“I continue to marvel at how there are more employers seeking Messiah-trained accountants than there are accounting students in each class!” This quote, delivered by Eric R. Wenger, ’99 grad and CPA/Partner at RKL LLP, captures the nature of Messiah College’s Accounting major. Wenger currently serves as a CPA / Partner, Tax Services Group, at RKL LLP in Lancaster, PA. In his role as a partner at a large regional public accounting firm, he has the privilege of leading a team of 25-plus tax professionals and advising a wide variety of clients on tax and business matters.
Wenger felt more than prepared to pursue his career as an accountant post-graduation, and attributes his great successes to the Messiah accounting curriculum, which he describes as excellent preparation for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and future employment. One of his favorite things about Messiah included learning from outstanding faculty who cared about their students.
While preparing him for his accounting career, Messiah’s business faculty also challenged him to intentionally integrate his Christian faith with his vocational calling as a business professional. In the classroom, professors demonstrated practical examples of how to be salt and light in a sometimes-bland world. Wenger still visits several of those professors during the Messiah College Alumni breakfasts, and has fostered great camaraderie with other Messiah College Accounting alums. Besides other alumni in his field, Wenger still gets together with his former roommates several times a year.
In offering a piece of advice to prospective students, Wenger advises choosing a major that allows you to combine your God-given talents with your passions in life. Wenger says, “If this combination then overlaps with something the world needs and will hire you to do, you will be on track for an exciting career!” He also suggests that, when choosing a college, visiting the campus and talking to lots of students to get a flavor for the culture of the college and student body is crucial. When you find a place that feels like home while rigorously challenging you in your academic and faith development, you are exactly where you are supposed to be.