Frank Espino: Prioritize extracurricular and internships to grow as a student
Frank Espino graduated with a BBA in Accounting in December of 2019 and is currently a student at the Master of Accountancy Program at UTEP. He has served as the President of the Internal Audit Student Association and Accounting Society, as well as having served as a member of Beta Alpha Psi, and the TXCPA local chapter.
Additionally, Espino’s professional experience includes time with Josh Lucas CPA, and SBNG as a Tax Accountant. He is currently employed as a Teaching Assistant for the MAcc Program and is expected to finish the program in Spring 2021. Espino has accepted a tax position at firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Fort Worth in 2021.
Espino took time from his busy semester to answer some questions for the Woody L. Hunt College of Business News. He reflects on his time in the MAcc program, the importance of internships, and how he unwinds after a long week.
How has your graduate school experience been so far?
I think for a lot of people one of the most challenging aspects of graduate school is having to attend classes during the evening after being at work all day. For me, it’s actually been a smooth transition into graduate school. I had previously taken some grad level courses in the fast-track program as an undergrad, so I was already used to the late schedule of graduate school. It is a bit easier to manage the workload because I have to deal with only one class every 5 weeks, as opposed to having to balance 4-5 classes simultaneously every semester as an undergrad. In terms of coursework, I have found the material offered in the master's program more entertaining and easier to relate to, as the corporate tax course covered pertain to my current job.
You recently earned an internship at PwC. How did you secure that internship and what excites you most about it?
I attended the PwC Bootcamp for the first time during my first year at the College of Business. At that time, I wasn't really involved in any extracurricular activities, and my grades were not ideal, so I did not get an interview with the recruiters. After that, I made it a priority to apply myself more and become an excelling student so I could secure a position with the company in the future. Last year, I was finally able to receive an interview with one of the recruiters, and I will be starting with the firm in a tax position in June in their Fort Worth office.
I am really excited to work for PwC, as they are one of the largest accounting firms worldwide, and the experience I will get from them will be reflected in my development as a professional. I hope to become more proficient and master the current tax code and obtain a more thorough understanding of accounting topics to assist me prepare for the CPA test next year.
What student and professional organizations are you involved with? How does it enhance what you’ve learned in the classroom?
During my second year as a business student, I became an active member of the Accounting Society and Beta Alpha Psi – two organizations that (put context here), and the following year I became the President of UTEP’s Accounting Society. This year, I have the privilege of being the President of the Internal Audit Student Association.
Once you start getting involved in one organization, it starts getting easier to continue staying engaged in other groups and projects, and continue growing as a leader. In these Student organizations, you are constantly involved in many events and attending a variety of meetings with great professionals with many years of experience, so you cannot help but learn from them and start imitating the traits you admire. In addition, it allowed me to develop my leadership and professional skills, assist my peers and org members in their accounting journey, and get a glimpse into what a career in accounting would be like.
What scholarship opportunities have you taken advantage of at UTEP?
During my time as a student, I have found that there are many scholarships and opportunities for financial support available on campus, as well as sourcing from the wide array of local professional chapters involved with UTEP. I am grateful to be the recipient of two UTEP scholarships; the Vera Wise Scholarship and the Good Neighbor Scholarship.
What have been some of your favorite courses? Any favorite professors who changed the way you approach accounting?
Some of my favorite classes have been the Socratic-method Management class led by Professor Blazquez, Internal Auditing with Courtney Rios, and taxation with Sarah Robertson.
How do you unwind and de-stress after a long week?
Even as an accountant, I often try to leave some time available to work on my art and do what I feel passionate about. I often draw or paint after a long day of work/school, because it allows me to unwind, and take my mind off things. I have always been an artist at heart (I actually started college as a painting major).
I encourage everyone, especially those who spend a lot of time working analytically like us business students, to find some sort of creative outlet to let our minds breathe, and forget about the craziness and stressful nature of school and work. I have realized that I haven’t stopped being an artist now that I’m an accountant. While I’m at work, my notes will usually be filled with motifs or little doodles I do while I’m taking notes. I constantly get complimented on my notes, so I guess having an artistic background comes in handy at times!
Gotti’s research has been published widely in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, Journal of International Accounting Research, Management International Review, Review of Accounting and Finance, Journal of International Accounting, Auditing & Taxation, and The International Journal of Accounting.
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