Accounting is often described as the “language of business.” Accountants definitely need to be numbers savvy, but what they really do is provide information. As an accountant, you’ll gather and organize financial information, analyze that information, assess performance and efficiency, and make suggestions for change or improvement.

The field of accounting is where you can see exponential growth. With advancements in technology, continuing changes related to accounting rules and regulations, and rapid globalization, there is no shortage of new opportunities and challenges for accountants. And because understanding of the accounting “language” is so fundamental to business, an accounting degree is a great launch pad for any business career.

As a Lubar accounting student, you’ll be prepared for professional opportunities in public accounting, corporate accounting, or non-profit and governmental accounting.

Program Type

Major

Program Format

On Campus

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My Lubar has additional important information for potential and current accounting students.  It includes information on required courses, internships, orientation to Intermediate Accounting, and the CPA exam, as well as the accounting student handbook and other useful information!

Accounting Major Coursework (24 credits)

BUS ADM 301 Intermediate Accounting I (4 credits)
BUS ADM 303 Career Planning for Accounting (1 credit)
BUS ADM 401 Introduction to Data Analytics in Accounting (4 credits)
BUS ADM 402 Intermediate Accounting II
BUS ADM 405 Income Tax Accounting I
BUS ADM 408 Accounting Information Systems
BUS ADM 409 Auditing: Procedures and Applications

One elective from the following:
BUS ADM 403 Consolidations and Governmental Accounting
BUS ADM 404 Cost Management
BUS ADM 406 Income Tax Accounting II

Data Analysis Track – optional (12 credits)

BUS ADM 335 Introduction to Business Application Development
BUS ADM 434 Database Management Systems
Choose two of the following elective courses:
BUS ADM 436 System Analysis and Design
BUS ADM 438 ITM Topics
BUS ADM 536 Business Intelligence
BUS ADM 537 ERP Concepts & Issues

Students pursuing the Accounting Major will also take Business Foundation Courses and Business Core courses as part of the undergraduate degree.

Additional degree requirements and course descriptions for the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog. Program Checklists and 4-Year Plans can be found on the Undergraduate Student Services MyLubar Resources page.

Important:  Because most states require 150-credit hours of college-level courses to be licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, many of our BBA-Accounting students continue directly into our MS-Professional Accounting program. This program integrates taking the CPA exam into the curriculum. Students typically engage in a professional internship during the spring of their senior year or the “bridge” summer between their senior year and the master’s program.

A Lubar BBA degree in Accounting positions you for a career in public accounting (where you’ll provide tax, auditing, and consulting services to your company’s clients), corporate accounting (where you’ll work as part of a team that provides reliable financial data for management to make decisions), or non-profit or governmental accounting.

The UWM Lubar College of Business is the leader in providing accounting graduates to international public accounting firms and major corporations headquartered in Wisconsin.

Job titles of recent Lubar BBA-Accounting graduates

Staff Accountant
Investment Accountant
Accountant
Account Manager
Accounting Manager
Financial Analyst
Client Service Consultant
Finance/Compliance Analyst

Companies that have hired recent Lubar BBA-Accounting graduates

Actuant Corp.
Baker Tilly
BDO USA
Briggs & Stratton
Brookdale
Charter Manufacturing
Chortek LLP
CliftonLarsonAllen
Deloitte, LLP
EY
Extendicare Health Services Fiserv
Grant Thornton, LLP
Johnson Controls
Kohler Co.
KPMG
MillerCoors
Northwestern Mutual
PwC
Quad/Graphics
RitzHolman CPAs
Robert W. Baird
Rockwell Automation
RSM US LLP
Schenck S.C.
Scribner Cohen & Co.
Sikich
SVA Certified Public Accountants UMB Fund Services
U.S. Bancorp
Vogel Consulting Group
Vrakas CPAs & Advisors
Wegner CPAs
Wipfli
Wisconsin Department of Revenue

With a strong combination of professional and academic experience, the accounting, taxation, and business law faculty at the Lubar College are well known for their commitment to helping students succeed in their studies and preparing them for the accounting profession. The practice of accounting is ever-changing. To stay on top of new developments, Lubar accounting faculty are CPA-certified in the profession and closely connected with public and corporate accounting professionals. As PhD-qualified faculty, they also collaborate with other research scholars on current topics in financial accounting, managerial accounting, non-profit accounting, auditing, individual and corporate taxation, business law, and corporate governance.

  • Professor, Accounting
  • Dean's Research Fellow
James Blinka
  • Professor of Practice, Accounting
Colleeen Boland
  • Associate Professor, Accounting
  • Chair, Lubar College of Business Executive Committee
Veena Brown
  • Associate Professor, Accounting
  • Director of Accounting Programs
Rachel Gazaryan
  • Lecturer, Accounting
Aaron Mandell
  • Assistant Professor, Accounting
Sean McCarthy
  • Assistant Professor, Accounting
Daniel Neely
  • Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
  • Professor, Accounting
Jonathan Saffold
  • Professor of Practice, Accounting
Laura Swenson
  • Associate Professor, Accounting
Amy Tegeler
  • Assistant Professor, Accounting
  • Roger L. Fitzsimonds Junior Faculty Scholar
  • Assistant Professor, Accounting

Message from the Director

Veena Brown

Thank you for your interest in the accounting area at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Lubar College of Business!

The Lubar School has been the primary source of accounting talent in southeast Wisconsin for over 60 years, providing outstanding degree programs, meaningful experiential opportunities for students, a strong faculty commitment to teaching, and close relationships with accounting firms and businesses in our region.

Recognized for rigor and relevance, our program is respected for our highly-qualified and well-prepared graduates who contribute as CPAs and accounting professionals in businesses throughout Wisconsin and beyond.

On behalf of the accounting faculty, I welcome you to learn more about us.

Veena L. Brown
Director of Accounting Programs
Associate Professor of Accounting

Mission

The Accounting Area of the Lubar College of Business provides high quality, practical education and engages in impactful research that advances knowledge. We prepare all accounting students for successful business careers through experience-based learning, technology, teaching innovations, employer and alumni involvement, ethics, and career guidance.

Vision

Our vision is to be the leader in accounting education. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that cultivates expertise, ethics, innovation, and an analytical mindset within accounting students. Through impactful research, strong business community connections, and a global perspective, we aim to inspire students to excel as professionals in an ever-evolving business world.

Accounting Advisory Council

Highly engaged with accounting firms and professionals throughout the region, we value the input and guidance of our Accounting Advisory Council, comprised of partners from each of the “big four” international CPA firms, partners from regional and local CPA firms, and certified public accountants who are leaders of major international companies in our region.


Jordan Boehm, CliftonLarsonAllen (BBA ’10)

Jordan Boehm

Jordan Boehm is a Principal at CLA Milwaukee. Jordan is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has over 12 years of experience providing attestation and consulting services to State and Local Government and Higher Education clients.

Jeff Bradford, Grant Thornton

Jeff Bradford

Jeff Bradford is the Wisconsin Market Managing Principal for Grant Thornton Advisors LLC. Jeff is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas-Austin. He has over 25 years leading corporations, private equity groups, and high-net worth individuals through strategic transactions.

Rebecca Hartzel, Deloitte

Rebecca Hartzel is a Tax Managing Director at Deloitte Milwaukee. Rebecca is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She has over 20 years of experience serving both individuals and privately held companies and leads the Private Wealth practice for the Milwaukee office.

Kevin Klimara, EY

Kevin Klimara is a Milwaukee Assurance Partner and Central Region IPO Leader at EY. Kevin is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and computer science from St. Joseph’s College, Indianna. He has over 35 years of experience serving public and private multinational companies in the manufacturing, life sciences, and industrial and
consumer products industries.

Chris Lacey, Kohler Company (BBA ’98)

Chris is the Director of Legal Consolidation and Audits at Kohler. Chris is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has over 25 years in operations including legal, reporting, and financial compliance.

Ryan Michalski, KPMG

Ryan Michalski

Ryan Michalski is an Audit Partner at KPMG Milwaukee. Ryan is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in accounting from Wake Forest University. He has over 20 years of experience serving public and private clients in the manufacturing, consumer products, and retail space.

Chris Mueller, BDO (MS ‘07, BBA ‘05)

Chris Mueller is a Tax Partner and the Wisconsin Tax Practice Leader at BDO. Chris is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has over 17 years of experience serving
private companies and individual tax clients in tax planning
and compliance.

Courtney Ockwood, PwC

Courtney is an Assurance Director at PwC Milwaukee. Courtney is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has over 11 years experience serving public and private clients.

Craig Peotter, Baird (MBA ’02)

Craig Poetter

Craig Peotter is the Finance Director at Baird and is a certified public accountant. Craig holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has over 25 years of experience in global finance and accounting
including treasury, FP&A, financial reporting, tax and finance
technology.

Michael Reis, Northwestern Mutual (BBA ’92)

Michael Reis is the Vice President of Accounting Policy at Northwestern Mutual. Michael is a certified public accountant and a chartered financial analyst and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has served over 19 years in the life insurance industry.

Scott Schumacher, Wipfli (MS ’00, BBA ’93)

Scott Schumacher

Scott Schumacher is the Tax Service Line Leader at Wipfli. Scott is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has over 30 years of experience working with manufacturing businesses of all sizes and their owners.

Craig Simpkins, Johnson Controls

Craig Simpkins is the Early Talent Development Program Global Leader for Accounting and Finance at Johnson Controls. Craig is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, an MBA from North Park University, and a master’s degree in accounting from Regis University. He has over 30
years leading accounting, finance, rotational and early talent
programs.

James Stuart, Deloitte (BBA ’93)

James Stuart is an Audit Partner at Deloitte Milwaukee. James is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has over 30 years of experience serving a wide range of multinational corporations across various industries including banking and mergers and acquisitions.

Brian Wilson, Ritz Holman (MS ‘04, BBA ’99)

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson is a Tax Partner at Ritz Holman Milwaukee. Brian is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has over 20 years of public accounting experience providing accounting and tax services to individuals, trusts and estate clients.

Bill Wong, Baker Tilly (MS ’93, BBA ’89)

Bill Wong

Bill Wong is a Tax Partner at Baker Tilly Milwaukee. Bill is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has over 30 years of experience providing tax and business advisory services for publicly traded and privately held companies.

Contact
Undergraduate Student Services
Lubar Hall N297
414-229-5271
uwmbba@uwm.edu
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