pastena ’16 VSB of Multicultural Affairs and is a current sister and Nestor is interning with EY as a tax intern in place. His internship experience ranged from year’s PICPA a startup in Silicon Valley, an international (Pennsylvania Chatham, N.J. An Accounting and Finance former secretary of Sigma Psi Zeta. Liz has Philadelphia this summer. double major who hopes to pursue a career in Born in Pinglu, China and raised in Hockessin, recently worked on a consultancy project with corporation, and a small business in Consho- Institute of Del., Karl recently graduated with a double hocken, Pa. This summer, he began working Certified Public public accounting, Stephanie has participated an Italian company through VSB’s Business Bartley Medallion Winners in several leadership programs including PwC major in MIS and Finance and minors in Busi- and Culture in the Italian Context (BCIC) as a risk consultant for SAS in Raleigh, N.C. Accountants) ness Analytics and Chinese. He has demon- Most Outstanding Student. A recent summa National Leadership Conference, EY Emerging study abroad program in Urbino, Italy. This Leaders Program and KPMG Discover Program, strated significant leadership through summer, she is interning at BASF in Florham PHISIM Student Achievement Award cum laude graduate, Pisco majored in competitions, school involvement, and summer Accounting and Management Information and interned at Constellation Wealth Advisors. Park, N.J. The Philadelphia Stephanie serves as the current president of the work experience during his time at VSB. In Systems and minored in Real Estate, Business the 2013–2014 academic year, Karl served as Julia is a dedicated Philanthropic Villanova Ambassadors and the co-president Law, and Business Analytics. During her four president of the Villanova MIS Society where student and active Society for of the VSB Peer Advisors Program. This years at Villanova, she was actively involved he initiated a series of emerging technology member of the Information summer, she accepted an internship in the on campus serving as president of the workshops, hosted several guest speakers, and Villanova community. Management Private Client Services Assurance practice in Accounting Society, a teaching assistant for helped organize site-visits to local businesses. She is the former vice Foundation the Florham Park, N.J., office of PwC. the Accounting Department, a student leader For these efforts, the MIS society was awarded president of finance The Bartley Medallion, named after Rev. (PHISIM) awarded on the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and a Villanova’s Business Society of the Year. Karl for her sorority, Alpha Joseph C. Bartley, OSA, PhD, STL, founding Jeanette Ding ’16 VSB peer tutor. She participated in the EY was also a resident assistant to over 50 student Chi Omega, a peer dean of the Villanova School of Business, is VSB a Student Emerging Leader’s Program, the Deloitte Tax residents, and led his mobile application tutor, and a member awarded annually by the faculty of the school Achievement Award for her excellence in the Mentor Program, the KPMG Fast Forward development team to first place in Villanova’s of Gamma Kappa Alpha, Beta Alpha Psi, in recognition of outstanding achievement in classroom, her pursuit of a career in the field Program, and BASF’s rotational accounting Mobile Application Competition. Karl’s Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega and a specific discipline. It is the highest distinction of information management, and her internship. After graduation, she accepted a internships included Vanguard, the micro- the National Society of College Scholars. Julia the school can bestow upon a graduating leader-ship potential. PHISIM’s mission is to full-time position as a Real Estate Federal Tax finance company HOPE International, and the has completed an auditing internship with student and serves as a visible reflection of connect leaders in Information Technology Associate at KPMG in New York. Technology-to-Business incubator division of KPMG New York and KPMG Singapore and is the significant contribution made by the with the community by funding scholarships Siemens Shanghai. currently interning through the PDP program recipient to the life of the school community. to students at the local Philadelphia universi- in Corporate Accounting at BASF, Florham This year’s Bartley Medallion winners in ties who are pursuing degrees in the IT This summer, he is working for a small soft- Park, N.J. Originally from Madison, N.J., she Accounting and in Management Information discipline. ware company near Oakland, Calif., and will will graduate in May 2016 with a dual degree Systems are Helen Lin ’15 VSB and Marc From Broomall, Pa., Jeanette is double-ma- join Deloitte Consulting in Philadelphia as a in Accounting and Real Estate and a minor in LePrince ’15 VSB, respectively. joring in Management Information Systems business technology analyst this fall. Italian Language. Helen, an Accounting major with a minor in (MIS) and Finance, with a minor in Business Business Analytics, made the most of her Analytics. An active member of VSB, she time at Villanova. She participated in the served as president of the MIS Society and v i l l a n o va s c h o o l o f b u s i n e s s DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTANCY & INFORMATION SYSTEMS 6 7 CLASS OF 2015 JOB PLACEMENT RATES FACULTY AWARDS Undergraduate Placement Graduate Placement

The career placement of 2015’s accounting majors at VSB is remark- The Masters in Accountancy Program (MAC) at The Villanova School able. At the time of graduation, we conferred accounting degrees of Business has opened many doors for its students. Villanova to 150 accounting students—143 of which were seeking full-time, MAC students are in great demand amongst the Big Four, other accounting-related employment—and 98 percent had either accepted international and national accounting firms, regional accounting employment or were committed to graduate school. firms and corporate accounting departments. Forty percent of the As expected, this year’s group of employers are primarily accounting MAC students entered the program committed to employers, with firms, including a large assortment of international firms from several the remaining cohort seeking full-time and accounting internship disciplines. While 68 percent of these students will begin their careers employment opportunities. For the students who came into the pro- with the four largest international accounting firms, and the remaining gram employed, the top three employers were EY, PwC, and KPMG. students at other high-quality accounting firms, our graduates have For the entire MAC cohort, all but one student secured a job before also accepted positions as analysts, bankers, consultants, and a wide graduation. range of other financial positions. The PDP which consists of job search help, resume support, network- Patricia Dorris-Crenny Presented with the Gerald ing, and other career management tools—is focused on preparing Dougherty Endowed Faculty Award Upon graduation, 16 students were committed to doing graduate work, most of whom returned to Villanova in late-May to begin the MACs for Villanova’s On-campus Recruiting Program (OCR) and Patricia Dorris-Crenny, CPA, ’82 VSB is this year’s recipient Master of Accountancy Program before beginning their full-time starts early in the fall semester. Opportunities to network with of the Gerald Dougherty Award which is presented annually employment in the fall. on-campus firms are planned and scheduled for the students, from to a faculty member in the Villanova School of Business picnics to formal meet-and-greets—leading to multiple touch-points in recognition of his or her superior accomplishment in As always, the department is committed to placing all graduates with key recruiters and accounting executives. seeking employment, and we continue to assist in securing a position teaching. The endowed award is named for revered faculty Armed with a strong academic background, as well as sharp member Gerald Dougherty who has been a member of the for the few remaining students. A Visit to job-searching skills, and business savvy, most of MAC students partic- accounting faculty for over 50 years. ipating in a job search through a school-facilitated source received After a career in public and corporate accounting, Profes- Pepperidge Farm job offers (both internship and full-time offers). For job-seeking MAC sor Crenny joined the faculty 10 years ago. She teaches Most college students believe their days of riding a yellow students, the largest employers were EY, PwC, McGladrey, and corpo- managerial and intermediate accounting as well as financial school bus are long behind them, but that was not the case rate accounting roles. for several dozen auditing students this past April when they management and reporting. The Villanova MAC degree is unmatched in the marketplace. The traveled to Denver, Pa., to tour a Pepperidge Farm plant “I am deeply honored to receive this award,” Crenny said, combination of our comprehensive curriculum, PDP, dedication of with Assistant Professor Denise Downey, PhD, ’05 VSB, ’08 “Gerry Dougherty taught me when I was an undergraduate, staff, and high-caliber students prepares MAC students to meet the MA. Campbell’s Soup Company owns Pepperidge Farm, and served as a mentor to me when I became a faculty member, real-world, real-time challenges of global business and the account- Campbell’s senior managers Thomas Brophy and William and is now a most valued colleague.” ing industry. McBride ’96 VSB were instrumental in facilitating the trip. Once onsite, Plant Controller Barry Bertani and several mem- bers of the management team in Denver, as well as Camp- bell’s Soup internal auditor, introduced students to the world of “bakery and biscuits.” After receiving an overview of the facility, output, and demand, each member of management took a small group of students on a tour of the plant. Students watched as Goldfish® crackers came out of ovens and were sent along to be “flavor blasted” or mixed with other shapes. They closely observed how raw materials enter the production process, watched the packaging of Milano cookies, and learned about the facility’s soft-baked cookie line. Through each phase of the tour stu- dents gained a greater appreciation for internal controls over inventory and production, particularly automated controls that are often difficult to visualize in the classroom. And if the tour and hands-on education weren’t enough, Pepperidge Farm graciously sent students home with some tasty treats from the Company store. Department of Accountancy and Information Systems Villanova University 800 Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085