CSUN University News Clippings

CSUN Accounting Graduates Usually Stay Close to Home

(September 15, 2009)

By Thom Senzee - 9/14/2009
San Fernando Valley Business Journal Staff

During the past 30 years, Cal State University, Northridge has built a national reputation for turning out top-notch accounting graduates. So much so, in fact, that all of the Big Four accounting firms maintain continuous recruitment programs on campus.

For example, Ernst & Young donated enough money to the university’s College of Business and Economics to support (and have named for the firm) a new career center.

A $500,000 grant from the firm matched, dollar-for-dollar, one from a group of Accounting and Information Systems Department alumni, all Ernst & Young employees. Thus was created the Ernst & Young Center for Career Advancement at Cal State, Northridge.

“But the center is used for recruitment by all of the big firms and all sizes of firms from across the country,” said Matt Rinnert, director of development at the College of Business and Economics.

Yet, even with all that national attention, it is estimated that 70 percent of the college’s graduates work within 50 miles of their alma mater.

Another interesting statistic, reflective not only of the efficacy of the university’s accounting program, but also of its alumni’s hometown loyalty, is the fact that 40 percent of regional firms are run by managing partners who got their accounting degrees at Northridge.

Every year, the college hosts a networking event that is black tie.

“It’s often the first time students actually meet working accounting professionals, CPAs and accounting firm partners,” said Rinnert. “It’s usually their first networking event, period.”

The event is about recruitment by local and national firms, representing job opportunities around the country.

“The alumni come back on that night and help provide a nice experience for the students,” said Rinnert. “They know how the students feel, because they went through the same experience. Just knowing that can be a big comfort for a young person thrust into that environment with so much at stake.”

Rinnert believes that that level of accounting-community support complements the academic program, and explains why CSUN’s accounting grads are so highly sought after.

Following is a partial list of CSUN accounting grads who currently hold top jobs in the region and beyond:

Michael Grobstein – Crowe Horwath

Dave Roberts – Managing Partner, RBZ

Harvey Bookstein – Visionary Partner, Founder – RBZ

Richard Schenkel – Sobul, Primes and Schenkel

Dave Malone – CEO/President – Community Bank

David Rainer – CEO – California United Bank

Earl Enzer – Managing Director – Goldman Sachs

Irwin Zigmond – Larry Miller of Sit N Sleep’s CPA

Dan Yukelson – CFO/COO Premiere Radio Networks

Lionel Sanders – Managing Partner – Sanders, Kalvin, McMillian, and Carter

Alex Yeminidijian – Former CEO – MGM Studios

Tony Palma – Former CEO of Easton – Bell

Vicki Gabor – VP of Motion Picture Finances – Walt Disney Studios

Jeff Rosen – Partner, Ernst & Young

Brian Ring – Partner, Ernst & Young

Scott London – Partner, KPMG

David Liston – CFO, Caruso Affiliated

Steve Markheim – President/COO – Electro Rent

Jim DeBree – Partner, Deloitte

Dave Merritt – Former CFO, I-Crete

Tom Pucci – Partner, Price Waterhouse Coopers

James Dugan – Partner, Price Waterhouse Coopers

Nancy Ngou – Partner, Ernst & Young

Rob Greenspan – Managing Partner – Moss Adams

Marc Wolf – Managing Principal – Rothstein, Kass

Norm Tamkin – Partner HCVT

David Krajanowski – Managing Partner, SingerLewak

Steve Blume – CFO/COO Content Partners

Publication: San Fernando Valley Business Journal