Master’s in Accounting: Edwina King, University of Notre Dame (Mendoza)

Student Name: Edwina King

Graduate Business School: University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business

Describe Yourself In 15 Words: Edwina is a hard-working young woman who loves music, exercise, make-up, and animals (dogs mostly). 

Master’s Graduation Class: 2020.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Notre Dame, Accounting and Spanish.

Current Employer and Job Title: PricewaterhouseCoopers, International Tax Services Associate.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  This is a hard question to answer since I just started working in January 2021, but in general I am proud and thankful to have a job at one of the Big Four accounting firm’s (PwC). I’m also happy that I am not too shy to ask questions when I am not sure how to do something, this is something I did a lot as a student and it helped me learn and get comfortable reaching out for help when I need it. 

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: My biggest accomplishment as a graduate student was establishing meaningful relationships with my professors, overcoming the challenging moments that the pandemic imposed during the spring semester, and being the FSA Student Award – Outstanding MSA student recipient.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? A key factors that led me to choose the Mendoza College of Business were the ease of the transition it was for me as a Notre Dame undergraduate student and the prestige of the school. The professors are truly what make it so great. They work with students so that they genuinely understand the material and incorporate real world scenarios into what we learn. 

What led you to choose a Master’s in Accounting over an MBA? Getting a Master of Science in Accountancy allowed me to go more in depth with what I was learning when it came to specific accounting rules, principles, and tax laws.  I knew that I wanted to pursue an accounting career, so earning an MSA made more sense for me than earning an MBA. 

What has been your favorite course and how has it helped you in your career? My favorite course during the program was the Income Taxation for International Individuals course taught by Professor Milani. For me, it was rewarding to help people from various countries file their taxes, and not only learn about but apply the tax treaties to real tax returns. Additionally, (even though it was probably my most challenging course) the Taxes and Business Strategy course taught by Professor Seida taught me a lot! 

What role did your school play in helping you to land your first job out of the program? Attending the Notre Dame career fair as a college freshman allowed me to earn an internship with my current employer, and I have stayed with them ever since. I’m thankful that even though I was young and new to the world of business, I pushed myself to go to the career fair and make connections with professionals. 

How did your classmates enhance the value of your business school experience? This program requires a lot of group work, so having classmates from all different backgrounds who shared my interest in accounting helped to create meaningful output and projects. 

Who was your favorite faculty member and how did this person enrich your learning? My favorite faculty member was Professor Milani. I have taken his courses since I was a junior in undergrad, and I really enjoy his teaching style. He is always patient and willing to answer questions, so students get a good understanding of the material. He is also known for keeping his classes lighthearted and fun, and he takes the time to remember names so you feel like he knows you personally.

What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s graduate Master’s program? The best piece of advice for an incoming student into the MSA program is to attend your professors’ office hours whenever you need help with coursework. The biggest difference between undergrad and grad school is the level of detail that some of the topics dive into, and the professors are there to help you. Also, lean on your classmates for help, they’re great resources as well! 

What was your best memory from your Master’s program? I think my best memory is probably the first day of orientation. Everybody was so well-dressed and excited, but you could feel the nervousness in the room because nobody knew each other. Looking back on it now makes me laugh because as soon as the program started, we all became friendly with each other and we celebrated happy moments and struggled through challenges together.