DB2 Arvel Smart
Case 4.6 Summary: Arvel Smart, Accounting Major
Liberty University
April 4, 2015
Arvel Smart is an accounting major studying at the University of Missouri at Columbia.
Arvel was accepted into a five year accountancy program, which offered for him to receive a
Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy degrees when he completed the program.
During this time, Arvel would be able to accept two internships following his third and fourth year. The first internship Arvel undertook was with a Big Four practice office in Kansas City. At the completion of this internship, Arvel was offered a full time position with the firm. As Arvel was still in the midst of his program, and unsure as to his focus in accounting, he asked for time to consider the offer. The office managing partner at the firm offered to keep the position open for 12 months.
Following Arvel’s first internship, he decided to spend the time after this fourth year with a second internship, and applied with two firms based out of St. Louis. Before accepting an internship offer from one of the St. Louis firms, Arvel decided that he was going to accept the job offer from the first internship with the Kansas City firm, at the completion of the second internship. Avrel was hesitant about his decision in accepting the second internship, as he knew that the chances of him accepting a job offer from them was unlikely. He appeased himself in thinking that it was the St. Louis’ firms responsibility to offer a job with better opportunities than the Kansa City firm offered.
This case presents a glimpse into the decisions and ethics accounting students face when undertaking internships and branching into the job market. By reviewing the questions associated with this case, we can discuss the ethics involved in Arvel’s decisions.
Did Arvel Smart behave unethically by accepting the internship with the St. Louis accounting firm when he intended to accept the outstanding
Liberty University
April 4, 2015
Arvel Smart is an accounting major studying at the University of Missouri at Columbia.
Arvel was accepted into a five year accountancy program, which offered for him to receive a
Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy degrees when he completed the program.
During this time, Arvel would be able to accept two internships following his third and fourth year. The first internship Arvel undertook was with a Big Four practice office in Kansas City. At the completion of this internship, Arvel was offered a full time position with the firm. As Arvel was still in the midst of his program, and unsure as to his focus in accounting, he asked for time to consider the offer. The office managing partner at the firm offered to keep the position open for 12 months.
Following Arvel’s first internship, he decided to spend the time after this fourth year with a second internship, and applied with two firms based out of St. Louis. Before accepting an internship offer from one of the St. Louis firms, Arvel decided that he was going to accept the job offer from the first internship with the Kansas City firm, at the completion of the second internship. Avrel was hesitant about his decision in accepting the second internship, as he knew that the chances of him accepting a job offer from them was unlikely. He appeased himself in thinking that it was the St. Louis’ firms responsibility to offer a job with better opportunities than the Kansa City firm offered.
This case presents a glimpse into the decisions and ethics accounting students face when undertaking internships and branching into the job market. By reviewing the questions associated with this case, we can discuss the ethics involved in Arvel’s decisions.
Did Arvel Smart behave unethically by accepting the internship with the St. Louis accounting firm when he intended to accept the outstanding
References: AIA Committee, & AAA Committee,. (1955). Statement of Standards and Responsibilities under Public Accounting Internship Programs. The Accounting Review, 30(2), 206210. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/240880 Bachel, B. (2008). Best Internship Ever!. Career World, (36), 1315. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/209773361?accountid=12085 Borgia, C., Siegal, P., & Ortiz, D. (2014). A survival analysis of tax professionals’ performance and internship experience. Accounting Research Journal, 27(3), 266285. Jackson, D. (2015). Career choice status among undergraduates and the influence of P. Maertz Jr, C., A. Stoeberl, P., & Marks, J. (2014). Building successful internships: lessons from the research for interns, schools, and employers. Career Dev Int, 19(1), 123142.