When business and educational institutions combine forces, powerful connections are created.
That is the case with USF’s partnership with Kerkering, Barberio & Co. as the accounting firm enters its third year of a five-year partnership with the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy at the USF Muma College of Business.
At the heart of the partnership is a shared commitment to nurture young talent and bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Kerkering Barberio’s engagement with USF extends beyond traditional boundaries, enriching the educational journey of accounting students in meaningful ways.
And when that happens, the students, faculty, and the accounting firm benefit.
Among the positive outcomes: the firm has awarded $50,000 in student scholarships and named Kerkering Barberio Fellows at each of its campuses —Patricia Gaukel in St. Petersburg, Luke Richardson in Tampa, and Ildiko Toth in Sarasota-Manatee.
Kerkering Barberio team members, who work out of offices in Sarasota, Manatee, and Tampa, also make time to engage directly with students in the classroom. They provide in-person and virtual guest lectures, tutorials on Excel and other accounting applications, and in-depth looks at real-life audit engagements and tax return processing, enabling students to link classroom experience with actual business scenarios, fostering a deeper understanding of complex subject matter.
“My students really enjoy having working professionals in the classroom sharing their experience with them,” said Gaukel, a senior accounting instructor on the USF St. Petersburg campus. “We identified early on that students needed additional support in Excel pivot tables, and the Kerkering Barberio team put together a helpful video tutorial that students can view and learn from at their own pace."
"It’s been a fantastic addition to our curriculum and has exposed students to their team members and the opportunities that exist medium-sized accounting firm that is regionally headquartered,” she said.
The value of the partnership doesn’t end in the classroom.
Each year, a cohort of accounting interns arrive for additional training in tax and audit, becoming integral members of the firm’s team and assisting at a high level with processing of client tax returns and performing client audits. Many of these new professionals go on to begin their careers after tax season at Kerkering Barberio as full-time staff accountants.
“I had taken a tax class, but it's very different doing it than just learning about it in class,” said 2023 intern and USF alum Kailee Ringrose, who joined Kerkering Barberio as a staff accountant after tax season.
“You’re sorting through tons of information you are getting and figuring out what’s important, which is not necessarily taught in the classroom, because there you are only given what’s needed. I learned a lot during this internship.”
“It’s really important to begin forging these strong connections with students during the formative years of their career exploration because today’s job market is so competitive,” said Kerkering Barberio managing shareholder Rob Lane. “Establishing this partnership with USF has truly been a win-win for the students, USF, and our KB team.”