Faculty mentorship, industry connections and on-ramp helped alumnus thrive in the accounting profession
When most people hear “accounting,” they think of the obvious: number crunching. While figures make up a significant component of the practice, accounting is much deeper than numerical equations and balancing the books.
Accounting professionals have the chance to make a meaningful impact in a highly respected and consistently in-demand field. Few careers combine stability, strong earning potential and the opportunity to help others the way accounting does.
These factors and more led double alumnus Jonathan Joyce to make a rewarding career shift into the accounting profession.
Making the Change to Accounting
After graduating from Belmont in 2015 with an undergraduate degree in political science, Joyce’s plan felt clear: build experience in government, then head to law school. It was a strong start, but it didn’t take long for him to realize something was missing.
“I did that for a little while, but realized I wasn’t fulfilled,” he said.
The shift didn’t mean starting over. Instead, the relationships he previously built at Belmont helped guide him toward a new path.
During his undergraduate years, he took an elective accounting course co-taught by Dr. Marilyn Young and Dr. Lee Warren. Because of their lasting impression, he felt comfortable reaching out for guidance while he considered making a career change into business.
“I built a good relationship with Dr. Young and Dr. Warren in undergrad, so when I was thinking through what I wanted to do I decided to reach out,” he said. “They convinced me to consider the accounting profession, saying that there's a lot of stability and opportunities.”
Young and Warren helped Joyce see accounting not as a narrow career lane, but as a flexible and marketable profession with many options, from corporate roles to public accounting and beyond. He decided to enroll in Belmont’s Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program.
An Accounting On-Ramp: Belmont’s Summer Institute
With his program decided, Joyce faced another hurdle: he didn’t have the accounting prerequisites needed for a master’s program.
Belmont’s answer was the Summer Institute, an intensive program designed for students making a pivot into business or accounting fields.
Joyce described the condensed Summer Accounting Institute as demanding, but possible.
“It was a lot of material to cover but the professors are really good at teaching us the material,” he said. “I didn’t feel behind my peers when I started the MAcc program. I felt ready.”
In fact, the fast-paced format came with an unexpected advantage once he was in the graduate-level accounting classes: everything was fresh. “It might have even given me a leg up,” he jokingly admitted.
A Clear Choice for the MAcc
Today, Joyce is a manager in Deloitte’s Strategy and Transactions – Mergers & Acquisitions group. His advice to prospective students weighing graduate study is simple: accounting opens doors.
“Getting a degree in accounting is very marketable,” he said. “There are a lot of jobs out there and different ways you can take your accounting degree and apply it in business. Accounting is a great technical skill, and it's very in demand.”
He also noted that his early career exposure while in the MAcc was instrumental to him landing a job at a Big 4 firm. “Meet the Firms” is a signature networking event that connects students with employers and industry leaders.
“The professors have really great relationships with all different types of firms,” Joyce said. “There’s a great network for you while you’re navigating what you want to do.”
At Meet the Firms, Joyce was introduced to a representative from Deloitte for the first time. After establishing a network, he interviewed and was offered a job after graduation in 2018. Since then, he has worked his way up to becoming a manager in Mergers & Acquisitions.
The Belmont Difference
The strong sense of community and connection Joyce experienced as an undergraduate only deepened in the MAcc program.
“Professors at Belmont genuinely cared,” he said. “They wanted to take an interest in us as individuals, more than just students in their classrooms. They cared about our development as people.”
His role at Deloitte is a far cry from his days in politics, but Joyce says the shift brought him exactly what he was looking for: meaningful work in a collaborative environment.
Joyce says the graduate-level learning environment — study groups, shared problem-solving, mutual support — mirrored the professional rhythm he has found at Deloitte.
“For me, politics didn’t feel very team-oriented,” he shared. “Working at Deloitte, it’s an environment where very much we support each other.”
Another theme Joyce returns to repeatedly is mentorship, specifically, the normalcy of reaching out to people who want to help you grow.
“Having professors that were accessible made it feel normal to me,” Joyce said. “And because I got such great results, I’m continuing to do it.”
At Deloitte, he goes a step further than participating in formal coaching structures. He also chooses to build a broader circle of mentors and leaders that he respects not only for career success, but for how they navigate life and family.
Joyce’s story highlights the accessibility and value of Belmont’s Master of Accountancy. The combination of faculty who know students personally, a structured on-ramp for career changers and early professional connection isn't just helpful — it can be life-changing.
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