TAMPA – Accounting firm CBIZ MHM, one of the largest accounting firms in the nation, is extending its partnership with the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy in the USF Muma College of Business.
The accounting firm announced a $150,000 multi-year gift that will continue to support the CBIZ MHM Teaching Fellowship and the annual Accounting Circle CPE conference.
“We value our alliance with CBIZ MHM, deeply appreciate the firm's generous support, and look forward to continuing our robust relationship. This commitment reaffirms our mutual goal of investing in the development of USF’s stellar accounting graduates,” said Mark H. Taylor, director of the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy.
CBIZ MHM has more than 100 offices and 6,000 team members nationwide with deep roots in the region. The firm is the fifth-largest tax, accounting, and consulting provider in the Tampa Bay area and the 10th-largest in the country.
Paul Dunham, the lead managing director at CBIZ, poses with Rocky D. Bull.
Nearly half of their employees are USF alumni. Since 2019, a majority of the interns at CBIZ Tampa Bay were USF students.
Faculty teaching fellowships help the college recognize and reward young faculty members who are making significant contributions to the accounting program. Teaching fellowships can also provide an incentive in recruiting new faculty members from other universities.
The firm created the five-year CBIZ MHM Teaching Fellowship in 2016 and its success contributed to the decision to continue supporting the partnership, said CBIZ Senior Managing Director Bob Batz.
“Since many of us in our practice are USF alumni, our partnership is a natural reflection of the strong relationships built on mutual respect and admiration,” said Batz. “This alliance provides our CBIZ team the ability to share real-world experiences with both the professors and students while we gain valuable insight into what the next generation of leaders is looking for from their career and future employer.”
The firm has been serving the community for more than 30 years and is a long-time supporter of the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy. The company has provided firm members to serve on various boards, sponsored conferences, and provided speakers for the classroom and student gatherings.
It also has been recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Florida Trend, and the Tampa Bay Times as being among the best places to work each year.