USC School of Business students this week had the opportunity to introduce themselves to accounting and finance industry leaders at the inaugural USC Accounting and Financial Planning Student Careers Expo.

Sponsored by CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, the Careers Expo brought together more than 150 USC students and industry representatives for an evening of presentations and networking.

Representatives from global accounting firms EY and KPMG, ANZ Bank and the Financial Planning Association of Australia were among a host of industry professionals on hand to outline career options and offer students insights into the world of accounting and financial planning.

Also represented at the expo were local firms BDK Buscombe, BDO, Focus Professional Group, HBA Encompass, Poole Group and Wealthmed Accounting.

USC graduates Scott Baker, now a partner in financial planning firm Mobbs Baker Wealth, and Lauren Statham, senior accountant with KPMG, contributed to the evening by answering students' questions as part of an industry discussion panel.

Mr Baker stressed that networking was the key to success in the accounting and financial planning sector.

“Businesses need networks for finding future clients and students need networks for finding future employers,” Mr Baker said.

“When you put a large group of students in the same room as a range of people from the industry, that’s when you get positive outcomes for both.”

Mr Baker said USC was always the first port of call for local financial services businesses looking for employees or interns.

USC School of Business Deputy Head Dr Peter Baxter said the Careers Expo had been so well received by students and employers alike that plans are now underway to make it an annual event.

Picture are: USC Accounting student Jazmine Salter (centre) and USC graduates Senior Accountant at KPMG, Lauren Statham and partner at Mobbs Baker Wealth, Scott Baker.

— Brent Hampstead