Master's of accountancy student Nick Brockelman joins program to aid in career pivot

Nick Brockelman (BS Finance '11, MACC '25) had been working in property management and real estate for a decade before deciding to return to school. This led him back to W. P. Carey and to the Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MACC) program.

A master's degree can be the perfect way to begin a career transition to a new field. The Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MACC) program at the W. P. Carey School of Business prepares students for the next step with its unique emphasis on data analytics and its blend of theory and practical knowledge.

Nick Brockelman (BS Finance '11, MACC '25) had been working in property management and real estate for a decade before deciding to return to school. "There are good things and bad things about any industry, but I felt that I needed to differentiate myself with additional technical knowledge and schooling in order to be competitive as a job seeker moving forward," he says.

This led him back to W. P. Carey and to the MACC program. Some students choose to pursue the MACC to one day become a CPA, while others, like Brockelman, look to combine the program's technical knowledge with their previous professional experience to carve out a new career path.

"As someone who takes a long time to make decisions, I chewed on the idea of going back to school for a few years before finally making the decision," Brockelman says. "My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner."

W. P. Carey News spoke to Brockelman about his experience returning to school, how W. P. Carey has prepared him for the future, and his advice for students considering a similar path.

Why W. P. Carey?

Brockelman is a W. P. Carey alum, having earned his bachelor's degree in finance from the school in 2011. After graduation, he started a successful career in property management and real estate, working in Arizona and in Washington D.C.

Moving back to the Phoenix area, and the decision to pursue further education in order to be more competitive in the job market, led Brockelman back to his alma mater and to the MACC program.

He has found the experience of being back in the classroom a highly positive one. "As an older student returning to school after a long time, it has been a pleasure to be able to learn things again," Brockelman says. "Being engaged and feeling like you are growing both professionally and personally has been extremely rewarding."

The MACC curriculum ensures that students gain experience working together in scenarios that mirror what they may face in their careers. Graduates leave the program not just with knowledge of theory and ideas, but with actual experience they can draw on in the future.

"The program really has placed an emphasis on group work, which has helped to make connections with classmates," Brockelman says. "I think you learn more that way since everyone has blind spots. In the real world, you generally don't work in a bubble, so you shouldn't learn in a bubble either."

For future students from non-accounting backgrounds, the W. P. Carey School of Accountancy offers a Pathway Program to aid in preparing for their graduate studies. The MACC/MTax Bootcamp is a similar option that allows applicants to complete foundational courses before beginning the master's program.

Why accounting?

Coming in with an undergraduate degree in finance and work experience in real estate, Brockelman knew that joining the MACC program at W. P. Carey would provide more technical skills and knowledge that would be useful in his career.

The data and analytics-centric viewpoint of the program has been a highlight. "One thing that has surprised me is that I always assumed studying accounting would be a deep dive," he says. "I didn't realize how wide it would be as well. Combining traditional accounting topics with things like data analytics or environmental, social, and governance reporting has been fun to learn about."

Combining the wide knowledge of accounting and related fields that he's gained from the MACC program with his previous knowledge of finance and real estate, Brockelman sees a unique and rewarding career path waiting for him after graduation.

"The MACC program has provided me the opportunity to feel in control of the way my professional career is headed," he says. "I hope to continue to learn and grow once I am out of the classroom. I hope to create a career path that is sustainable and rewarding, both financially and emotionally."

What's next?

Brockelman discovered right away just how many career resources are available to graduate students at W. P. Carey, thanks to the W. P. Carey Career Services team.

"If you are making a career pivot like I did, be prepared to hit the ground running in regards to the job search," Brockelman says. "Class starts in August with the major recruiting event, Meet the Firms, just a few weeks after. Update your resume and pre-apply to the firms you are interested in, and by the end of October, you may have a job offer lined up for after you graduate."

As someone who chose to pursue a master's degree to assist with a career change, Brockelman has found immense value in the MACC program and being at W. P. Carey as a whole. He states that his time in the MACC has given him "clarity and purpose" in his future career.

For those considering the MACC program themselves, or other business master's degrees, Brockelman has some simple advice. "I think it is important to really do the personal work beforehand and figure out what you want and what direction you want to go in," he says. "If you have done that work and it points to W. P. Carey... then take the leap of faith and go for it. The career opportunities and possibilities I have been presented with in the last few months have been more than I had in the previous 10 years combined."