As a child Austin Sachs dreamed of becoming not a CEO, but a CFO 鈥� a chief financial officer. Now the double major at 黑料正能量 is $1,000 closer to reaching that goal.
The scholarship for local college students recognizes academic achievement, evidence of leadership and future promise. The Virginia Skyline Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants and the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants announced the winners, which also included Monica Linn from James Madison University and Larema Dixon from Bridgewater College, in February.
Sachs is majoring in accounting and economics, which he said will allow him 鈥渢o pursue both sides of the business spectrum, to be versatile.鈥� He is minoring in psychology.
Last year he began interning at Shenandoah Growers, where he helps reconcile balance sheets, makes sales and use tax filings and more. Controller Tom Reed called Sachs 鈥渙ne of the sharpest accounting students I鈥檝e had the pleasure of working with鈥� over the last 12 years.
鈥淗is work habits and innate intelligence indicate that he will be able to go as far as he wants to go in the accounting field,鈥� Reed said.
That phrase 鈥� 鈥渁s far as he wants to鈥� 鈥� just might mean a great distance.
Sachs, who describes himself as 鈥渁n optimistic and a big-picture planner,鈥� is considering three post-graduation possibilities: a master鈥檚 degree and career in corporate finance, a doctorate with the goal of public policy or United Nations economic development work, or master鈥檚 degrees in peacebuilding and economics, for a career in politics or with the United Nations.
鈥淲hen I was in elementary school, I loved math and money,鈥� Sachs said. 鈥淲hen other kids wanted to be professional athletes, astronauts, president or the normal young child dreams, I always said 鈥楥FO.鈥� The little I knew of business drew me to the financial operations of companies and eventually the top of one.鈥�
At 黑料正能量 Sachs found a bridge between his academic and other passions, including a concern for the environment.
In the classroom, a highlight was the environmental and ecological economics course taught by Professor Jim Leaman. Outside of the classroom, Sachs initiated an online pledge 鈥満诹险芰� for a Sustainable Campus鈥� that invited the university community to take voluntary steps to positively impact the environment.
Another class, Leaman鈥檚 鈥淚nvestment Club,鈥� 鈥済ave me the tools and knowledge on how to properly invest, so that I can have financial freedom to pursue my passions no matter the salary,鈥� he said.
The Virginia Skyline Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants provides continuing education programs and networking opportunities for accounting and finance professionals in the region.聽The Blue Ridge Chapter of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants is dedicated to professionalism of, advocacy for and strategic partnership among its members.