After 12 years of building and refining the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program, Sheri Risler, professor and director of the program, will be handing her title to Cory Ng, associate professor of accounting and current deputy chair of the Department of Accounting. He also serves as the director of the Accounting Institute, a summer program that introduces high school students to career opportunities in accounting and is the faculty advisor for the Fox Accounting Association.
“The MAcc program has put the Fox School’s Department of Accounting into the limelight for accounting firms and student job placements,” says Risler. “Over the years, we consistently worked with the students to enhance the program I to meet the needs of being successful a successful professional accountant in the public accounting profession.”
Effective in Fall 2023, the MAcc program will be offered in two formats: a full-time, in-person cohort model with some hybrid classes to be completed in six semesters; and a part-time online format with a suggested completion time of two calendar years. The part-time online format will target working professionals seeking to gain the additional 30 credits required for CPA licensure while maintaining a full-time job. The part-time online option is one of the biggest innovations for this program.
Risler highlighted the high job placement rate every year after students complete the MAcc program.
“Former students have voiced that they believe the program helped them get a head start in their career due to the advanced curriculum and preparation they received,” says Risler. “I have taken a lot of pride in this program to make it the best it can be.
Ng mentions countless testimonials from students who have expressed their appreciation for Professor Risler. Risler has been a valued member of the Fox School faculty since 1997, and during her time received several faculty awards, including the 2009 Beta Alpha Psi Teacher of the Year award and the 2012 Master of Accountancy Faculty Award. Professor Risler also received the Musser Award for Faculty Service in November 2013.
“Sheri has gone above and beyond to help every MAcc graduate land a full-time job and pass the CPA exam,” says Ng. “We all owe Sheri a debt of gratitude for her dedication to stude nts and the Fox School of Business during her tenure.”
Most students pursue careers in public accounting in roles such as auditing, tax, advisory and consulting. Students are also prepared for careers in management accounting, information technology auditing and data analytics. MAcc graduates can take their accounting experience and apply these skills to any industry.
“Our students gain in-depth industry knowledge and sharpen their communication, technology and critical thinking skills. We have been incorporating preparation tools for our graduates to work in a digital era with coursework in data analytics and in emerging technologies,” says Ng. “The technical and professional skills that MAcc students develop in the program combined with the time to sit and pass all four of the CPA exams prior to graduation will continue to distinguish MAcc graduates in the future.”
Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, chair of the Department of Accounting praises Professor Risler’s accomplishments, “When Pennsylvania started the 150-credit hour requirement for CPA licensure, Professor recognized the need for a master’s program to best prepare students. She designed an innovative program that integrates rigorous coursework with reviewing for the CPA exam. Temple’s MAcc program is the gold standard of programs. Dr. Ng will continue the program’s high standards and take it to new levels as the skillsets and competencies required in the accounting profession evolve in the rapidly changing business world.”