Where Are They Now: Frank Gaccione
Frank Gaccione Graduated from Penn State University at the University Park campus. He is currently a 2nd-year Audit Associate with KPMG in the NYC office, and is on track to be promoted to Senior Associate this summer
What is your name?
Frank Gaccione
What college did you attend?
Penn State University, University Park
What are the most valuable skills and experiences you gained through attending your college/university?
Academically, I was a member of the Masters of Accounting (MAcc) program within the Smeal College of Business. This program gave me the opportunity to gain valuable experience and comfort networking / interviewing with fortune 500 companies, as well as the big four accounting firms. This program helped prepare me to be the well-rounded professional that I am today.
What was your favorite part of college/university?
My favorite part of Penn State would be going to the football games on Saturdays. The Penn State White-Out game is still one of the best sports experiences I have ever been a part of.
What is your current job or profession (if you have one)?
I am currently a 2nd-year Audit Associate with KPMG in the NYC office, on track to be promoted to Senior Associate this summer. I primarily work in the NY Financial Services sector within the Insurance Industry, but have experience on Asset Management clients as well.
How did college prepare you for your career?
College helped me immensely when it comes to the career path I chose. As part of the MAcc program, I double majored in both Accounting and Finance. The courses I took through this program laid the foundation for the eventual CPA examination that I studied and sat for prior to starting with KPMG in September 2019. The course work taken through the MAcc program at Penn State played a major role in me eventually passing all four parts of the CPA exam. Penn State also prepared me to be a well-rounded professional, not only by teaching the subject matter of Accounting and Finance but also for stressing the importance of developing the soft skills that play an important role in any workplace.
How did Amy assist you in getting into your college/university?
I give Amy a lot of credit for where I am today. I first started working with Amy after I took the SATs for the first time. Amy helped prepare me for the sections in which I did not score as high as I originally hoped to. After working with Amy, and taking the SATs for the second time, my scores improved drastically, to the point where I was happy with them and didn’t have to take the test again. Amy then helped me the following year when it came to writing my college essays and getting applications together for the various colleges and universities I applied to. Amy pushed me each and every session to become a better version of myself and I’ll always be grateful for all the help she has provided me over the years.
What was one of the most memorable moments you had when working with Amy?
While working with Amy I will never forget how she convinced me to step out of my comfort zone and to get more involved with the National Honor Society at Wayne Valley. Amy felt that I would be a very good candidate to run for an executive board position in NHS. This was something I previously did not consider as I lacked the confidence in my skills and ability to handle one of these roles. Amy always believed in me and convinced me to run for NHS Treasurer during my Junior year. I ended up getting elected and excelled, eventually going on to become the NHS President during my senior year. The National Honor Society and the roles I was in during my time at Valley played a huge part in who I am today, and I wouldn’t have been in those roles if it weren’t for Amy pushing me to step out of my comfort zone.
What was an important skill you gained from working with Amy?
From working with Amy there were many skills gained, but most importantly would be learning to step out of my comfort zone, as I’ve previously touched on. I believe that this is something very important in all stages of life. There are always going to be times where you might feel uncomfortable speaking up or putting yourself out there for a new role or position, whether it be in high school, college, or in the workplace. Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of being able to step out of your comfort zone and to push yourself to become a better version of yourself every day, whether it be in or out of the classroom. Without learning this valuable skill, I would not have taken on many of the leadership roles I’ve had and would not be the person I am today.
Any other comments?
I truly cannot say enough great things about Amy! Amy has always been a pleasure to work with and takes a true interest in each of her students. I am forever grateful for all of the help and guidance she has offered me over the years!