An internship allows students to find out more about a potential career field and to gain valuable networking contacts. As the second largest city in New York State, Buffalo offers numerous opportunities. Each year nearly 200 Canisius business students are placed in internships. Many of the these experiences result in job opportunities after graduation.
The Accounting Society, a student-run organization, is extremely active and organizes numerous professional explorations, as well as social events throughout the year. Events include Meet the Accountants Night, the Accounting Banquet, workshops on resume writing and interviewing skills, holiday parties and baseball outings. The society also sponsors presentations by members of the local accounting and business communities.
The Department of Accounting provides ample opportunity for accounting majors to interact with members of the business and accounting community in Western New York. Accounting majors are regularly invited to breakfast meetings hosted by members of the Council on Accountancy. The council, composed of successful area accountants, serves as an advisory board to the Accounting Department.
Other opportunities available include:
- The Office Visitation Program – junior students spend a day in an accounting environment in the business community. This experience allows students to observe accountants at work, and to interact with the accounting and the financial staff at all levels. Only two students visit one accounting firm or company at a time.
- The Accounting Experience Program – members of the Council on Accountancy help students find accounting positions during the summer months following the completion of their junior year of the intermediate accounting sequence for graduate students. These positions are available in public accounting firms, industry, financial institutions, and the government sector.
- Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) -- sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service and the Accounting Society, students who have completed at least one tax course have the opportunity to participate in this program during the tax season. Students acquire experience in preparing individual tax returns and it develops a sense of responsibility and the ability to interact with the public.
- "Meet the Accountants Night" -- brings together accounting recruiters and students to discuss job opportunities.
- The Accounting Banquet -- held in the Spring each year, this event brings together students and members of the accounting and business community in Western New York. Awards are given to outstanding students, departmental scholarships are announced, and awards are given to an outstanding alumnus (alumnae) of the Department of Accounting.
- Mentor Program -- graduate students get the opportunity to have two mentors: one from public accounting and the second from industry. This program helps graduate students, especially those who work in the areas not related to accounting or finance, make the transition into accounting careers.
- Students in the 150 Hours Program intern with accounting firms during the first ten weeks of the Spring semester. These provide them with very valuable experience.