How KPMG’s Bold Internship Program Is Inspiring a New Generation of CPAs

Accounting firms are facing a significant staffing shortage due to long hours, stressful deadlines, and stereotypes. Many students are choosing careers in related fields such as investment banking, consulting, or data analysis instead of accounting. To address this issue, accounting firms and nonprofit groups are trying new strategies by appealing directly to teenagers.

The Deloitte Foundation, Urban Assembly, and Outlier.org have launched a dual enrollment pilot program in New York, starting in the fall. Public high school juniors and seniors can take an Intro to Financial Accounting class and earn three college credits through the University of Pittsburgh, which they can then transfer to the college of their choice. The goal is also to inspire more diverse students to consider accounting careers.

KPMG’s chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, Elena Richards, emphasizes the importance of starting earlier and broadening the reach of the profession. Separate studies show that just 2% of CPAs are black and 5% are Hispanic, despite significant job opportunities in the field. Accounting often ranks among the top jobs with the best future outlook and six-figure salaries, according to other reports.

In conclusion, accounting firms are working to attract younger adults to the field by offering internships and programs that cater to different demographics. By doing so, they hope to attract more talented individuals to the accounting profession.

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