The Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants (MassCPAs) recently hosted the Accounting Careers Exploratory (ACE) Leadership Program from July 22–25. Held at Suffolk University, this immersive residential program welcomed 30 high school students from 22 schools across Massachusetts and introduced them to career paths in accounting and business through hands-on learning and professional engagement.
Students participated in a full slate of interactive sessions designed to build both technical knowledge and career-readiness skills. Program highlights included:
- A real-world case study designed and led by staff from BDO USA, P.C. and Pipeline Partner Floyd Advisory LLC
- Interactive workshops on networking skills and forensic accounting, led by Pipeline Partners LGA, LLP and Floyd Advisory LLC
- A visit to Deloitte LLP for a tour and workshop on effective communication, social media and LinkedIn profile enhancement
- A shopping trip to Macy’s, where each student received a $100 gift card to purchase interview outfits with support from EY volunteers
- An Accounting Pathways Panel and free professional headshots, presented by Plante Moran
- A tour of Fenway Park and presentation by Tim Zue, CFO of the Boston Red Sox, joined by volunteers from Wolf & Company, P.C.
- A high-energy icebreaker activity led by Baker Newman Noyes (BNN), helping students break the ice and get to know their peers from day one
- An evening of bowling and arcade games at Kings Boston Seaport, hosted by Pipeline Partner Nash CPAs LLC
“Watching these students grow over the course of just a few days is incredibly rewarding,” said Upasana Prasad, manager of Academic and Career Development at MassCPAs. “ACE is about more than just career exploration—it’s about building confidence, connections and a sense of belonging in a profession that has room for every kind of talent. I’m so proud of what this group accomplished, and I can’t wait to see how far they’ll go.”
The program concluded with students presenting their case studies to a panel of judges from Deloitte LLP, EY, Floyd Advisory LLC and Plante Moran. Sofia Deiulis (Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School), Irini Kollcinaku (Braintree High School), Mekhi Maina (Andover High School) and Audrey Welstead (Newton North High School) were recognized as the top presenters and each received a $100 Visa gift card and MassCPAs swag.
New this year, the ACE Community Champion Awards, sponsored by BDO USA, P.C., were created to recognize students who went above and beyond to make others feel included, demonstrated kindness and were genuinely helpful throughout the program. Voted on by their peers, this year’s winners—Liam Williman (Weymouth High School) and Arthur Do (Sharon High School)—each received two tickets to an upcoming Boston Red Sox game.
All 30 students also received a certificate for completing the program.
“The ACE program is one of our most impactful initiatives for future talent,” said Zach Donah, CAE, president and CEO of MassCPAs. “It gives students early exposure to the accounting profession while helping them build critical skills, confidence and connections. We’re proud to support the next generation and excited to see where their journeys take them.”
ACE is a cornerstone initiative in MassCPAs’ efforts to expand awareness of accounting careers among high school students. In addition to the summer program, students receive year-round support through free memberships, mentoring, events and scholarship opportunities—all designed to help them explore the profession and access the resources they need to succeed.
“The ACE Leadership Program was a fun, memorable and eye-opening introduction to the world of accounting and networking,” said Lesly Occeus, junior at South Shore Charter Public School. “From connecting with professionals over lunch to bonding with fellow future accountants through social activities, I gained valuable experience and grew my professionalism and communication skills. Working on a real-world business project also gave me meaningful insight into how teamwork plays a role in accounting and business.”
To view photos from the program, visit masscpas.org/ace25photos. The event was sponsored by Baker Newman Noyes (BNN), BDO USA, LLP, Deloitte LLP, EY, Floyd Advisory LLC, LGA, LLP, Nash CPAs LLC, Plante Moran and Wolf & Company, P.C.
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