Sourob Bhattacharya
Students Gain Insight Through Accountancy Mentoring Program
Sourob Bhattacharya is a somewhat unlikely accounting student. Unlike many graduate students at the Daniels College of Business, his undergraduate degree was not in business or a related discipline. Instead, Bhattacharya, who will graduate in June 2022 with a Master of Accountancy, earned his undergraduate degree in anthropology.
As Bhattacharya explored future careers, he decided that the path of research and academia many of his peers in anthropology took was not for him. He landed at a small hospitality business, where he began working his way up through the ranks. When he began learning about the company’s accountant work, his interest was piqued. “This is a career that I want,” he thought.
Bhattacharya arrived at Daniels with no undergraduate experience in accounting, and he was the only person in his family to pursue a career in the field. At the same time, trips down Reddit rabbit holes began to give him “cold feet” about work-life balance at a major accounting firm.
That’s where Patrick Redmond (BSAcc 1998) comes in. In the 2020-21 school year, Bhattacharya and Redmond were paired through the School of Accountancy’s LEAD (Learning by Example, Attaining Distinction) Mentorship Program.
Sharon Lassar
Through a series of conversations, Redmond shared with Bhattacharya about his career beginning in public accountancy and leading to his current position as vice president of finance at natural resources company Enduring Resources LLC. Redmond also introduced Bhattacharya to others in his network working at Big Four accounting firms and in other business positions outside the Big Four.
Through LEAD, Bhattacharya was able to gain perspective about an accounting career. After graduation, he will begin a position with PwC, also known as PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Program Helps Students Navigate Challenging Field
According to Sharon Lassar, director of the School of Accountancy, the LEAD program has been around for about 10 years. She noted the unique challenges of learning accounting.
“There’s a lot of material,” Lassar said. “It can seem overwhelming.” The mentoring program exists to help students navigate those challenges and show them that “it’s worth it in the end.”
LEAD is open to undergraduate and graduate students, and students and mentors are matched based upon similar career interests. In addition to their common interest in public accounting, Bhattacharya noted he and Redmond also bonded over mutual enthusiasm for golf and tennis.
At the beginning of the program, mentors and mentees are given an information packet about expectations and responsibilities. According to Bhattacharya, mentees are encouraged to take the initiative to have the best possible mentoring experience.
“This isn’t about trying to get a job [from your mentor],” Bhattacharya said. He said it is more about having a sounding board for questions about careers and school.
Redmond said he and Bhattacharya had “numerous Zoom calls and phone calls” over the school year they were paired. Even today, they periodically continue to speak as Bhattacharya prepares to begin his career. “It’s been a great relationship,” said Redmond, “And it’s been ongoing.”
In the end, Bhattacharya said, LEAD “made me feel a little more confident on the path I was on.”
Alumni Mentors Give Back to Daniels Community
Redmond said Daniels has always been willing to help students and alumni with academics, job placement and financial aid.
“The biggest thing is the knowledge that we as alumni working as professionals have gained through the years,” Redmond said, noting that mentoring was a chance to give back to the school.
At Daniels, Bhattacharya said he’s found “people who care about your long-term career goals.” He’d like to become a mentor at some point but wants first to get his feet wet in his career. “Give me a couple years,” he said.