Alumni Profiles – Business Administration

Alycia Morehouse, BBA 2005, Honours in Marketing & Co-op

I chose business administration because it fell in line with my interest. I thought that I would end up in law school, so a BBA made a lot of sense. Being a lawyer is what I dreamed of most of my high school years – but as it stands, it wasn’t for me. The BBA program appealed to me for its reputation, and the course material that it covered.

I chose UNB because it was a great school, in a great city, with a great reputation. And UNB is in my blood, literally. I was the 13th member of my family to attend UNB. My grandfather and aunt were on the Board of Governors, and my aunt was the President of the Alumni.

I entered the BBA Co-op program, and it is because of the Co-op program that I am doing the job that I am today. I did two work terms with the City of Fredericton, and was hired to work in economic development. That led to my position as Climate Change Coordinator for the City – managing environmental education programs, and helping the municipality along its sustainability journey.

My major at UNB was marketing, and I spend a lot of my time at work doing marketing and public relations. Much of what I learned about public speaking, writing, and managing communications portfolios came out of my course work at UNB. Also, team-centered approaches in my classes afforded me lots of experience for my eventual role in group settings.

I say this a lot, but I absolutely LOVE my job! It really allows me to live my personal passion of protecting the environment, and I get to work with the public in doing so. I have a job with a purpose, and I can actually see a difference being made – that’s important to me. I like working in the public sector, especially at the municipal level where I can work closely with the community.

My advice to students is to use the resources that you have at the university! Have a good relationship with your faculty advisor and other professors – they are great resources, and can provide valuable information. Consider the Co-op program – nothing can replace experiential learning. Getting out into the workforce, applying what you’ve learned, and gaining experience looks great on your resume. You will also learn about what you like doing, and what might not be for you. Networking is very valuable too – get out and meet people – you never know where you might run into them again!

Jonathan Nason, BBA 2007, Honours in Accounting & Co-op

I knew quite young in life that I wanted to pursue a business administration degree and ultimately obtain a Certified Management Accounting (CMA) designation, which I will have in June 2011. Business administration was the only avenue that offered training in accounting (I’m a numbers person!) and in the creative and innovative aspects of business. It allowed me to develop as a strategic thinker and to find innovative solutions to problems. Business administration is excellent preparation for corporate leadership and helping organizations capitalize on their competitive advantage.

I chose UNB because it was close to my hometown of McAdam, NB and because of its great reputation in business administration. The co-op program allowed me to gain different experiences throughout the work terms. I enjoyed the variety and chose to do more work terms than required when given the opportunity by my employer, Syncrude Canada Ltd. I was offered a full time position with the company before I completed university. This would have never happened if I hadn’t been a part of the BBA co-op program.

I took an accounting major at UNB, which has helped tremendously at Syncrude. Initially I worked as the junior analyst in Corporate Reporting, but now as the Lead Corporate Analyst I get to use a more diverse set of skills. The training I received in human resources, strategic management, organizational behavior, organizational design, operations management and financial accounting has helped deal with many different situations I have encountered this early in my career. I have the chance to apply a wide range of skills that many accountants don’t get to use a lot of the time; that makes my job much more enjoyable and rewarding.

Syncrude has given me greater opportunities than I ever expected in just 3 years. If you work hard, stay focused and deliver results, you will be rewarded. Remember though, rewards are not always monetary, so don’t always look short term. You need have a “career focused” attitude and perspective.

In 2010, it’s imperative to gain work-related experience before you leave university. The co-op program is widely recognized and highly valued by employers. If you are unsure of what you want to do, that’s ok – you’re certainly not the only one in that situation. The co-op option can help you decide what type of work you might like and give you valuable experience that can lead to a successful career. Study hard, enroll in the co-op program, set personal goals that are reasonable, but most importantly, have fun and maintain a good work/life balance.

Katie Shanks, BBA 2006, Honours Accounting & Co-op, CA

After taking my first accounting course in grade 10, I knew I wanted a business-oriented career with an accounting focus. I chose UNB because it was close to home and it had an excellent reputation for its BBA and co-op programs.

By the end of my second year, I decided to pursue my CA designation. Once I made that decision, the path was well defined. CA firms hire their new students on an annual basis, typically the fall before graduation. Representatives from various accounting firms came to campus. I attended these sessions and applied online to all of the firms that were hiring. I had an offer with Grant Thornton, SJ, Ernst & Young SJ, and KPMG Moncton. I worked with KPMG Moncton for three and a half years before I accepted a transfer back to Fredericton. Currently, I am a senior accountant with KPMG Fredericton.

What I like best about my job is the diversity. During busy season, every day is a new and exciting challenge. We are rarely in the office so we are able to meet new people in the business world in many different industries. The accounting profession is constantly changing – most recently with International Financial Reporting Standards and Private Enterprise GAAP. KPMG has resources to help us learn and adjust to these changes so that we can provide the best advice to our clients. We get a bit of a break during July and August, and even get to leave work at 3 pm on Fridays!

My advice to students is to get involved! More and more, CA firms are looking for students that are well rounded. It's important to show that you can get good marks and be involved in extracurricular activities because balance and discipline are two characteristics that you need in order to be successful in writing the UFE. Also, make as many contacts as you can because there are a lot of other smart, outgoing students that are applying to the limited number of jobs come the fall. If you know people, that will help to get your foot in the door.

The Co-op program is one of the best ways to stand out from the rest. You get real life experience to build your resume and you get to make money at the same time. Don't be discouraged if you don't get a co-op placement in a CA firm, if the CA route is the route you're looking to take. I participated in 3 work terms (JDI, and the Legislative Assembly of NB), which aren't official CA firms, but the experience I gained helped distinguish me from the crowd.

Courtney Griffin, BBA 2006, Honours Accounting & Co-op, CA

When I was in high school I knew that I was interested in both math and sciences. I wasn’t sure if I would take engineering or business administration as both seemed to be a good fit. I also wanted to choose a faculty that gave me the best opportunity of securing work after my degree. I applied to UNB for engineering and to Saint Mary's University in Halifax for their commerce program. I was accepted into both programs and was offered academic scholarships from both schools. I was a hockey player and was also offered an athletic scholarship at Saint Mary's. That seemed to be a sign that that was the path to follow so I selected Saint Mary's.

As much as I enjoyed Saint Mary's and cherished the independence and learning opportunities associated with going to school out of town, I found myself travelling back home to Fredericton more and more as the end of the first year approached. There is something to be said about staying close to family, friends, and home while going to school. I chose to complete my business administration degree at UNB because I wanted to stay closer to home and my support network. I guess you could say that I learned what so many others before me have – you can't beat life in Fredericton.

I was hooked on accounting after my first course. The co-op program reinforced my interest and encouraged me to do an honors-major in accounting. Having the chance to apply the skills I learned in the classroom to real-life settings helped me define my goal of becoming a CA.

I now work for Grant Thornton, the accounting firm that I did all 3 co-op terms with, so you could certainly say that the co-op program helped me start my career! Ironically enough, I'm now responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and training our co-op students with the University of New Brunswick. Another bonus of my work terms through the co-op program was that they counted towards my experience requirements in the CA program. It allowed me to be 8 months ahead of other students who entered the CA program out of university without any co-op experience.

I like the continuous learning associated with work as a CA. With the constant changes in auditing and accounting standards, we are forced to continually learn and adapt; it keeps things new. I also enjoy my role in coaching and mentoring junior staff and my involvement in our firm's CA training as the firm's National UFE Coordinator.

I recommend that students evaluate their strengths and interests when choosing a learning path; select a faculty that interests you. I also think prospective students should know that it’s ok if you don't know exactly what you want to do for a career when you're fresh out of high school. In the business administration program specifically, you are exposed to all of the facets of business in your first few years, which gives you the opportunity to identify your interests before selecting a major. I strongly recommend the co-op program; it lets you give your chosen career a 'test drive' before committing to it as a major; and, as in my case, it can open the door to a successful career.