Q&A: MNCPA member McKenna Hoff on Bethel’s MBA program
By Julia Shiota, MNCPA communications coordinator
June 6, 2023
As part of a partnership with Bethel University, we wanted to highlight a member who has taken advantage of the MBA Pathway for Certified Professionals offered by the university. The
Bethel University MBA program recognizes a CPA license as graduate-level credit and grants up to nine credits toward the 42-credit MBA, which results in savings of nearly $6,000 toward the MBA degree.
Read about MNCPA member McKenna Hoff’s experience in the program.
What credentials do you currently have and what are you in the process of completing?
I currently have a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Bethel University, as well as an MBA from Bethel University. I’m currently in the process of earning my CPA license.
What kind of work have you been doing as you prepare for your CPA exam?
I started my career in corporate accounting in the banking industry before making the switch to public accounting to get exposure to various areas of accounting. I am now at a corporate company working as a senior accountant in their financial reporting department. I focus on assisting with SEC filings, compiling and analyzing financial results, and preparing equity accounting and reporting, including duties relating to equity grants, restricted stock vesting, statements of stockholder’s equity, comprehensive income, as well as share-based compensation and diluted shares.
What drew you to the MBA at Bethel University?
I love that Bethel’s MBA program is flexible and aligned with my schedule while working full time. At Bethel I felt like I mattered as a person, not just as another enrollment count. The professors are really engaged in teaching the materials and are also encouraging while guiding students in both their personal and professional lives.
I also love that the professors bring their real-world working experience into the classroom, which helps better connect education to industry. The passion the staff and professors have to truly guide, improve and prepare students for whatever endeavors they choose next is very encouraging. I would also note that they don’t just throw you out in the world after you complete a degree. They follow up, check-in and want to continue the relationships that have been built. They are always available for questions and guidance both during and outside of school.
How do you see the MBA and CPA combo benefitting your career?
The variety of business areas I learned about in Bethel’s MBA program helped me gain a better understanding of how a business operates more fully. I can think about and integrate other areas of the business while completing my job, instead of only focusing on accounting. In the MBA I also learned about the importance of leadership within a business, while the CPA license will allow me to grow in a more technical way. Having both an MBA and eventually a CPA will allow me to be well-rounded in the accounting field.
How have you made the MBA program and preparing for your CPA exam work with your schedule?
I can say it’s not easy to work full time and get an MBA while also studying for the CPA exam. It really takes discipline, a plan, sacrifices and a set routine. What helps me is scheduling time out of each day and focusing on whatever it is I need to complete that day. Taking small steps toward a big goal is less intimidating than trying to take leaps when you don’t have the capacity to do so.
What are your thoughts about the accounting industry overall?
Working in the accounting field has been a very rewarding journey and I am excited to continue that journey. What excites me about the field is that it challenges me in many ways and there are so many opportunities for growth. There are so many niche areas you can choose to focus on. For example, there are many areas such as corporate accounting, financial reporting, technical accounting, tax, auditing, forensic accounting, consulting and so much more! It seems like the opportunities are endless.
