Nicolaus Simon, СAPP13, started his career off strong with two internships in his last year of college. He interned with Ernst & Young in Houston during the summer of 2012 and Darnall, Sikes, & Frederick in Lafayette for the fall and spring semesters of his senior year.
Each firm offered Nicolaus a full-time position upon graduation. He chose to stay in Lafayette and take the full-time accountant position with Darnall, Sikes, & Frederick, where he still works today as a supervisor.
СAPPI manage clients СAPP accounting, audit, and tax СAPP during the year and make sure that all of their work and requests are completed efficiently and accurately,СAPP he said. СAPPThat includes managing staff to help complete some of the workload and reviewing their work. Upon completion, we present the work as a final product to the partner for sign-off and delivery.СAPP
In 2014, Nicolaus obtained his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
СAPPMy general career plan is to be managing partner at a CPA firm or eventually transition into private industry as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO),СAPP he said.
NicolausСAPPs success grew from the strong foundation he built in the Department of Accounting at UL Lafayette.
СAPPMy time spent at UL Lafayette was unforgettable,СAPP he said. СAPPThe accounting program provided a great foundation to pass the CPA exam and to start my career in public accounting.
СAPPI learned СAPP how to be organized and how to prioritize my workload,СAPP he said. СAPPDuring my time in the accounting program, you always had something due and multiple tests on the same day or in the same week.
СAPPLearning how to keep track of everything and what to prioritize first helped me succeed in college and helps me every day,СAPP he said.
NicolausСAPPs favorite part of his college experience was the professors in the accounting program.
СAPPThey were all extremely helpful inside and outside of class,СAPP he said. СAPPMost had real life experiences and had worked in the field before teaching, so the parallels they could draw on between concept and application were beneficial.СAPP
Nicolaus was involved with Beta Alpha Psi , the accounting honors society on campus.
СAPPThe organization gave us the opportunity to work with other accounting majors, whether that be with volunteering or with projects,СAPP he said. СAPPWe also were able to tour local accounting firms to see how they operated and what working for one of these firms would like upon graduation.СAPP
Between hearing about his older brotherСAPPs experience and the hometown feel, the choice to attend UL Lafayette was an obvious one for Nicolaus.
СAPPI didnСAPPt want to attend anywhere else,СAPP he said.