Master’s in Accounting: Adeyemi Ashiru, NYU (Stern)

Student Name: Adeyemi Ashiru

Graduate Business School: NYU Stern School of Business

Describe Yourself In 15 Words: I’m a hardworking extroverted introvert and I have lived in three countries across two continents.

Master’s Graduation Class: 2020.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Cape Town, Finance and Accounting.

Current Employer and Job Title: Mazars USA, Audit Associate.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I would say that my biggest accomplishment in my career thus far would be passing my Regulation CPA exam and my Level 1 CFA exam.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: My biggest accomplishments as a graduate student were being able to effectively balance my responsibilities as a cohort leader and graduate ambassador, and to graduate after switching to remote learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? NYU Stern is no doubt one of the best schools in the country. Having emigrated to the USA eight months before the start of my program, Stern’s international student body made it easier for me to adapt by providing broader views and a diverse learning environment. Being in the financial capital of the world made it easier for professors to bring concepts to life and there’s also the bonus of getting to live in New York City.

What led you to choose a Master’s in Accounting over an MBA? Having majored in finance and accounting for my undergraduate degree, a Master’s in Accounting seemed to be the next logical step in my career. My family and I relocated to the USA after I had just completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting. The MS in Accounting offered me an opportunity to further enhance my accounting and business knowledge, in addition to building on the core knowledge required for me to obtain my CPA qualification.

What has been your favorite course and how has it helped you in your career? NYU Stern’s MS in Accounting is filled with innovative courses that prove useful in various aspects of business. I would have to say my favorite course was Modeling Financial Statements. We were able to learn how to apply data in various ways using Excel, while also providing new ways of looking at and creating financial statement projections. This has proved to be very useful and a timesaver in my career thus far.

What role did your school play in helping you to land your first job out of the program? NYU Stern played a huge role in helping me land my first job out of the program. There were numerous personalized resources made available to students via The Wasserman Center for Career Development, in addition to the networking events and career fairs students were given the opportunity to attend. The MSA program also prepares students for the recruitment process by offering a compulsory Financial Statement Analysis course in the first month or so of the fall semester. This course is intended to ensure that all MSA students have the appropriate accounting and finance knowledge to be well prepared and succeed during the fall recruiting season.

How did your classmates enhance the value of your business school experience? My classmates inspired me during my time at Stern. It was amazing to be able to learn with and from such an amazing, diverse group of people. Being able to bounce ideas off of these great minds has provided me with new ways of thinking and has enhanced my desire to continuously improve myself. 

Who was your favorite faculty member and how did this person enrich your learning? NYU Stern is packed with amazing faculty and staff, each willing to provide guidance whenever called upon. I thoroughly enjoyed Professor Mark Brennan’s approach to our Professional Responsibility course. He always started the lecture by going through recent news articles that related to topics covered during the semester. This approach helped bring theoretical concepts to life in both professional and personal settings.

What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s graduate Master’s program? The best advice I would give to an applicant hoping to get into NYU Stern is to be willing to try new things, always give 100% in everything they do, and never be afraid to ask questions.

What was your best memory from your Master’s program? My time at Stern was filled with so many amazing memories, from cohort social events to the Bryant Park Christmas Tree Lighting. My favorite memory would likely be the presentation we received from members of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). This presentation gave us a good background as to what to expect and how to handle the pressures of the professional world, in addition to giving us the opportunity to pose the relevant questions we had about the profession and organization to the members present.