The Professional Program in Accounting showcases the stories of the bright alumni body. Get inspired to begin your accounting path.
Matt Paske, CPA, CIA, BS’08, MS’10
Senior Manager, Weaver
Matt has been a CIA and CPA for more than ten years and has worked with multiple organizations in industries which include inventory-based businesses (such as retail and manufacturing and distribution), oil and gas production, commercial banking, and state and federal government agencies, and technology. Matt has specialized in projects including SOX compliance, internal control analysis, business process improvement, risk assessment, fraud prevention, operational analysis, and CFO advisory for private and publicly held companies.
Sino Varghese, MS’08
Assurance Partner, Moss Adams
Sino graduated from UT Dallas with a bachelors and masters in Accounting. She has practiced public accounting since 2006 and serves as an Assurance Audit Partner in the Dallas office. She provides assurance services to various entities mostly in the energy and energy-related construction and manufacturing industries. Sino is heavily involved in recruiting both campus and experienced hires and spends a significant amount of time recruiting at UT Dallas.
Brandy Arbuthnot, BS’99 MS’02
Tax Partner, BDO, USA LLP
In her current position at BDO, Arbuthnot assists accounting clients with their tax compliance and consulting needs including tax returns, tax provision preparation and review, assistance with tax implications of mergers and acquisitions, and other tax planning matters. She joined BDO, an international assurance, tax and financial advisory services firm, after earning her undergraduate accounting degree. Her master’s degree is also in accounting. “My degrees prepared me for a career in public accounting and the necessary qualifications for the CPA exam. Furthermore, my experience at UT Dallas prepared me to have success the professional world,” she said. BDO certainly covers the world, with offices in 167 countries.
Eugene Murray, MS’03
President, W&M Environmental Group, Inc.
With more than 30 years of experience in environmental consulting and two degrees in geology, Eugene (Gene) Murray, president of W&M Environmental Group, Inc., intended to take just one statistics class to further enhance his business skills. But after one class, Murray discovered the numerous benefits of a Jindal School education and decided to pursue a master’s degree.
The Lanes
Giulia Ippolito Lane and Robert Lane
When Rob entered UT Dallas, he already held an undergraduate degree from University of Southern California. He eventually earned four additional degrees at UT Dallas.
HB Paksoy, MA’76
Retired Professor
This Richardson resident was one of the first graduates of what was then known as the School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Brett Philips, BS’05, MS’09
Founding Partner, Shifflett & Philips
Philips, and his friend Nick Shifflett, started Shifflett & Philips accounting firm in 2014 in Frisco. Philips, a CPA, had worked at other accountancies for more than nine years before going out on his own. His practice now primarily focuses on the performance of federal and state tax compliance and consulting with individuals, estates, partnerships and closely held corporations. Philips holds two Jindal School degrees – a bachelor’s in Business Administration, which he completed in 2005, and an MS/Accounting which he completed in 2009.
Brian Livingston, MBA’01 MS’02
President and COO, Firebird Restaurant Group
Livingston holds two degrees from the Jindal School, his MBA and his master’s degree in accounting. His undergrad degree in finance is from UT Austin. He is now with Firebird Restaurant Group, LLC, the parent company of El Fenix Mexican Restaurants, Snuffers Restaurant & Bar, Meso Maya, Village Burger Bar, Taqueria La Ventana and Tortaco, where he oversees the daily operations of 54 restaurants, a food manufacturing company and related companies.
Andy Mangham, BS’07 MBA’12 MS’13
IT Audit Manager – Global Sox Assurance; CBRE
In his role at the real estate services giant CBRE, Mangham manages IT audits for global operations, works on special projects for executives.
Frank Martinez, MBA’07, MS’14
Supervisor, Project Management Office; Federal Reserve Bank Of Dallas
Martinez, who started working at The Fed in 2011, keeps returning to UT Dallas and Jindal School to upgrade his skills..
Ernest Lowery, BS’08, MS’09
Assurance Director, PwC
Ernest has worked in the assurance practice at PwC for over 10 years. He has worked with public and private clients in a number of industries, including energy, industrial products, media and entertainment and technology. He most recently worked in a digital role, where his primary focus was helping to develop new tools to be used across the assurance practice. What he enjoys most is working with clients and his teams to complete a common goal.
Remsen Jennings, BS’11, MS’12
Assurance Services, EY
Remsen Jennings graduated summa cum laude with a double bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance in 2011, following that with a master’s degree in accounting in 2012. During his time at UT Dallas, Jennings was appointed as a UT System Student Advisory Council member, elected as student body vice president, served as president of the Davidson Management Honors Program and was a member of the Professional Program in Accounting.
Lauren Hayes, BS’07, MS’08
Partner, Baker Tilly
Lauren Hayes attended UT Dallas for her bachelor’s in accounting degree and for what was then known as the master’s in accounting and information management degree, graduating in December 2007 and 2008, respectively.
David Pate, BS’88
CFO, Richardson Independent School District
Pate, a resident of Rowlett, has spent almost all of his professional career in the service of education.
Kate Reagan, BS’15
Assistant Vice President, Business Development, Texas Capital Bank
In Reagan’s role at Texas Capital Bank, she leans on both degrees she earned at Jindal School – a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in marketing. “I connect with business leaders in the Dallas community to hear their stories and see if Texas Capital Bank can help them achieve their company’s goals,” she says. “In school, I had no idea how accounting and marketing would fit together and if I could even find a role that would allow me to utilize both my degrees.
Jason Ellison, BS’03 MBA’06
Entrepreneur
While Ellison began his professional career at KPMG in audit, he now is on his second (or third) career, as owner of Ellison Business Consulting in Allen.
J.B. Yett, BS’09, MS’10
Audit Manager, Grant Thornton LLP
Yett earned both his undergraduate and master’s degree in accounting from Jindal School, where he was part of the selective Professional Program in Accounting. The PPA offers top accounting students smaller classes along with training in soft skills and access to choice internships. Upon graduation, Yett joined Grant Thornton where his current responsibilities include managing multiple audit engagement teams and client relationships. His role includes ensuring high quality audit execution and distinctive client service.