Fisher graduate begins exclusive internship program

Cassidy Kallner (BSAc ’15, MAcc ’15) was one of only six students in the nation to be selected for a yearlong postgraduate technical assistant program with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the premier institution that establishes financial accounting standards for business in the United States.

FASB’s Postgraduate Technical Assistant Program gives recent graduate accounting students the chance to be involved with the organization’s accounting standard-setting process. Students will be working on major agenda projects, short-term practice or implementation issues.

Kallner began her FASB internship July 6.

“This is a great opportunity for me to look at accounting from a different point of view,” said Kallner, 23. “Instead of following the rules and applying them, I’m going to be part of the standard-setting process, so I’m looking forward to getting a different perspective.”

FASB is one of the most coveted and prestigious internships students can earn. The company only awards six winter and summer positions each year to graduate students, who were nominated by their respective universities. BestCollegesOnline.com ranked the FASB Postgraduate Technical Assistant Program as one of the 10 most coveted college internships in 2012.

“I was honored to be selected as UF’s nominee for the program, and excited for the next step in the process,” said Kallner, who previously served as an internal audit intern at Rayonier and completed an assurance internship with EY. “When I was asked to interview in Connecticut, and eventually offered the position, I was shocked and excited that I had been selected among so many high quality applicants from across the country.”

When setting accounting standards, the FASB takes into consideration how the standards will affect stakeholders such as preparers, auditors and users of financial information.

“I know this year is going to be an amazing learning experience and I’m incredibly thankful to have this opportunity,” she said.

–Mauricio Almenara (BSPR ’16)