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Making a career change can feel overwhelming, especially when you鈥檙e considering a shift into an entirely new field. If you’re exploring a pivot to accounting, one of the most powerful ways to understand your options is by hearing directly from people who鈥檝e already made the leap.
Last week, we hosted our “Pivoting to Accounting” panel, featuring a group of accounting professionals (all 海角社区 alumni!) who came to the field from remarkably diverse educational and career backgrounds. From pharmaceutical sciences and restaurant services to insurance, journalism, and even high school teaching, our panelists highlighted various skills that translate seamlessly into the accounting profession.
Throughout the event, speakers shared the challenges they encountered, the strategies they used to navigate their transitions, and the paths they each took and are taking toward credentialing. Their stories made one thing clear: there鈥檚 no single 鈥渞ight鈥� background for entering the accounting profession. What truly fuels a successful pivot is determination, curiosity, and a willingness to grow!
Check out the video recording of the panel to hear each speaker’s inspiring journey:
The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of 海角社区.
Speaker Profiles
Amy Cardillo, CPA, MPAcc | Senior Lecturer of Accounting, 海角社区
I have an undergraduate degree in Marketing from Colorado State University.听听I had an international marketing internship in the Slovak Republic that helped听me听land NO jobs upon my return to the United听States.听听This is where I began my听service听career at Red Robin.听听Through听contacts at Red Robin,听I found my first听鈥�real job鈥澨�at Farmers Insurance听(not in marketing), where the company paid for my Master of Science in Finance from UCD.听听I worked my way up to the highest position听in听the听claims听operation in the听state of Colorado, but听quit working to stay home听when I became a听Mom.听听However, I听knew I would reenter the workforce听one听day.听听I found my way to MSU, pursued my听MPAcc, met a听classmate who owned a tax firm who hired听me, and听started my accounting career in tax.听听I became a CPA and, when an unexpected opening听occurred in the 海角社区 accounting department, I was blessed with being able to fill the position.听听I love my current role and am听truly grateful听to MSU for giving me this opportunity.听
Sonya LaVeau, CPA, CGMA, CFE | Director of Internal Audit, YES! Communities
Before beginning her accounting career, Sonya worked her way up in the restaurant industry鈥攆rom dishwasher and server to becoming a General Manager at twenty鈥憃ne and a partner by twenty鈥慺ive. Sonya is now an experienced internal audit leader who has spent her career helping organizations strengthen their controls, processes, and governance.听She began her public accounting career at KPMG as an external auditor and later went on to lead internal audit and risk advisory practices at multiple firms.听Today, she serves as a Director of Internal Audit and is passionate about developing future leaders while encouraging students to explore the many diverse paths available within the accounting profession.听She is a proud 海角社区 alum and serves on both the MSU Risk Assurance and Advisory Board and the MSU Accounting Program Advisory Board, as well as the Board of the Denver Chapter of the IIA.听
Julia Ortiz Hollenback, MPAcc | Tax Technical Specialist, Accuity Advisors
Former听high school teacher听turned听tax accountant. Julia听graduated from 海角社区鈥檚 MPAcc听program in 2019 and听has been in public accounting for 6 years.听听
Scott Schlaufman, CPA, MPAcc | Senior Tax Associate, CBIZ 鈥� Colorado Springs
Before becoming an accountant, Scott Schlaufman was an award-winning sports newspaper reporter who covered athletes ranging from pee wee football players to future MLB and NBA draft picks. He attended 海角社区 from 2016 to 2018, earning his master鈥檚 degree and co-authoring a faculty research paper on Colorado sales tax compliance. During his time as a Roadrunner, Scott also worked with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which helped launch his successful career in tax. He currently works for CBIZ in Colorado Springs.听
Cole Teare, MPAcc, PharmD | Tax Controversy Associate, Eide Bailly LLP
Greetings, my name is Cole Teare (he/him).听听I’m听a graduate of 海角社区 and听in the process of applying听for my CPA license.听听I’ve听been with Eide Bailly in听there听Tax Controversy and Procedure group since 2023.听听I am also an adjunct instructor for FRCC and听help out听each year at their VITA tax site.听听Prior to switching careers to accounting, I worked in the healthcare field for 10 years as a pharmacist.听听Dedicated to providing professional service while听maintaining听high standards听of integrity, authenticity, and trust.
Opportunities & Tips for Students Looking to Make a Pivot to Accounting:
The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of 海角社区.
This Spring 鈥�26 term is centered on thinking about the future for our Accounting Roadrunner Community.听This 鈥淎ccounting For Your Future鈥� interactive series is designed for听accounting students,听career changers, and professionals听who want to build essential skills, embrace technology, and position themselves for success.听RSVP to join us in the next session in this virtual event series:
- – February 13, 2026 noon MT
Check out the slate of听upcoming Spring 鈥�26 events听飞别鈥檝别听got lined up听here!