2026 signals RSM’s 100th anniversary, and Lehigh Accounting Club is excited to be partnering with the firm for on-campus recruiting activities to celebrate!

According to Senior Recruiter Samantha Kutnik, RSM is the fifth largest public accounting firm by revenue in the country, and the sixth largest in the world. For the past century, this firm flourished into its role as a leader in the middle market, with around 80 locations nationally.

Kutnik explains that students sometimes misunderstand what the middle market really is. She says:

Even though we’re right next to Big 4 from a ranking perspective, we do not like to compare ourselves or affiliate ourselves with Big 4 because we do something different and we do it really well, and that is catering to middle market clients. We are first choice advisors, and we are excited to be leaders in that middle market.

While Big Four firms and RSM are similar in rankings, RSM specializes in empowering middle market companies, while the Big Four focus on massive Fortune 500 companies. That doesn’t mean RSM’s clients are small; they typically support clients sitting around $250–750 million in revenue. Because the middle market takes up a significant portion of the U.S. GDP, RSM plays an important role in empowering their growth.

But the firm is more than its revenue and rankings. Kutnik raved about the culture she has experienced over her past two years working for the firm, explaining the “5 C’s” (Caring, Curious, Collaborative, Courageous, and Critical Thinker) that encapsulate the workplace.

Kutnik referenced RSM’s mentorship program, where each employee — even partners — gets paired with a mentor “to advocate for their interests and goals.” Additionally, they “have a lot of initiatives to get people always staying connected,” including employee networking groups and professional development events.

The 5 C’s apply outside the firm as well. She says RSM’s stewardship — their community outreach initiative — exemplifies these characteristics. Each of RSM’s locations asks employees to choose a local charity to donate to, and employees have access to countless volunteer endeavors through the firm, illustrating their commitment to the community.

Kutnik says it’s difficult to put RSM’s culture into words until you experience it for yourself:

It’s always a pleasant interaction. There is always someone advocating for you and your role.

Kutnik highlights yet another advantage of working for RSM: engaging face-to-face with middle market clients. Employees get to work for well-known, name-brand companies, often working hands-on with multiple clients simultaneously:

You’re not just part of the engagement team, you’re actually working with them and emailing them. You’re not just another cog in the machine here.

Luckily, Lehigh students have the opportunity to experience it for themselves through a summer internship. This fall, summer 2027 internship applications reopen for students graduating in spring 2028. For those eager sophomore students, look out for summer 2028 internship spots opening in spring 2027. Applications are found directly on the RSM website, which you can find on the Lehigh University Accounting Club’s Career page.

We would be a really good fit for someone who is looking to get a lot of exposure and a lot of different hands-on, situational training early on in their career… Here, you can get true exposure to multiple clients, working directly with the engagement team, and having a well-rounded experience.

Editor in Chief · Dollars & Sense

Annabelle Lieb

Annabelle is a sophomore studying Accounting and Finance with minors in Spanish and Mass Communication, and plans to pursue a career in Big 4 audit and attain her CPA. With five-plus years of student and professional journalism experience, she aims to instill values of frequency, reliability, and trust into Dollars & Sense.

Friday, April 23, Big 4 accounting firms EY and PwC welcomed 41 Lehigh University students, 36 of whom were freshmen, to connect with professionals, build relationships, and gain insights about the unique opportunities of each firm.

Morning at PwC

The morning began bright and early at PwC, where students learned about their values, community service opportunities, and technology developments. Directly following the presentations, students took the opportunity to pose their burning questions to a panel of Lehigh alumni working in all service lines. Students then split into smaller groups and toured the facility, led by PwC professionals.

Afternoon at EY

With EY just across the courtyard, the Accounting Club had a quick commute. Recruiter Amber Finch met them halfway and guided them to the facility. After a networking lunch break, five EY panelists told stories from when they were on staff and offered advice to aspiring accountants. From here, individual conversations continued and students participated in their virtual reality experience.

Student Insights

Freshman Ntiriwa Asante reflected on the impact of the trip:

It was really informative on the internship process that we should anticipate and about the different company cultures and things you can do within the company that don’t necessarily pertain to your role as an accountant.

Students left Philadelphia feeling motivated and excited to hit the ground running when recruitment season kicks off in August.

The Accounting Club expresses gratitude to PwC and EY for a fulfilling day at their offices and the time they took to engage with Lehigh students. These meaningful days reflect Lehigh’s strong network and show students the career paths they can look forward to.

Editor in Chief · Dollars & Sense

Annabelle Lieb

Annabelle is a sophomore studying Accounting and Finance with minors in Spanish and Mass Communication, and plans to pursue a career in Big 4 audit and attain her CPA. With five-plus years of student and professional journalism experience, she aims to instill values of frequency, reliability, and trust into Dollars & Sense.

Dear readers,

Lehigh University Accounting Club has been a staple student resource for business students for decades. Initially, the printed newspaper, Dollars & Sense, featured firm advertisements and highlighted high-performing individuals, serving as the primary provider of all things recruitment and success. Eventually, Dollars & Sense went virtual, launching a website and separating the firm subscription service from the newspaper. Last year, the Accounting Club even took responsibility for Meet the Firms, simultaneously fostering relationships with firms and empowering students to build their own connections through countless firm trips. While its role in the accounting department has shifted over the years, one thing’s for sure: LUAC secures career opportunities. With the ever-evolving accounting industry, the Accounting Club continues to raise the bar to not only keep up, but get far ahead.

This summer, the Accounting Club website went under construction. Chief Technology Director Logan Scheetz built a new website from scratch, creating a simple resource for accounting students to launch their careers. The new website encourages smoother browsing, expanded resources, and enhanced aesthetics.

As recruitment approaches, the Accounting Club encourages students to use this site as a resource to prepare. We aim to promote student engagement by focusing on the consistency, frequency, and reliability of the Accounting Club presence where students spend the most time: the internet. Whether you’re scrolling on LinkedIn, checking your email, or doomscrolling Instagram, it’s our job to make sure you know the happenings of the club and the opportunities in front of you. The Accounting Club website is transitioning away from an “if you know, you know” resource; we’re meeting you wherever you are.

So readers always know what to look forward to, students can anticipate monthly features from three columnists. Richie Parry, author of From Ledger to Algorithm, will update students on current events, changes, and trends in the accounting industry, from artificial intelligence and technology to changes within the firms. Jasmine Esparza, author of Lehigh Limelight, will highlight Lehigh accounting students to learn from, whether they’re fresh out of their internship or a more experienced partner. Michael Levy, author of The Career Center, will center on accounting recruitment prep, spreading knowledge on networking, interviewing, and more. Through monthly columns, students will always be up to date.

This academic year, accounting students will learn to rely on the website as a platform engineered for their success. Consistency, reliability, and frequency will transform the site into an inevitable resource. Look out for The General Ledger, the new monthly newsletter, and more articles to get you confident and ready for your accounting career.

Best,
Annabelle Lieb, your Editor in Chief

Editor in Chief · Dollars & Sense

Annabelle Lieb

Annabelle is a sophomore studying Accounting and Finance with minors in Spanish and Mass Communication, and plans to pursue a career in Big 4 audit and attain her CPA. With five-plus years of student and professional journalism experience, she aims to instill values of frequency, reliability, and trust into Dollars & Sense.

Welcome! I’m Richie Parry, and I’m thrilled to launch From Ledger to Algorithm, your new home for the latest updates in technology and AI in the field of accounting. Whether you are casually reading this throughout your day or frantically worrying that AI will take your future job away, my goal here is simple. I aim to explain how accounting is a strong career choice with expanding opportunities, while also highlighting the growth and value that artificial intelligence and other groundbreaking technologies will bring to the accounting field.

Throughout the year, I plan to cover a wide variety of topics. For example, I plan to explain AI’s impact on the work accountants are doing, which displays tendencies of moving away from data entry tasks and toward management and quality control. Who signs off on projects using generative AI? How are problems in AI outputs addressed? What kind of trouble does this lead firms into? These questions and more will be answered, making sure you’re prepared for the new policies and procedures being implemented.

I intend to express the imminent growth and value that accounting will have over the next few decades in a new AI age.

That’s a wrap for issue number one! Throughout the academic year, I’ll be tackling these topics and many more. Have any ideas, questions, or strong opinions about AI and technology in accounting? Feel free to reach out to rip329@lehigh.edu to request article content or have questions answered. See you next time!

Columnist · From Ledger to Algorithm

Richie Parry

Richie is from outside Philadelphia and is majoring in Accounting and Finance with a 4+1 in Business Analytics. In his free time he enjoys concerts and traveling — recent highlights include Zach Bryan, Pitbull, and Shakira, plus summer trips to Alaska, Texas, and the Jersey Shore.

The saying “Accounting is the language of business” is ingrained into every accounting major’s head. It’s simple; once a student deciphers the intimidating language of accounting, they gain a better understanding of how business works. Unfortunately, Duolingo doesn’t offer a course on accounting, so how do you start the conversation?

This column intends to educate readers about accounting without feeling like reading a required textbook. The objective is to write informative, easy-to-digest articles that integrate community, support, and different perspectives.

Learning a new language requires the study of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Similarly, accounting is broad in sectors, industries, positions, and qualifications that students must understand. In this column, you’ll find articles focused on distinguishing the various opportunities available in accounting, acting as an accounting phrasebook.

After learning the basics of a language, learners test their skills by engaging in conversations with native speakers. Accounting students must create connections with other professionals by networking. It opens new doors for opportunities, builds relationships, and shares thoughtful insights, yet many students stay mute. Guides with direct advice from recent interns, who were once in your shoes, will be posted in the column to help navigate networking and building connections.

After becoming proficient in the language, immerse yourself in the culture and environment. By applying for accounting internships, you can gain hands-on experience and exposure to the accounting field. To be conversational when the time comes, practice preparing for interviews, perfecting your elevator pitch, and creating a well-rounded resume. It’s normal to get stuck in a conversation lull; luckily, refer to this column for impactful advice from experienced interns, professors, and professionals. Treat this column as your conversation starter.

Beginning my freshman year, I had no clue what I should be doing as a freshman and how to get started. Luckily, I had the help of upperclassmen, professors, and the Accounting Club to guide me through my first year of college. It shouldn’t be as hard as learning hieroglyphics or as “boring” as reading an outdated article about a topic you have no interest in. Hopefully, the column becomes a resource for students who are in the same position that I, and many others, were in before.

Columnist · Lehigh Limelight

Jasmine Esparza

Jasmine is a sophomore majoring in Accounting and Finance and minoring in English. She began her writing journey at The Brown and White as a lifestyle journalist and is heavily involved in her Latinx culture. She looks forward to bringing a new perspective to accounting through Lehigh Limelight.

One of the biggest misconceptions among first-year accounting students is that recruiting doesn’t begin until junior year. In reality, the process starts the moment you set foot on Lehigh’s campus.

Long before internship applications are submitted, firms are already visiting campuses, meeting students, and getting to know potential candidates. Here’s what this means: your freshman year is the perfect time to start thinking about recruiting.

Fortunately, Lehigh students have no shortage of opportunities to get involved. Between Meet the Firms, Accounting Club workshops, office visits, and College of Business recruiting events throughout the year, students regularly have the chance to connect with professionals from firms of all sizes. As such, the challenge is not finding these opportunities, but knowing how to make the most of them.

You do not need to be searching for an internship right away; instead, use the year to learn more about different firms, explore various career paths, and become comfortable putting yourself out there.

1. Focus on Learning

It is normal to walk into your first networking event with imposter syndrome. The truth is, recruiters do not expect first-year students to know exactly what they want to do. Instead, use these events to find out about different service lines, firm culture, and what professionals enjoy most about their work. The more you learn early on, the easier it becomes to identify the firms, people, and career paths that genuinely interest you. Every conversation is an opportunity to learn more about the profession and discover where you might fit best.

2. Ask Questions

Asking questions isn’t just a great way to learn; it can also help you stand out. Rather than trying to impress a professional with what you already think you know, focus on showing genuine interest in what they have to say. Ask about their career path, their experience at the firm, their favorite parts of their work, or what they wish they’d known when they were in college. Most importantly, listen to their answers and ask follow-up questions. You will learn more, show genuine interest, and leave a more memorable impression on the professionals you speak with.

3. Prioritize Consistency Over Perfection

You do not need to have the perfect interaction with every professional you meet. Instead, focus on engaging consistently: attend events like Meet the Firms, take notes in employer presentations, sign up for office visits, and most importantly, follow up with the professionals you meet. The more consistently you show up, the more comfortable networking becomes, and the more familiar you will become to the professionals you meet.

As a freshman, you do not need to have your career figured out. Start by learning, stay open to new opportunities, and give yourself time to discover what truly interests you. Recruiting may seem far away, but the habits and connections you start building today can make a significant difference when the time comes.

Columnist · The Career Center

Michael Levy

Michael is a sophomore from Westchester, New York, studying Accounting and Finance. He plans to pursue a career in Big Four accounting and is passionate about helping students navigate the early stages of their professional development.