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.

What characteristics do you look for when hiring people into your workplace?

I look for candidates who have a strong work ethic, eagerness to learn and the internal drive to succeed. Our profession is fast paced and constantly evolving, so those with the ability and willingness to learn and motivation to rise to the challenges we are presented with are the most likely to succeed. I also enjoy working with a team that has a wide variety of backgrounds and interests to bring different perspectives to our work.

Did a UT Dallas professor inspire you? Who was that and how was that person inspirational?

Charles Solcher (now retired) was my tax professor at UT Dallas and his influence is what led me to choose to specialize in tax. His real-life stories from his professional life and the manner in which he led his courses was so intriguing and challenging to me.

How have you connected with either Jindal School or UTD alums since graduating and how has that been fulfilling?

I serve as the tax lead for our UT Dallas campus recruiting team and, through that role, have spent a lot of time on campus since graduating. I also have the pleasure of working with many fellow UT Dallas alums. I am constantly impressed with the quality of students and the constant evolution of the campus and academic programs at UT Dallas.

What is something you wish you had done while you were in college and why do you wish you had?

I wish I had spent more time on campus and getting to know other students, schools and groups other than those I typically spent time with relate to my major. I was a working student, not living on campus, and typically was always so busy going between classes and work that I rarely spent time on campus or had any exposure outside the School of Management or its various organizations. I have since met a lot of people, many who are clients or other business connections, who are also UT Dallas alumni and have realized how many connections there are and how strong many of the other UTD programs are.

What advice do you have for college students hoping to succeed professionally?

Stay focused and set long-term goals. A lot of distractions and obstacles will arise throughout your career that challenge you in the short term or change your original plans, but most will not derail your success if you stay focused and keep your eyes on the long term.