Samuel Yang’s Path to a Career that Adds Up at KPMG

Samuel (Sam) Yang didn’t just graduate with a master’s degree in accounting. He graduated into the job he wanted, in the city he chose, with an impressive resume that includes one of the most prestigious appointments in the accounting world. Now living in Chicago and working in the KPMG Accounting Advisory Services group, Yang (MPAcc 2023) credits the Foster School of Business Master of Science in Professional Accounting (MPAcc) program for opening the doors that led him here.

The standout opportunity? A one-year rotation at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the organization responsible for setting accounting standards for U.S. companies. Yang served as a postgraduate technical assistant, a role so exclusive that students must be nominated by their graduate program just to apply.

“You can only get nominated for FASB through a master’s program. It was Foster and the Master’s in Accounting program that opened that door for me. That one opportunity changed everything,” he says.

Choosing the Foster School of Business

Yang grew up in Taiwan and moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington as an undergrad. He chose Foster for its strong business program and Seattle for its growing business opportunities and proximity to home (or, at least, the nearest U.S. airport with nonstop flights to Taipei). At Foster, majored in accounting as an undergrad and pursued the MPAcc immediately after graduation.

“I thought about double majoring as an undergrad to get my CPA credits, but accounting isn’t the kind of program where you can just phone it in. I wanted to go deep. I wanted to build expertise. That’s why the 9-month accounting master’s made the most sense,” he says.

Master’s in Accounting sparks a passion for technical accounting

Like many students, Yang started his career journey with an internship. He spent a summer at Deloitte in financial advisory. It was a valuable experience that allowed him to understand how business processes work in the real world. He was ready to return to the firm after the MPAcc program ended.

But it wasn’t until Yang discovered his interest in technical accounting that he decided to change his career path. He traces that interest to his first class in the MPAcc program: Accounting Standards Research with Professor Christina Nichols.

“That class taught us how to write technical memos, how to do research, and how to apply standards to real business cases. In undergrad, you just learn the rules. In Christina Nichols’ class, I learned how to think,” he recalls.

Behind the scenes at the Financial Accounting Standards Board

The FASB rotation gave Yang experience at the cutting edge of accounting policy. It also gave him options. When his term ended, firms approached him directly.

“It’s a different recruiting process after doing a rotation with FASB. Firms come to you,” Yang explains. “After an FASB rotation, you’re interviewing for more senior roles. That’s how I secured my role at KPMG. Truthfully, I liked the people the most, which is so important. It’s why I chose KPMG. And I chose Chicago because it was time to explore other cities in the U.S.”

His current role at KPMG involves tight deadlines, client-facing deliverables, and complex problem solving. And it turns out, a lot of it is familiar.

“I still use the skills I learned at Foster every day: research, data cleaning, and technical writing. Even though the real world is messier, those fundamentals stick with you,” he says, smiling.

How Foster accounting faculty made an impact

Yang is clear about the return on investment of the Master of Professional Accounting.

“It was absolutely worth it. Foster is well-respected. The big firms like KPMG know the name. They know what kind of education you receive. That gives you a leg up and an advantage in the job market and throughout your career,” he says.

He also praises the Foster faculty for being accessible and deeply invested in student success. “If you’re willing to put in the effort, they’ll match you. I felt supported. I had professors who got to know me, went above and beyond, and helped me figure out what was next,” he recalls.

He also gives a special shoutout to Foster’s career services team, who helped him polish his resume for the FASB application and prepare for interviews. “That seems like a small thing, something you might not put much stock in, but it made a real difference. I was ready for the FASB interviews,” he says.

Advice for future accounting students

Yang doesn’t sugarcoat it: accounting isn’t easy. But for the right person, it’s deeply satisfying.

“It’s not the most glamorous field. It’s not marketing. It’s not startup culture. But if you love it, it doesn’t feel like a grind,” he says. “In accounting, you must enjoy this work to do it well.”

He urges accounting students to keep an open mind, especially early on.

“Most people come in not knowing what they want. And that’s fine. You don’t have to figure it all out on day one. But once you find something that clicks, commit to it. That’s how you build momentum,” he says.

Data sheets, KPMG, and a slice of Chicago life

For now, Yang is enjoying life in the Windy City. Yes, he misses Seattle’s trees, mountains, and natural beauty. But he’s exactly where he wants to be: working in a role that challenges him, at a firm that values him, in a city that’s teaching him something new.

“I’m learning every day and exploring Chicago. I’m doing work that matters. That’s what I hoped for when I started at Foster,” he says.

Yang didn’t stumble into his career at KPMG. He mapped it out like a well-organized spreadsheet. From picking Foster to chasing the FASB opportunity, he followed his instincts, played to his strengths, and honed in on what genuinely interested him. Now he’s thriving in Chicago, home of Wrigley Field, deep dish pizza, and one very dialed-in accounting pro. He didn’t just find a job. He found the right one.

Learn more about the Master’s in Accounting here.