Prioritizing Career Readiness

Early in her time as a student at the Fisher School of Accounting, Kriss Camacho knew the importance of joining student organizations across campus. Now heading into her senior year, she has experienced the benefits firsthand.

“Being involved in organizations allows you to network with students with different backgrounds, experiences and goals,” Camacho said. “It has made me well rounded in teaching me different lessons, struggles, and giving me new opportunities. Each experience has led to new growth and friendships. Most importantly, they have taught me to step outside of my comfort zone, learn more about what inspires me, and pursue my passions.”

Camacho’s involvement across the Fisher School is deep. She served as the president for Beta Alpha Psi and the Fisher School of Accounting Council. She has also been a leadership ambassador for Warrington’s Leadership Development Program (LDP), a mentee and mentor for the Business Undergraduate Mentorship Program (BUMP), the Vice President of Finance for the Retail Society, and a member and mentor for Heavener Leadership Challenge (HLC). She also helped with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which prepares tax returns for low to moderate-income families in the Gainesville area.

However, Camacho’s participation wasn’t limited to Fisher. At the university level, she served as an ambassador for the Career Resource Center, a teaching assistant for a disabilities course, a resident assistant for the housing department and a volunteer at Baby Gator, which offers care to children of university employees.

This wide range of involvement challenged Camacho and helped her become prepared for life after graduation.

“Professionally, these organizations have greatly improved my leadership and interpersonal skills,” Camacho said. “There is nothing more challenging yet rewarding than being in charge of an organization and of a team. Personally, I have made even closer relationships and have had the opportunity to meet even more accounting students than ever before. It has faced me with challenges, but has shown me the importance of time management, responsibility, and team collaboration, all of which are absolutely necessary when working for an accounting firm after graduation.”

Her campus contribution has come while balancing three summers of internships at Ernst & Young, which is highly unusual as most students don’t have time to complete an internship until after their fourth year when pursuing a Master of Accounting degree. In her first two summers, Camacho participated in a rotational internship that allowed her to experience different accounting opportunities. In the summer of 2018, she did a tax internship with the company in New Zealand.

Camacho’s goal is to work at Ernst & Young after graduating in the spring of 2019.

“The Fisher School has given me all of the necessary experiences and knowledge I need for the public accounting field,” Camacho said. “Whether it be time management, team collaboration, hard work, networking or build strong relationships, I am ready for it all thanks to the Fisher School of Accounting.”