Firms scout student talent at 22nd Accounting Fair

As accounting firms face an era of talent retiring in droves, more than a dozen of them descended on Eastern Connecticut State University for the school’s 22nd annual Accounting Fair. Held on Oct. 1, more than 100 students perused firms eager to scout new talent from the University’s accounting program.    

“Every person we have from Eastern has turned out so good,” said Will Paetzold ’20, one of five Eastern alumni working for Nicola Yester & Company, one of Central Connecticut's leading accounting firms.   

Paetzolb credited accounting professor and Assistant Department Chair Mohd RuJoub with preparing him for the accounting industry and the certified public accountant (CPA) exam, a requirement to become a licensed CPA. 

"I honestly thought Mohd's (RuJoub) exams were harder than the CPA exam itself,” said Paetzolb. “He wants his students to succeed after college; he doesn't make the exams easy, and that's a good thing. ... He's setting you up to study for the CPA.”  

RuJoub returned Paetzold's sentiment, thanking alumni for their continued support and stressing the importance of a high-rigor education.

"Our loyal alumni strongly support our program, returning year after year to recruit our students," he said. "They consistently demonstrate value in the workforce, leaving a lasting impression of the high quality of an Eastern education."

He added, "Our alumni achieve exceptional pass rates on the CPA exam, elevating the University's reputation and reinforcing the program's excellence." 

Heather Lavallee, director of human resources and chief operating officer of Fiondella, Milone and LaSaracina, LLC (FML), praised current and former Eastern students.  

“We've got a large number of Eastern grads that work with us that are impressive (accountants),” said Lavallee. 

Her enthusiasm is reflected in eight Eastern alumni who now walk the halls of FML, including three senior partners, and in her desire to continue hiring more Eastern alums. 

“We're constantly feeding at the intern and staff level to ensure that people are coming up the ranks and are prepared,” said Lavallee.   

Senior Accountant Thsarny Pierre ’24 is one such recent graduate moving swiftly up FML’s ranks. Like Paetzolb, she attributes her current position, in part, to Professor RuJoub. He alerted her to a two-day leadership program with FML.

That event allowed her to pitch herself directly to the company, scoring an internship that became a full-time job after graduation. 

“Dr. Mohd (RuJoub) is such a big advocate for his students,” said Pierre. “He's always trying to find jobs and find opportunities.”

Isaian Imasuen ’27, represented Halloran & Associates, LLC, where he now interns, attributed his current role to the fair. While Halloran & Associates wasn’t actively seeking new staff at a previous Eastern Accounting Fair, it still gave Imasuen a chance to introduce himself and build connections. At a following fair, they were looking, and Imasuen easily capitalized on that earlier networking to secure the position.