Accounting Major Lands Job at One of Big Four Accounting Firms

Senior Accounting major and Psychology minor Christain Barbosa, from Brockton, Mass., has accepted a position in the FSO tax department of Ernst & Young, located in Boston. At Roger Williams University, Barbosa served as the treasurer for both the Beta Alpha Psi fraternity and the Accounting Club. He is also the former president of the Barbershop Club.

Hands-On Internship: “The Big Four accounting firms are very competitive when it comes to hiring. As part of a summer internship, I worked six weeks doing tax notices and six weeks with the assurance team working on AICPA testing in Excel for clients. It was a great experience as I was part of a team and doing work that associates were working on. They treated me like a regular employee, and it gave me the experience and feel of a real full-time job. They offered me a full-time position at the end of the internship.” 

Faculty Mentorship: “Professor (John) McQuilkin is like a father figure on campus. He has always been there for me. He guided me through what classes to take and when to take them. He was also my professor for four classes and showed how much he cares for the students, making sure we retained the information and was always available to help. Outside of class he was also very supportive and built connections with students. He is someone I can talk to about any of my problems or when I need advice. He is a big part of my college career and the reason why I am where I am today.”

Leadership Opportunities: “I was a part of the first executive board of the Barbershop club that originated the Fashion Show three years ago. Being in the background at a smaller position to then transitioning to the director helped motivate me and figure out my goals in life. It helped teach me how leadership is and how to spread out the work among others in a group. It gave me an example of what it would be like as a CEO or somebody in a higher position. All my leadership roles on campus definitely helped me with time management, getting to know people, and building relationships with students and faculty.”