MS in Accounting Blog
Alumni

Alumni Spotlight: Ryan Polk (M.S. in Accounting ’16)

Ryan Polk (M.S. in Accounting ’16), Tax Track

  • B.B.A., Accounting 2015, The College of William and Mary
  • After: EY, Tax Staff (McLean, VA)
  • Now: University of Alabama, Ph.D. Student, Archival Tax Research (Tuscaloosa, AL)

Most memorable class

Negotiation with Professor O’Connor; the class was an eye-opening experience into how quick we are to make basic mistakes in the middle of a negotiation. The opportunity to be in a class with nearly the entire cohort—while learning a really valuable life skill—was a lot of fun!

Leveraging the M.S. in Accounting degree in the workplace

It’s really cool to be a part of the McIntire alumni network. Through an alumnus, I was placed with the international tax group at EY, which was an amazing learning opportunity in an area of tax you don’t see in school.

Advice for future M.S. in Accounting students

In order to get the most from the program, I’d advise future students to go outside of their comfort zones. Whether that’s improving public speaking or learning something about the tax code, the program does a great job of allowing you to improve and become a better professional in a low stakes environment. In addition, have fun! There’s so much to do in the area and the people who come to McIntire are fantastic. My class became like a family by the end of the year, and I look forward to staying in touch (and working with a few!).

Preparation for professional success and leadership in the workplace

McIntire left me, as someone in tax, prepared technically through the classes that were part of the Tax Track. More importantly, the program helped me become a better teammate and communicator, an invaluable skill.

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