Each student will conduct an interview with a member of the business community in their discipline of interest. The person you interview must have a minimum of a bachelors degree, completed at least one accounting course in college and has been working in the business discipline for at least two years. The interview will address the role of accounting in the business discipline and the interviewees perspective on the importance of accounting.

Required:

Write a report of your interview finding addressing the following questions:

1. Education/professional qualifications and business experience: a. interviewees name

b. educational qualifications and names and graduation years for universities attended

c. professional qualifications

d. current and past employer(s)

e. current discipline and brief description of business experience

f. contact details: telephone and email.

2. A description of their reflections on the accounting course(s) taken in college. For example, material covered, perceived level of difficulty, grade earned and level of interest in the course.

3. A description of the role of accounting in their current position: a. Do they utilize accounting information in decision-making?

b. What accounting information do they use in their position?

c. What accounting information do they provide to others in their organization?

d. How comfortable/competent is the interviewee communicating with the accounting function within their organization?

e. What power does accounting information have within their organization?

f. Do they believe accounting information helps or hinders their ability to fulfil their discipline duties/activities?

g. What advice would they provide for students of their discipline with respect to studying accounting?

h. Any other reflections on accounting?

The written report must be in a paragraph format and must not read as a transcript of the interview. You must summarize/paraphrase the answers provided by the interviewee. You should use an underlined heading at the beginning of the paragraph for each part answered.

For example:

Interviewees Name Alan Styles.

Educational Qualifications BA (Hons) Sandwich Accounting & Finance, University of Brighton UK (1990). MS in Accounting, University of North Texas (1995) and Ph.D. in Accounting (1998), University of North Texas.

The report should not exceed 1,000 words and should be a minimum of 750 words. Provide the word count at the end of your report.

Minimize use of passive voice, no slang language and minimize use of conversational English. Avoid using same word to begin a number of sentences in report and avoid using long sentences (greater than 30 words) wherever possible. Use a business writing approach concise and make clear the active parties in the report.

Format requirements:

Font: Times New Roman 12pt.

Line spacing: double spaced.

Margins: 1 inch left and right; 1 inch top and bottom.

Page numbers: number at bottom of page, centered.