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Maria Savino

Audit Associate, KPMG

Class of 2022
BBA/MBA in Public Accounting

Hometown: Long Island, NY

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After graduating from Â鶹´«Ã½ in the spring, Public Accounting graduate Maria Savino '22 learned she passed the final part of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam. In the fall, she'll join the team at KPMG, a Big Four accounting firm. She's now sharing her tips for success for other Lubin School of Business students looking to make a similar journey.

Why did you choose Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Lubin School of Business?

I chose Â鶹´«Ã½ because of its accredited accounting program, prime location, and the opportunities available for students. I liked the smaller classroom setting, and the Pleasantville campus has the traditional campus feel I was looking for.

What has been your favorite opportunity at Pace?

My favorite opportunity has been working with the Lubin School of Business communityÂ鶹´«Ã½”from the student run businesses and the Accounting Society, to working with Â鶹´«Ã½ Services and being a Lubin student aide. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many different people and was able to learn a tremendous amount through the years.

My favorite opportunity has been working with the Lubin School of Business communityÂ鶹´«Ã½”from the student run businesses and the Accounting Society, to working with Â鶹´«Ã½ Services and being a Lubin student aide. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many different people and was able to learn a tremendous amount through the years.

You recently passed the final part of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. How did you stay focused to achieve this?

My professors encouraged all of their students to take at least one part of the exams before graduating. I met a lot of professionals who encouraged the same thing and explained that it only gets harder the longer you wait, emphasizing the difficulty of studying while working full time. With that, I made sure to prioritize studying and stuck to a plan that worked best for me. Being consistent and holding myself accountable was key.

What is your advice to other Public Accounting students working towards becoming a CPA?

The accounting professors at Pace are great. I would suggest that students try their best to really understand what they are learning in the classroom (beyond just getting a good grade in the class). Once you start studying for the CPA exam, it is much easier to refresh yourself, rather than having to reteach yourself.

In the fall, you're joining the team at KPMG. What motivated you to work towards this position?

I wanted to start my career off at a Big Four accounting firm and learn as much as possible. I was a member of the Accounting Society, and later on, became the VP. Through the years, I met with several professionals and saw what I needed to do to land a job at one of these firms. It was very exciting to learn about the resources, opportunities, and connections available as an employee. I connected with a variety of companies but felt KPMG would be the best fit for me.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife means taking advantage of the resources around you and stepping out of your comfort zone. There are endless opportunities with the Lubin School of Business and the professors truly care about student success. Lubin has a great balance between academics in the classroom and developing your professional skills/network. #LubinLife means setting goals that seem too far of a reach, and then actually accomplishing them.

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