Deloitte holds NBA Accounting Day at Barclays Center

Big Four firm Deloitte recently hosted local high school and college students at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn for the firm's inaugural NBA Accounting Day networking event.

Part of Deloitte's MADE commitment, the firm hosted approximately 80 students across three suites. Students were chosen from Cristo Rey Network, Girls Inc. and PeerForward to take in the Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game on Friday, April 8, to talk with Deloitte professionals about possibilities in the accounting profession. Students were also offered a Deloitte Academy: Accounting Edition workshop prior to the game to learn even more about the profession.

"We’ve been very focused on how to bring accounting to life for today’s youth in exciting ways, and how to show them what a rewarding career option it can be," Thalia Smith, a partner at Deloitte and partner sponsor for Deloitte's MADE program, told Accounting Today. "And what’s more exciting to high school and college students than NBA basketball? We felt this was a great way to help students learn more about accounting, provide them with the opportunity to meet and connect with Deloitte professionals, and to create a really memorable educational experience for them.”

Deloitte

Smith said that conversations at the event were varied, but being able to have a direct impact on students' perception of accounting careers was paramount.

"The biggest takeaway for me was just a generalized lack of exposure to, and awareness of, what business and accounting roles look like," Smith said. "When I asked what they think of when they hear the words 'business' and 'accounting,' almost universally the response was '9-5 in a cubicle.' ... They want a purpose and a career, and something more exciting than what they perceive accounting to be. We have to help them see that accounting can offer them a lot of what they’re seeking."

“One of the most surprising things I heard during the day was when someone asked, 'Is there a trajectory in accounting?' And another asked, 'Is there salary growth? Is there a career path?' When we showed the salary range from entry level accountants to partners, the entire room erupted," Smith added. "They couldn’t believe the dollar figures. Clearly we need to do a better job of explaining career options to our youth and to the parents, teachers and influencers in their lives, because that type of information is really important to students as they’re making decisions about what they want to become in their professional lives.”

Similar events are planned in the future.

“We hope to host more NBA Accounting Days in various cities during the '22-'23 basketball season," said Smith. "This summer we’ll be inviting various individuals that MADE has touched over the last year — from high school students all the way through to the mid-career professionals in our Climb Fellowship Program — to join us for a leadership forum filled with tailored programming, dynamic speakers, interactive sessions and networking. And we’re continuing to think about new and different ways that we can help bring accounting to life for students as we go forward.”

More information on the MADE program is available on Deloitte's site here.