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Meet future CPA, Eric Brown

Eric Brown is a busy guy. He’s a future CPA with real world experience under his belt, having served in the military for more than six years. When he’s not working or studying, this University of Cincinnati student is busy planning a wedding with his fiancée. It’s all in a day’s work for Eric.

Why did you choose to major in accounting?

After taking my first accounting class, I knew it was the major for me. It’s an analytical, logical process and those are skills I’m very adept at.

You served time in the armed forces. What branch did you serve in, and what influence your decision to join the military?

I served in the active duty Army for a little less than six years. As far back as I can remember I have always had a calling to serve this country that has been so good to me. I left active duty in 2003 and decided to return to service in the National Guard in 2006. At the same time, I signed up for the ROTC program at the University of Cincinnati and will have a six-year commitment to the Guard after graduation.

How has your experience in the military affected you personally and in your future career goals?

Beginning my life in the Army was the best choice I could have made. I wasn’t ready to begin college immediately after graduating high school, and it also gave me a chance to get out in the real world and develop a strong work ethic and discipline. Both these qualities have been instrumental in the successful completion of my degree. I’ve also seen through my co-op experience at UC that these skills carry over to a civilian job. I believe I’ll have a leg up on many of my peers entering the work force for the first time.

You’re planning to sit for the CPA exam. Why is it important to you to become a CPA?

Due to about six months of extensive training I’ll have for the Army beginning in March of next year, I won’t be seeking permanent employment immediately upon graduation. Instead, I’m going to spend the time from August until March focusing on completing the CPA exam and hopefully finding some temporary work with a CPA firm. These days, a CPA is about as necessary as a bachelors or masters degree to accountants – especially those working in public accounting.

What are you looking forward to most in your future career as a CPA?

Putting my knowledge to work. I get great enjoyment from taking something new I’ve learned – a new skill with a piece of software, or understanding of some principal – and completing a real-world task with it.

If you could go back to the beginning of college and give yourself advice, what is one thing you’d tell yourself?

Take a co-op with a public accounting firm. Both of mine were with manufacturing companies, GE and Emerson Electric. I have no exposure to public accounting, which is the field I’d like to get into, so I think it has put me behind those I’m competing with for a position.

What is one of your best memories of college?

A group of about six other cadets I’ve gone through ROTC with. We’ve been in several competitions together and spent a great deal of personal time together hanging out. They’re a good bunch, and I hope our paths will cross again in the Army.

What was your dream job when you were a child, and what is your dream job now?

As a kid it was to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force. Now, I can’t say for sure mostly because I know my career path is going to change. Right now, I’m planning on working at least five years in public accounting then making a call on whether to stick with it, move to something in the private sector, or go out on my own.

What is your favorite TV show or movie?

I don’t watch a lot of television or movies. There’s a radio program I listen to regularly, though, called the Dave Ramsey Show. It’s a personal finance program but also deals with the life issues that go into finances. It’s actually very uplifting and inspirational.

What is your favorite thing to do on a break from school?

I moved into my fiancée’s house about a year ago. Since then, she’s always had a “honey-do” list whenever I have time off.

If you could meet any celebrity or public figure, who would it be?

General David Petraeus. He was the commander of forces in Iraq in 2007 and 2008 and responsible for the tremendous turn around that has been seen there in the last two years. More importantly, though, he has been instrumental in a huge paradigm shift that has taken place in the Army. There is greater focus on low intensity peacekeeping and nation building operations that have been the hallmark of the Army’s missions for the better part of twenty years. This is a huge feat when you consider the difficult to change, bureaucratic nature of the Army.