AUBURN — While Cayuga Community College Associate Professor Paul Shinal recognizes that textbooks are the backbone of all careers, he also knows the value living lessons have in education.

That’s why he invited four local certified public accountants to speak to CCC business studies students during a roundtable last week about what they do, how they decided to become CPAs and how students can do the same.

“It just gives them a breadth they cannot get in a course,” Shinal, an accounting professor who himself is a CPA, said. “This gives them a wider view and makes them more aware of the real world.”

As part of CCC’s Accounting Program Speaker Series, Frank De Rosa of Beauchine and Associates, Auburn; Daniel Cuddy of Cuddy Financial Service, Auburn; Alice Hoatland of BMC-Beard Miller Company, Auburn, and Heather Losi of Losi and Ranger, Liverpool, took last Wednesday morning off from work to give students a glimpse of the various aspects of accounting and what the expectations are for those pursuing that field.

“We want to see somebody that wants to be a CPA as a career and is interested in the profession,” Hoatland said.

She added her firm, of which she is a partner, looks at college transcripts as well as computer skills when sifting through entry-level job applicants.

Cuddy, who owns his own firm, said a strong work ethic is key to jumpstarting and maintaining a career in accounting.

“What we’re looking for is someone that has not only good grades, but also has a desire and passion for the profession,” he said. “We like the employees that are willing to actually learn and are not there from 9 to 5 and as soon as 5 hits, they are out the door.

“We want people that are willing to put in extra time to learn what it takes to become a successful CPA.”

Students Dave Pisciotti, 23, of Auburn and Trevor Collins, 31, of Fulton, listened intently to the discussions the CPAs were having on myriad topics.

“It’s great for students to be able to meet and greet professionals and get some background to see if this is what you want to do,” Collins, an aspiring accountant, said.

While Pisciotti said he is more interested in business than accounting, he said the networking that the roundtable provides is invaluable for people, especially for those just starting out in the real world.

For Shinal, that’s the point of the roundtable.

“This brings together four people who have vast backgrounds,” he said. “That exposes (students) to a vast array of the professions all within two hours.

“What they glean from this will show up when they ask about what somebody said, what did they mean,” he said, “and then you realize what they got out of it.”

The roundtable was part of a larger speaker series established Shinal and professor Dawn Matijas several years ago and designed to augment classroom and textbook education.

The professors enhanced the speaker series this year, Shinal said, in order to give students additional opportunities to learn about the various career fields through real world lessons.

This fall, CCC students attended the annual American Society of Women Accountants’ Student Night in Syracuse and listened to Auburn Memorial Hospital Chief Financial Officer John Baran talk about the importance of understanding cash flow, Shinal said.

A few weeks ago, Director of Shared Services at ITT-Goulds Pumps in Seneca Falls talked about private management accounting with a global corporation.

And the speaker series will continue next semester, with an invitation to speak sent to United Way of Cayuga County Director of Finance Kathy Krasniak. Shinal is also looking to have someone who knows about resumes and cover letters come and speak.

“It sets a fire on these students,” he said of the series, “something that helps them when they leave Cayuga. It gives them an edge.”

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or Alyssa.sunkin@lee.net