Students at Stony Brook University’s College of Business participated in the first Accounting Case Competition on November 8. The event challenged students with a real-world case that tested their accounting skills and teamwork.
Five teams, each consisting of four undergraduates and graduates, were assigned an alumni advisor to guide them through the competition. Teams received the business case on Monday and had four days to prepare their recommendations. On Friday, they presented their analyses to a panel of judges from the Accounting Advisory Board (AAB), who have over 10 years of industry experience.
The case focused on whether a large corporation should acquire a smaller company or build a similar operation from scratch. Participants applied their accounting knowledge to this scenario, honing both technical and presentation skills.
Ceci Feng, associate professor of accounting and director of the master’s program in accounting and analytics, led the event. “I’m glad that we were able to create a platform where students could grow, showcase their talents, and connect with our community of alumni, AAB partners, and peers,” said Feng.
Students worked closely with faculty and alumni advisors throughout the week. Competitor Sean Winant appreciated working alongside experts from firms like PwC and Ernst & Young. Ivan Lara enjoyed presenting financial data for the first time as part of the winning team, Auditing Avengers.
The Auditing Avengers won first place along with a $1,000 prize and full scholarships for Becker CPA Exam Prep for all team members. The Brook Balancers earned second place.
Danling Jiang emphasized the competition's role in enhancing student success as part of the college’s strategic plan “Growth with Reputation.” “This event showcases our commitment to supporting student growth through co-curricular activities,” Jiang said.
Nipur Shah valued collaborating intensely on financials during the competition. Their advisor from Ernst & Young provided insights into applying knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Jason Dai found new perspectives on collaboration through this experience. Ceci Feng commended all participants for their achievements: “Selecting winners was not an easy task for the judges due to the high caliber of all teams.”
The event was supported by BDO USA, Becker, Cerini & Associates, CohnReznick, KPMG, Protiviti, and PwC.
— Beth Squire