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The Santa Clara University Accounting Association successfully hosted many virtual online events last spring and started the 2021 academic year with an in-person Meet the Firms held in Mission Gardens.  Additionally, SCUAA invites a CPA exam review company to present on the latest CPA exam guidelines and hosts mock interviews with CPA firms and professionals to allow students to practice their interview skills.  Read more about the 2021 Accounting Association officers below:

Chloe Scocimara (Senior Officer, President) -  I am from Menlo Park, CA and attended Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH. I chose to come back to Silicon Valley because of the ever growing market and the opportunities that it presents. I am an Accounting and Information Systems major with a Business Analytics minor. I chose accounting because of the combination of math and interaction with people. I love being able to interact with different industries to understand more about companies. I am also focusing on information systems and data analytics because they are new skills that companies are looking for especially in the Bay Area. I interned at Deloitte in their audit practice in San Francisco during the 2021 summer and accepted my full-time offer at the end of my internship. In my free time I love to travel, cook, read, and hangout with my friends. On campus I am also involved in CHAARG (female fitness club), Alpha Phi, and ZiM (Zero-interest Microfinance).

Jack Hirsch (Senior Officer, Treasurer) - I was born and raised in San Diego, CA and attended Francis W. Parker School for elementary through high school. I am an Accounting major and am graduating this spring. I chose Santa Clara University because of its strong presence in the Silicon Valley, its emphasis on ethics throughout its curriculum, and the wealth of experience available after graduation. I have a passion for technology and thus there is no where else better in the world to go to college. This past summer, I interned with Deloitte in San Jose in the audit practice. After the internship, I accepted an offer within the Risk & Financial Advisory practice of Deloitte’s San Jose office. I have a passion for travel and will be exploring Italy after graduation, hopefully rounding off a great college experience at Santa Clara University.

Gustavo Gutierrez (Senior Officer, Events) - I grew up in a little town called Rohnert Park, where I attended Rancho Cotate High School. I chose to go to Santa Clara because of its prime location in the heart of Silicon Valley along with the highly respected accounting program. I am currently on the path to become the first person in my family to graduate with a 4-year degree. I chose accounting as my major because I look at it as being a puzzle that I need to solve. Accounting is also in the service industry and seeing my parents work in the restaurant industry providing service to people, made me want to combine my love for puzzle-solving with providing a service to people. Throughout my time at SCU I have tried to make the best of my experience by having an on campus job, joining the professional business fraternity (AKPsi), going in Into The Wild trips, tutoring students in accounting, and being an Orientation Leader. I will graduate with an Accounting Major and be returning to PwC where I have been completing my internships since sophomore year. I start work with PwC in the Fall of 2022 under the line of service of Audit!

Karlise Loza (Senior Officer, Firm Relations) - I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA and attended San Marcos High School. I participated in my school’s Entrepreneurship Academy, so I chose to come to Santa Clara because of the business school’s strong reputation in Silicon Valley. Since I’ve always loved numbers and paying attention to details, I chose to be an Accounting and Information Systems major as a first year student. In the summer following my first year, I attended Discover EY, which is a diversity externship in Dallas, TX. I also interned at Integrated Procurement Technologies in Santa Barbara to gain administrative and organization skills. The following summer I completed EY’s Launch Internship, which is also for students from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in accounting. In the summer of 2021, I interned with Deloitte in their audit practice. It was very valuable to join a few different teams and get a taste for what my future will be like. I’m looking forward to starting with Deloitte San Francisco full time in September of 2022. In my free time, I enjoy dancing, cooking new recipes, and playing guitar. I hope to continue pursuing my interests and developing my career next fall. 

Haley Wilson (Senior Officer, Student Relations) - I was born and raised in Bellingham, WA and attended Sehome High School. When I started looking at colleges, the California sun was too tempting to pass up! I chose Santa Clara University because of its strong business program, small class sizes and tight-knit community. This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as an Audit and Assurance intern for Deloitte in their San Francisco office. I am very excited to be returning to work for Deloitte full-time after graduating in Spring 2022. Aside from serving as an SCUAA officer, I work on campus in the Business School Dean’s Office and am also involved in off-campus greek life. In my free time, I love hiking, camping, exploring new places in California, and spending time with family and friends. Being an officer for the Accounting Association has been extremely rewarding and I’m very thankful for everyone I’ve met through this experience. It’s crazy to think my time at SCU is coming to an end so quickly but I couldn’t have asked for anywhere better to spend the past four years! 

Andrew Amerio (Junior Officer) - I was born and raised in the Pasadena, California area where I attended Saint Francis High School. I chose Santa Clara because of its great location in the Silicon Valley and the many opportunities the business school offers. I declared Accounting as my major sophomore year and expect to graduate in 2023. This past summer I interned at PwC and will be returning as a Financial Due Diligence intern next summer in the San Francisco office. Throughout my time at SCU, I have been an LSB Peer Advisor, am a member of the Men’s Club Volleyball team and have liked playing on different intramural sports teams. 

Bethany Candler (Junior Officer) - I am from San Mateo, CA and attended Hillsdale High School. I ultimately chose Santa Clara University due to the prime location in the Bay Area, and I knew I wanted to attend a school that valued a strong community through smaller class sizes. Studying accounting was ultimately the best fit in the business school for me because I am able to combine my interest in business along with gaining critical skills that will be applicable in a variety of business contexts. In the future, I hope to be able to combine my interest in accounting with my real estate minor. I am currently involved as a Peer Educator for a Managerial Accounting class and a member of both the Leavey Scholars and University Honors Programs. In summer 2022 I completed an Audit internship with PwC in their San Jose office. Between my internship and the Accounting Association I have been able to connect with fellow accountants at school and the local community. Most importantly, I have been able to apply in class content to real life scenarios. I have accepted a full time offer with PwC and will be joining the San Francisco office after graduation.

Melanie Cooper (Junior Officer) - I was born and raised in San Mateo, CA, and attended Hillsdale High School. I chose to attend SCU because I love the Bay Area and I really value the opportunity the Silicon Valley brings. The strong sense of community and professor engagement were very attractive when choosing Santa Clara. I chose Accounting because of the variety of opportunities in the field and I have really enjoyed it so far. Aside from accounting, I am on the Executive Board of Peer Advising for LSB. I love anywhere with a beach and am always living out my side passion for fitness and health. I love to hike and enjoy the outdoors. This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as an Audit and Assurance intern for Deloitte in their San Francisco office.

Isabelle He (Junior Officer) - I was born in Canada and spend my elementary school years in Chengdu, China. I attended high school in Seattle and San Diego. I chose Santa Clara University because of its exceptional Accounting & Information Systems program and close-knit campus community. Beside SCUAA, I am also a peer tutor for the accounting department. I enjoy learning about database management systems and the underlying reasons for accounting rules. Next summer, I will intern with Ernst & Young in the Assurance branch. In my free time, I like to read and take my dog on hikes.

Bryce Otsuka (Junior Officer) - I was born and raised on the island of Oahu in Honolulu, Hawaii. I attended Maryknoll High school for the entirety of my high school career and chose to attend Santa Clara University for its exceptional academics, campus life, and career opportunities. I found my interest in accounting through its diverse set of lines of service, work force flexibility, and financial stability. This past summer, I worked as an Assurance intern for PricewaterhouseCoopers. I learned so much about the work life and culture at PwC and hope to continue to gain ample experience to further my expertise within the accounting field. I joined the SCU Accounting Association to surround myself with peers who not only have the same interests that I have, but also more experience in the field than I do, all while helping my fellow students with their accounting opportunities. In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, learning about video editing through Adobe Premiere Pro, and hanging with friends.

The Santa Clara University Accounting Association successfully hosted many events last spring and started the 2022 academic year with an in-person Meet the Firms event held in Mission Gardens.  Additionally, SCUAA invites a CPA exam review company to present on the latest CPA exam guidelines and hosts mock interviews with CPA firms and professionals to allow students to practice their interview skills. 

Read more about the 2022 Accounting Association officers below:

Andrew Amerio (Senior Officer: Firm Relations) - I was born and raised in the Pasadena, California area where I attended Saint Francis High School. I chose Santa Clara because of its great location in the Silicon Valley and the many opportunities the business school offers. I declared Accounting as my major sophomore year and expect to graduate in 2023. This past summer I interned at PwC and will be returning as a Financial Due Diligence intern next summer in the San Francisco office. Throughout my time at SCU, I have been an LSB Peer Advisor, am a member of the Men’s Club Volleyball team and have enjoyed playing on different intramural sports teams. 

Bethany Candler (Senior Officer, President) - I am from San Mateo, CA and attended Hillsdale High School. I ultimately chose Santa Clara University due to the prime location in the Bay Area, and I knew I wanted to attend a school that valued a strong community through smaller class sizes. Studying accounting was ultimately the best fit in the business school for me because I am able to combine my interest in business along with gaining critical skills that will be applicable in a variety of business contexts. In the future, I hope to be able to combine my interest in accounting with my real estate minor. I am currently involved as a Peer Educator for a Managerial Accounting class and a member of both the Leavey Scholars and University Honors Programs. In summer 2022, I completed an Audit internship with PwC in their San Jose office. Between my internship and the Accounting Association I have been able to connect with fellow accountants at school and the local community. Most importantly, I have been able to apply in class content to real life scenarios. I have accepted a full time offer with PwC and will be joining the San Francisco office after graduation.

Noah Chak (Junior Officer) - I am from Anaheim, CA and attended Fairmont Preparatory Academy. I knew Santa Clara was the school for me because of its strong business program and it’s well known and respected presence in the Bay Area. The class sizes and the relationships with professors that I have been able to build here are something I would not have gotten anywhere else. Accounting as a major was an easy choice because as a subject it uses a lot of critical thinking and logic. Santa Clara’s strong program and staff also allowed me to feel comfortable making my decision. I am involved with the school as a Peer Educator for a Critical Thinking and Writing class, VP of SCU Golf Club, and a Junior Officer for SCUAA. After my junior year, I will be interning with Deloitte San Francisco as an audit and assurance intern in Summer 2023. With SCUAA I hope to expand my network and build camaraderie between students here at Santa Clara. 

Melanie Cooper (Senior Officer: Student Relations) - I was born and raised in San Mateo, CA, and attended Hillsdale High School. I chose to attend SCU because I love the Bay Area and I really value the opportunity the Silicon Valley brings. The strong sense of community and professor engagement were very attractive when choosing Santa Clara. I chose Accounting because of the variety of opportunities in the field and I have really enjoyed it so far. Aside from accounting, I am on the Executive Board of Peer Advising for LSB. I love anywhere with a beach and am always living out my side passion for fitness and health. I love to hike and enjoy the outdoors. This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as an Audit and Assurance intern for Deloitte in their San Francisco office.

Isabelle He (Senior Officer: Treasurer) - I was born in Canada and spent my elementary school years in Chengdu, China. I attended high school in Seattle and San Diego. I chose Santa Clara University because of its exceptional Accounting & Information Systems program and close-knit campus community. Outside of SCUAA, I am also a peer tutor for the accounting department. I enjoy learning about database management systems and the underlying reasons for accounting rules. Next summer, I will intern with Ernst & Young in the Assurance branch. In my free time, I like to read and take my dog on hikes.

Megan House (Junior Officer) - I grew up in Cupertino, CA and attended Cupertino High School. I chose to attend Santa Clara because of its well established business school and prime location in the Bay Area. After taking Accounting 11 and learning more about the major, I knew accounting would be a good option for me because of the opportunities, stability, and structure. At the end of sophomore year, I declared Accounting and Information Systems as my major to develop a more diverse set of skills by mixing business with technology. I recently interned in audit at KPMG and I am looking forward to my audit internship at PwC for summer 2023. I enjoy baking, weight training, and watching TV (especially comedies). I look forward to meeting new people through the Accounting Association.

Bryce Otsuka (Senior Officer: Events) - I was born and raised on the island of Oahu in Honolulu, Hawaii. I attended Maryknoll High school for the entirety of my high school career and chose to attend Santa Clara University for its exceptional academics, campus life, and career opportunities. I found my interest in accounting through its diverse set of lines of service, work force flexibility, and financial stability. This past summer, I worked as an Assurance intern for PricewaterhouseCoopers. I learned so much about the work life and culture at PwC and hope to continue to gain ample experience to further my expertise within the accounting field. I joined the SCU Accounting Association to surround myself with peers who not only have the same interests that I have, but also more experience in the field than I do, and to help my fellow students with their accounting opportunities. In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, learning about video editing through Adobe Premiere Pro, and hanging with friends.

Belle Yei (Junior Officer) - I was born and raised in Taichung, Taiwan, where I attended a local high school and began my bilingual journey. I chose Santa Clara because of its location in Silicon Valley. I did not start my academic journey as an accounting major. However, as time passed, the school’s highly respected accounting program attracted me to be part of the family. I chose accounting as my major because, as a child of a factory owner, I have understood the importance of accounting from a very young age. I wish to one day be able to give my family a hand in our business as we thrive together. As for the future, I am very excited that I will be able to join EY as a Tax intern in the summer of 2023.

Sydney Yuen (Junior Officer) - I was born and raised in San Mateo, CA, and attended Hillsdale High School before coming to Santa Clara. I chose to come to SCU because my older sister graduated from here and shared how incredible the Leavey School of Business is and the opportunity to build and strengthen connections with professors.  My Dad is a CPA and always encouraged me to major in Accounting because of the critical thinking and problem-solving skills it teaches you. I ultimately decided to declare my major as Accounting and Information Systems because of the impact of technology in the Accounting world and it will allow me to understand the relationship between the two and make outdated processes more efficient. Outside of SCUAA, I am currently involved in the professional co-ed fraternity Alpha Phi Omega where I participate in community service events around SCU and on a national scale. In my free time, I love reading, spending time with my family, and trying new food! This past summer I interned at Deloitte’s San Francisco office as a Discovery Intern where I was able to build my networking skills and apply what I’ve learned from my Accounting classes. Next summer I am excited to work as an Audit Intern and apply the new skills I’ve learned this summer and through my time in SCUAA!

The Santa Clara University Accounting Association (SCUAA) successfully hosted many events during the 2022-2023 academic year, including in person career fairs and monthly SCUAA meetings  hosting various accounting firms.  Additionally, SCUAA assists students prepare for career fairs by hosting pre-event interactive workshops and also invites a CPA exam review company to present on the latest CPA exam guidelines.  

Read more about the 2023-2024 Accounting Association officers below:

Noah Chak (President - Senior Officer) - I am from Anaheim, CA and attended Fairmont Preparatory Academy. I knew Santa Clara was the school for me because of its strong business program and it’s well known and respected presence in the Bay Area. The class sizes and the relationships with professors that I have been able to build here are something I would not have gotten anywhere else. Accounting as a major was an easy choice because as a subject it uses a lot of critical thinking and logic. Santa Clara’s strong program and staff also allowed me to feel comfortable making my decision. I am involved with the school as a Peer Educator for a Critical Thinking and Writing class, VP of SCU Golf Club, and a Junior Officer for SCUAA. After my junior year, I will be interning with Deloitte San Francisco as an audit and assurance intern in Summer 2023. With SCUAA I hope to expand my network and build camaraderie between students here at Santa Clara. 

Megan House (Senior Officer) - I grew up in Cupertino, CA and attended Cupertino High School. I chose to attend Santa Clara because of its well established business school and prime location in the Bay Area. After taking Accounting 11 and learning more about the major, I knew accounting would be a good option for me because of the opportunities, stability, and structure. At the end of sophomore year, I declared Accounting and Information Systems as my major to develop a more diverse set of skills by mixing business with technology. I recently interned in audit at KPMG and I am looking forward to my audit internship at PwC for summer 2023. I enjoy baking, weight training, and watching TV (especially comedies). I look forward to meeting new people through the Accounting Association.

Belle Yei (Senior Officer) - I was born and raised in Taichung, Taiwan, where I attended a local high school and began my bilingual journey. I chose Santa Clara because of its location in Silicon Valley. I did not start my academic journey as an accounting major. However, as time passed, the school’s highly respected accounting program attracted me to be part of the family. I chose accounting as my major because, as a child of a factory owner, I have understood the importance of accounting from a very young age. I wish to one day be able to give my family a hand in our business as we thrive together. As for the future, I am very excited that I will be able to join EY as a Tax intern in the summer of 2023.

Sydney Yuen (Senior Officer) - I was born and raised in San Mateo, CA, and attended Hillsdale High School before coming to Santa Clara. I chose to come to SCU because my older sister graduated from here and shared how incredible the Leavey School of Business is and the opportunity to build and strengthen connections with professors.  My Dad is a CPA and always encouraged me to major in Accounting because of the critical thinking and problem-solving skills it teaches you. I ultimately decided to declare my major as Accounting and Information Systems because of the impact of technology in the Accounting world and it will allow me to understand the relationship between the two and make outdated processes more efficient. Outside of SCUAA, I am currently involved in the professional co-ed fraternity Alpha Phi Omega where I participate in community service events around SCU and on a national scale. In my free time, I love reading, spending time with my family, and trying new food! In the summer of 2022, I interned at Deloitte’s San Francisco office as a Discovery Intern where I was able to build my networking skills and apply what I’ve learned from my Accounting classes. In the summer of 2023, I worked as an Audit Intern.  I am excited to apply the new skills I’ve learned this summer and through my time in SCUAA!

Mark Aquilio (Junior Officer) - I was born and raised in San Bruno, CA, where I attended Capuchino High School before coming to Santa Clara. I decided to come to Santa Clara because of the great reputation the business program had as well as the countless opportunities the location offered. I decided to major in accounting late into my sophomore year after enjoying Accounting 11 and having already enjoyed working with numbers. Outside of SCUAA, I’m involved in the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi and am an events associate in the Sports Business Club. This past summer, I interned at Deloitte’s San Francisco office in audit as a Discovery Intern where I was able to learn more about the day-to-day work of auditors and connect with other professionals. In my free time, I enjoy watching sports, exploring new places, and hanging out with friends!

Brendan Arias (Junior Officer) - I am from Chatham, NJ where I attended Chatham High School. I originally chose SCU because of the prospect of combining business and technology into my education, along with the prime location of Silicon Valley. I chose A&IS as my major as it seemed like the perfect combination of my interests. I am involved in the school as a peer educator in the Accounting Department and as the first University's Risk Management Assistant. This past summer 2023, I completed an internship at Tandym Group on the internal Finance & Accounting team in the NYC office. Next summer, I plan to be a Digital Assurance & Transparency intern at PwC in the NJ office. With SCUAA, I hope to both increase my engagement in the Accounting space and also lead a group of accountants-to-be in the SCU community!

 

John Marrack (Junior Officer) - I grew up in Hakalau, HI, and attended Hilo High School. I chose to attend SCU due to the small and intimate classes, and the business school’s strong reputation. After taking ACTG 11 and attending various accounting events, I chose to major in Accounting and Information Systems because a career in accounting is highly flexible and I enjoy its puzzle-like nature. Next summer, I am excited to join PwC as a Tax Intern. In my free time, I like to read fantasy, bodyboard, play soccer, and run.

 

Maia Murphy (Junior Officer) - I am from Newcastle, Washington and I am an Accounting major with an Entrepreneurship minor. I love playing pickleball, cooking/baking and hanging out with friends! I chose SCU because I wanted a school that had great weather, small class sizes and a reputable business school. I have had a great experience here so far and have especially loved the accounting program. I found a passion for accounting in ACTG 11 when I learned how logical accounting is. I also loved talking to the professionals at the SCUAA's Meet the Firms last year which ultimately helped me decide that accounting is the right major for me! This summer (2023), I am interning for Costco's Accounting Department as a corporate tax intern and next summer (2024), I will be interning at EY in Seattle as an audit intern.

Jessica Pu (Junior Officer) - I was born in Cupertino, California and had the opportunity to live abroad in Shanghai, China for high school. I chose SCU because of its location near home in Silicon Valley, as well as its well-known business school. Accounting never stood out to me until I took ACTG 11, and from there, I tried to get more involved with the department and gain a better understanding of accounting, leading me to join SCUAA. Outside of SCUAA, I’m an active member of the co-ed business fraternity Phi Chi Theta and will be VP of Service. I’m also a violist and have been playing individually and as part of ensembles for more than 10 years; in my free time, I also enjoy creative writing. During Summer 2023, I worked with Cedar Fair as an Internal Audit intern, and I look forward to joining PwC as an Audit Intern this coming Summer 2024.