Accounting Concentration
Let’s face it: You could study accounting anywhere. Virtually all institutions offer it. So, what distinguishes the accounting program, a concentration in our financial services major, at George Fox? What makes our program so special?
Let’s begin with our track record: Ninety-five percent of our students have received professional accounting jobs by graduation, and 100 percent have received offers within six months of graduation. Numbers don’t lie.
Our formula for success? We teach you the technical skills, critical thinking and analytics expertise you need to succeed in today’s business environment. And with our strong relationships with international, national and regional businesses, the internships and job offers follow.
Need another reason? Our classroom discussion topics go beyond auditing, taxation, and financial accounting and reporting. We engage in ethical and faith formation by interacting with texts from Scripture, Bonhoeffer, Augustine and C.S. Lewis. Not exactly something you find in most business programs!
Finally, to put our faith into practice, our alumni and students serve together regularly each year during Accounting Serve Day, our work on white-collar crime with the Portland Police Bureau, and by serving the community with free tax assistance.
It all adds up: We prepare you professionally, challenge you personally and encourage you spiritually, setting you up for success in whatever career path you pursue.
Why Study Accounting at George Fox?
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Our success is reflected in the quality of the employers who have hired our graduates. They include highly respected public accounting firms such as Aldrich Advisors, KPMG, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Moss Adams, Delap, Perkins and Co, Geffen Mesher, and Hoffman, Stewart, and Schmidt.
Students who elect to pursue a non-public accounting track have secured positions with Amazon, Washington County, the State of Oregon, Columbia Sportswear, Siemens, and many more. -
We regularly interact with outside experts and alumni, seeking their involvement in the formative spiritual and character development in our students.
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Eight CPA firms (international, regional and local) actively recruit our students for internships and jobs. Partners, hiring managers and staff are consistently on campus interacting with students via mock interviews, classroom enrichment, and service projects.
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We annually collaborate with local law enforcement and forensic accountants to work on white-collar crime cases in the Justice for Fraud Victims class.
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In the active Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, you will get the opportunity to provide free tax services to low-income and elderly citizens in the community. On average, students serve more than 150 individuals and families.
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You will engage in frequent and regular interaction with alumni at board activities, ambassador activities, tailgate parties, meals, recruiting activities, and even fantasy football leagues. You will remain part of our family even after graduation.
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As a Financial Services major, you have the option to join George Fox University’s honors program. This great books program will allow you to engage in active discussions with your peers and provide you with a challenging academic journey that informs your mind and deepens your spiritual walk.
What will I Study?
- The current curriculum includes case-based work utilizing advanced Excel techniques, Python programming language, and Tableau. In addition to standard accounting topics, students are trained in basic skills of data preparation, analysis and visualization. These skills are highly prized by public accounting firms.
- Core courses include Taxation, Accounting Information Systems, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Advanced Analytics in Accounting, Auditing, and Business Taxation.
- Our Volunteer Tax Assistance course, offered in conjunction with the IRS, gives you hands-on experience in preparing income tax returns.
- We offer a field experience course that incorporates supervised experiences in businesses, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies.
Mark Nathlich
Staff Auditor, Armanino, LLP
I would say that the professors here have had the biggest impact on me in my four years. They were not only some of the best teachers I’ve had in my life, but they were some of the best people I have ever met. They incorporated their faith into their teachings, and were more focused on us becoming an asset to society by being ethical and authentic people rather than the smartest people.
What's after George Fox
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for accountants and auditors are expected to grow 4 percent between 2019 and 2029. As the economy grows, more workers should be needed to prepare and examine financial records.
- KPMG
- PricewaterHouseCoopers
- Deloitte
- Aldrich Advisors
- Delap
- Moss Adams
- Partner, Geffen Mersher & Company
- Grant Thornton
- Jones & Roth
- Hoffman, Stewart, Schmidt
- Pauly Rogers and Co.
- Columbia