Alumni Spotlight: Margaret Krenke, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Eller alumni Margaret Krenke '21 (Accounting and MIS) and '22 (Masters in Accounting) works as a Tax Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Phoenix, AZ.

Tell us about your job responsibilities (day-to-day and/or projects): 

It is said that in public accounting there is no "average day", I have found this to be very true of my work at PwC. Everyday, I start my computer, clock my time for the day before and check my emails. After that though, anything can happen! I work on a variety of clients in tax (individuals, partnerships, and corporations). One of my main responsibilities as a first year staff is to coordinate with our staff overseas and review their work. I get to experience preparing returns and reviewing them while also helping a bit with project management. I also have joined our People Committee, where I get to help plan fun office events to help team members connect with each other, take breaks and have fun even during busy season! 

I chose to work for PwC initially because of the name recognition and fantastic technical training that the firm offers. After interning with the firm and seeing that I could also gain a lot of experience in a variety of different types of tax, I decided to sign my offer to join the firm! 

What do you enjoy most about your job or company? 

I really enjoy how tight knit my Core Tax team is. While we have Big 4 resources in terms of our technology and benefits packages, we still have a small office atmosphere. There is a ton of support for new staff to learn software and tax technical skills, ask questions, make mistakes and learn and grow. I really appreciate how hands-on senior members of the team are. During the midst of busy season, everyone from our overseas team members to the Partners is in the trenches together, asking and answering questions and coming together to get projects done! I've got to work directly with Partners on all of my clients. After a large project is finished, the Partner on the project will then take the team to a celebratory dinner for a job well done and will sometimes even host an event at their homes. The culture of teamwork, learning and fun make PwC a great place to work! 

I originally found out about PwC and public accounting through an Accounting Students Association/Beta Alpha Psi (ASAB) meeting when I was a freshman. I thought that the recruiters seemed really energetic and passionate about the firm. Later that same year, I attended Meet the Firms for the first time. While I interviewed with PwC as a freshman and sophomore, I wasn't offered an internship until Spring of my Junior year for the following summer (Summer 2021) before I was to complete my Masters program. Something I heard a lot during my interviews was that I should consider pursuing my masters even though I was a double major and would have 150 units and be CPA eligible upon graduation form undergrad. While I didn't understand this recommendation at first, I decided to pursue my Masters anyways. I learned after interning, that the Masters is incredibly helpful for passing the CPA exam and for day-to-day knowledge in Tax. I use material that I learned in both my undergrad and Masters every day! 

What advice do you have for Eller students seeking a similar career path? 

1. Don't give up! As I mentioned in my paragraph above, I interviewed several times before I got offered an internship with PwC (or any other accounting firms for that matter).  

2. Know your timeline and be able to articulate it clearly: Part of why I struggled to get offers at first was that I was applying too early for accounting internships. The time frame is based on when you are CPA eligible (for public accounting firms). CPA eligible just means that you have your 150 credits completed (36 of which should be accounting credits and 30 of those upper division i.e. not ACCT 200 or ACCT 210). Those rules are for AZ every states' requirements will be slightly different, so talk with Tatum to learn more! Once you know when you will be CPA eligible you should start applying for internships for the summer before your last year of school. Since I decided to do my masters, I applied for internships for the summer after my senior year of undergrad. If you don't do your Masters you will want to apply for the summer after your Junior year. Also keep in mind that larger firms recruit a year in advance, so make sure to watch those deadlines and keep that in mind. 

3. Attend Meet the Firms and join ASAB. ASAB provided me with a wealth of information and tips and tricks to help me navigate the recruiting process. Meet the Firms was also super helpful in that it allowed me to make connections with many different firms which is helpful when you are trying to learn what you want to do. Those connections that you form as a freshman or sophomore can be built on when you go to apply and interview as a Junior and Senior. 

4. Attend Office Hours!: Your professors and TAs have been where you are now! They can help you with your classwork and prepping for exams which is helpful for the here and now, but they are also extremely helpful for discussing your long-term career path. Your TAs can often speak to what it is like to sit for the CPA exam, study tips and interview/resume help in addition to your classwork. Often times during non-peak weeks (e.g. not exams weeks) in particular, office hours are fairly empty, so they really are free private tutoring/career advice sessions. We are happy to talk to you! 

5. If you can try to complete some of your CPA exams during your Masters program/summer before you start working. While it is definitely possible to do your CPA exams while working, I can say personally that I'm really glad I did mine during the Masters program. Your courses in the Masters program directly relate to the CPA exam so the content is fresh. This also just greatly reduces stress during the busy season. 

6. Consider getting your Masters (even if you have your credits). I've stated this up above but just wanted to emphasize it! Our program at UA is awesome! Also,  make connections now and start building your accounting knowledge. Strong undergrad students make great Accounting Student staff or TAs which can help cover the cost of the program! I highly recommend taking some units as a preceptor for the lower-level accounting courses, it will keep your knowledge fresh and help you make connections with department professors which can help with applying for jobs in the department later on. 

Please share an Eller memory.

Wow I have so many awesome Eller memories! I think going off the theme from up above, one of my favorite memories has to be attending Meet the Firms throughout the years. I remember my first Meet the Firms as a freshman I was so nervous! I attended my first semester, and I didn't even have a college GPA yet, so I didn't really know how to navigate the career fair.  By the time I graduated from my Masters program I had the privilege of helping put together the fair and helping some of our students navigate MTF for the first time. It was such a cool moment because as I walked around the room introducing students, I realized that over the course of years I had the chance to make connections with people at almost all the tables. By this time, I had already accepted my offer with PwC, but I was able to share those connections with new students who were just starting out on their own career journies. A couple of weeks ago I attended Meet the Firms once again, this time as an Eller Alumni and representing PwC. It is such a rewarding process to be a part of helping others find their path!