Data-driven master’s program prepared alum Everson Wimer for career success in public accounting

Everson Wimer (MACC '24) chose to pursue accounting because he wanted to understand the language of the business world. After earning a bachelor's degree in accountancy at W. P. Carey, he chose to stay and pursue his Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics — both because of the program's strong reputation and because he had such a positive experience.

Everson Wimer (MACC '24) chose to pursue accounting because he wanted to understand the language of the business world. His mother worked in the industry for many years while he was growing up, which initially piqued his interest and showed him how critical accounting is.

"I realized that if I truly wanted to understand business and succeed in the corporate world, the best place to start was by learning its foundations," says Wimer.

After earning a bachelor's degree in accountancy at ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business, he chose to stay and pursue his Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MACC) — both because of the program's strong reputation and because he had such a positive experience during his time as an undergrad.

W. P. Carey News spoke to Wimer about the insights he gained from faculty, how his studies have prepared him for his current role as an audit associate at PwC, and his advice for future MACC students.

Why W. P. Carey?

When it came time to look at graduate accounting programs, "to be completely honest, I didn't want to have to transfer schools," says Wimer. "I really liked ASU and the atmosphere. The faculty were excellent, and I had a great experience as an undergraduate student."

One of his favorite aspects of being at W. P. Carey was learning from so many faculty members who are experienced professionals in the subjects they teach.

"What I value most in a professor is someone who worked in industry, public accounting, or an accounting standards-setting organization, and then went to academia," Wimer says. "It brings so much value to us students, because we know that what they're teaching us comes from firsthand experience."

The School of Accountancy within W. P. Carey has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) since 1987. Faculty members bring a wealth of industry experience and expertise to the MACC curriculum. This was an advantage for Wimer, and better prepared him for certain aspects of his job compared to those who hadn't gone through the program.

"Having a dedicated class focused on data wrangling skills, and another that focused on professional responsibilities like researching accounting guidance, was incredibly beneficial," he says. "When we face a complex problem in the real world, we know how to find the right guidance using codification."

He adds, "There were many things that we learned in the master's program that I feel gave us an edge and greater advantage compared to others."

Why accounting?

Wimer's initial major at ASU was electrical engineering, but it turns out: "I hated science with a burning passion." So he went back to the interest he had in business and what he considered the foundation of the industry, accounting.

Not long after graduating from the MACC program, he began his career at one of the Big Four accounting firms, PwC, as an audit associate at their San Diego office. Wimer works within the firm's Private Company Services division, which is focused on smaller, privately held companies, something he really enjoys.

"Working as an auditor on large public companies may mean focusing on one area of financial statements, such as inventory or revenue for multiple years," he says. "In my role, I get to see the whole picture — complex liabilities, goodwill, business combinations, as well as many other balance sheet and income statement items."

He's found it to be an incredible experience and a chance to apply many of the techniques he learned during the MACC program. Skills like data cleanup and analytics, and interpreting regulatory guidance, have been invaluable in his daily work.

What's next?

Many of Wimer's current clients are within the aerospace and defense industries, a sector with a large presence in San Diego. Looking ahead, he envisions continuing to deepen his expertise in complex accounting principles and contributing to the growth and success of PwC's San Diego office.

For those who are considering beginning their own careers within accounting, Wimer believes this is a great time to pursue it, due to many current CPAs and accountants nearing retirement age.

"It's the perfect time for people to pursue the MACC program, get that knowledge, get their CPA, and explore various career paths," he says. "They can go to a Big Four firm, or go within industry, or even start their own venture."

Reflecting on his experience with the MACC at W. P. Carey, Wimer says, "I definitely think that it is one of the most well-structured master's programs that I've encountered."