The Road Ahead: Serving God’s Kingdom as an Accountant

Micaela Lamb was born and raised in a family of five in the small, sunny town of Glendora, California. Recruited by DBU to run for the cross country and track and field teams, she came with the intent on attaining her accelerated B.B.A./M.B.A. in Accounting. As a student, she also served as an Accounting Lab tutor and student-worker in the Athletic Department, allowing her to leverage her resume and build out her professional capabilities towards successful internships at Niagara Bottling, LLC and Saville, Dodgen, and Company.

With the fitting analogy of running, Micaela has now crossed the finish line with her awarded degree but her race to continue growing in her relationship with God goes on in her new job starting this fall working for one of the four largest public accounting firms in the world.

What encouraged your calling into the accounting field?

I began my quest at DBU to attain an accelerated degree in Accounting, blurry-minded as to what the next five years of education would lead to. I lacked deep context of the vocation, but I found resounding peace that my God-given gifts were complimentary to these studies.

Degree now in hand, Dallas Baptist University has instilled an unmoving hope that accounting is a special opportunity to blend faith-driven integrity into the financial structure of business. I am eager to highlight the Lord's love through my passions for moral and numeric obedience, within a field so heavily blemished by fraudulent temptation.

What accounting firm will you be working for, and what will your responsibilities be?

Come October of 2020, I will be working for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in the San Jose, California office. PWC encompasses a global network of over 276,000 people in 157 countries. This body of firms offers an array of services, covering key assurance, tax, and consulting needs.

In target of my specific role, I will be a Global Mobility Tax Associate, referring to the world's growing shift towards a labor force that wishes to work anywhere and at any time. Technological advancements equip employers to seek global talent, weakening the barriers of foreign recruitment. While accessibility shrinks the world, matters are complicated upon differing regulations. In reaction, PWC Global Mobility is a tool to simplify confusion and error.

The nature of my job is to specifically assist American employers in tax policy who either employ or work oversees. The duties are an exciting blend of research, preparation, and consultation.

How has the Lord used DBU along your journey to prepare you for life and career beyond?

While I anticipated a journey of college transformation, what I did not expect was a drastic dive into spiritual realization. Struck by gratitude, DBU stretched both my academic understanding of business and my undeserving heart for the Lord. The unique Christ-centered curriculum stripped away an immature perspective of career success, surfacing the true purpose in life: we are to grow and serve God's kingdom.

Significant professors of influence included Dr. Nass and Professor Bates, two of the many who fueled my vocational preparation. Dr. Nass, who taught all courses in Income Taxation, is the source of my deep-rooted excitement to practice this material upon graduation. I am also appreciative of Professor Bates, who was a cherished source of constant advice.

As she prepares to return to California and to work in a city not prominently known for faith and Christian values, Micaela anticipates the large public setting of PWC serving as "a canvas to grow relationships. As I interact with clients and perform entrusted tasks, it is my hope that the Lord's character is seen through my behavior."