UA Class of 2012
College: University of Tampa (2012 -2016)
Degree: B.S. in Accounting
Professional Goals: Forensic Accounting
My name is Angelica Arancillo and I am a recent graduate from the University of Tampa where I earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Accounting. My past experiences, including those at University Academy, have greatly impacted where I am today. UA has always driven me to excel in everything I do and to pursue my aspirations. At UA I learned there are many opportunities and
resources out there, but it is up to me to take the risks necessary to benefit from them. Friends of UA (now UA Foundation) is among the many resources available that has helped me a lot financially and academically. The college incentive program (CIP) motivated me to strive to succeed academically. Whenever I received care packages or incentives, my college friends got jealous that I was still getting support from my high school connection. Other resources like networking events, résumé assistance and help with career goals have also been very helpful. It is nice to know that as UA alumni we still have support.
I decided to attend a university far away because I wanted to expand my horizons and to push myself to become more independent. At UT my eyes were opened to a variety of different cultures previously unknown to me in Kansas City. UT’s student body included a large number of international students. I learned to become open-minded and aware of how I interact with people. Now I am mindful that certain things, while acceptable for some, can be seen as disrespectful for others depending on their culture and upbringing. I have met people from Ghana, Estonia, Brazil,
Burma, and Guam, among other places. Attending UT allowed me to network and gain a lot of connections which led to my first internship and my new job.
I finished my college career working as a tax intern with DATIS HR Cloud. In June I started my career as a tax specialist for one of the Big Four Accounting firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (now PwC.) In the future I plan to obtain my certifications as a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner. For my long term plan, I aspire to work in forensic accounting.
Update: Since submitting this spotlight in 2016, Angelica has received multiple certifications in data and business analytics and is now in her fourth year at PwC where she serves as a Digital Accelerator and Senior Associate, PwC Labs Automation.
