Once Sofie Ressa (M.S. in Accounting ’26) discovered accounting as an undergrad at the University of Richmond, she was hooked. The challenge of solving those types of business issues resonated with her, and she decided to major in the subject. Shortly thereafter, Ressa began seeking a path that would let her dive deeper into the subject matter without wasting time.
The Spring Lake, NJ, native found that Richmond’s program gave her a strong technical foundation and early professional exposure, including an internship at PwC. She enjoyed the work and the structure of the field, but as graduation approached, she ran into a practical problem.
“I was working toward the 150 credits for the CPA,” she says. “And I got to a point where I was running out of accounting or relevant business material. I didn’t want to just take filler classes.”
A Richmond professor and UVA alum Ashley Austin (McIntire ’07, M.S. in Accounting ’08) offered a solution: Apply to the McIntire School of Commerce.
McIntire: A Small Accounting Program with Real-World Expectations
Ressa applied to McIntire in 2024, during the fall of her senior year. On Grounds, she quickly found that the M.S. in Accounting Program fostered a learning environment that felt familiar yet more demanding.
What stood out were the smaller class sizes that are providing an experience that mirrors what she valued at Richmond. But the expectations at the Comm School are different by design. “A lot of people go get their master’s in accounting, and it’s just CPA prep,” Ressa says. “They’re teaching to the test. McIntire told me upfront that’s not what this program is.”
Instead, the curriculum emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and professional judgement. Teamwork is constant, not occasional. “We do so much teamwork in our classes,” she says. “We learn a concept, and then we apply it, always doing it with a group.”
That structure has helped deepen her understanding of the material. “You can’t just memorize something and forget it,” she says. “You have to sit down with other people and think it through.”
Building Technical Skills and Professional Communication Readiness
Ressa is quick to point out that the program is not light on technical rigor. But what sets it apart, in her view, is how much attention is paid to communication and context. “We do a lot of memo writing,” she explains. “And it’s not just about whether the accounting is correct. It’s about how the person receiving it will interpret it.”
Presentation skills, tone, and clarity matter. “Accounting can be a very social job. You’re working on teams. You’re talking to clients. You’re explaining things. The soft skills are really important,” Ressa says.
That balance stands to differentiate her as a McIntire graduate once she enters the profession.
A Consulting Experience in Mendoza
One of the more formative projects during Ressa’s time at UVA has come outside of the classroom. She joined a faculty-led consulting project in Mendoza, Argentina, with McIntire Professor Stefano Grazioli.
“It was unlike any experience I’ve ever had before,” she says.
Rather than taking traditional courses abroad, students were assigned to real clients and worked with them on site from day one. “It didn’t feel like a mock consulting project we would do in class,” Ressa says. “It was real and tangible.”
For Ressa, who had previously focused almost exclusively on accounting, the experience opened new doors. “I’d never had any exposure to consulting before,” she says. “It helped me understand what it feels like and whether it’s something I might want to pull into my career later.”
Preparing for the CPA Exam and a Career at PwC
Now in the final stretch of the program and preparing to sit for the CPA exam, Ressa has already accepted a full-time role at PwC. She will begin working in audit in Manhattan in October 2026.
As she looks ahead to her final semester, Ressa is focused on making the most of what remains. She’s going outside of her comfort zone to take a tax course and is eager to see how the material connects to real client work.
Above all, she’s looking forward to continuing to learn alongside a cohort she considers unusually close. “Our group is special,” she says. “We get along really well. It’s been great learning with everyone.”
For University of Richmond students considering the McIntire M.S. in Accounting Program, Ressa’s experience illustrates a clear pathway: A strong liberal arts and accounting foundation, followed by a graduate program that builds technical skill, sound professional judgement, and confidence supported by a close-knit academic culture.
