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Remsen Jennings, BS’11, MS’12

Remsen Jennings alumni photo

Assurance Services, EY

Remsen Jennings graduated summa cum laude with a double bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance in 2011, following that with a master’s degree in accounting in 2012. During his time at UT Dallas, Jennings was appointed as a UT System Student Advisory Council member, elected as student body vice president, served as president of the Davidson Management Honors Program and was a member of the Professional Program in Accounting.

Jennings is a CPA and works as an audit assurance executive at Ernst & Young in Dallas, serving large public and private clients in various industries.

Why did you choose the UT Dallas Accounting Program?

At a time when I felt overwhelmed by the pressure to make the “best” decision for my future, the accounting programs gave me the opportunity to explore my interests in accounting and business, ultimately helping me discover a fulfilling career in external audit. Never could I have imagined as a college student that I would one day be working with Fortune 500 companies at one of the largest public accounting firms in the world.

What is your best learning experience at UT Dallas?

At UT Dallas, we were entrenched in classroom discussions with people from all parts of the world. Together, we learned how to turn our cultural differences into common strengths to complete group projects or compete in business-case competitions. Whether or not we were aware of our situation as UT Dallas students at the time, we gained early, invaluable global experience that would be foreign theory to many of our soon-to-be entry-level colleagues who came from more traditional universities.

What is your favorite UT Dallas memory?

One of my close friends at UT Dallas emigrated to the United States from a war-torn country in his mid-20s and struggled to obtain an education. I will never forget the moment during my junior year when I was flipping through television channels and saw him sitting behind the Federal Reserve chairman as an intern at the Financial Roundtable with a beaming smile on his face. These are the kinds of memories that place UT Dallas in a league of its own. These are the kinds of memories that make me a proud Comet.

Since graduation, what surprised you about your UT Dallas education?

Symbolically, the drastic physical changes to the University’s landscape since graduating reflect the University’s incredible growth. UT Dallas looked and felt very different when I started as a young freshman; to imagine a university could transform into an internationally competitive research institution so quickly was unfathomable. Ten years ago, I would only rarely meet others in public accounting who graduated from UT Dallas. Today, I often find myself in meetings with audit clients at large corporations who tell me they are fellow Comets. UT Dallas is now on both sides of the table. I can’t think of a better return on my investment.

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Brandy Arbuthnot, BS’99 MS’02

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.

Jason Ellison, BS’03 MBA’06

Jason Ellison, BS’03 MBA’06

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While Ellison began his professional career at KPMG in audit, he now is on his second (or third) career, as owner of Ellison Business Consulting in Allen.

Kate Reagan, BS’15

Kate Reagan, BS’15

Assistant Vice President, Business Development, Texas Capital Bank

In Reagan’s role at Texas Capital Bank, she leans on both degrees she earned at Jindal School – a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in marketing. “I connect with business leaders in the Dallas community to hear their stories and see if Texas Capital Bank can help them achieve their company’s goals,” she says. “In school, I had no idea how accounting and marketing would fit together and if I could even find a role that would allow me to utilize both my degrees.

J.B. Yett, BS’09, MS’10

J.B. Yett, BS’09, MS’10

Audit Manager, Grant Thornton LLP

Yett earned both his undergraduate and master’s degree in accounting from Jindal School, where he was part of the selective Professional Program in Accounting. The PPA offers top accounting students smaller classes along with training in soft skills and access to choice internships. Upon graduation, Yett joined Grant Thornton where his current responsibilities include managing multiple audit engagement teams and client relationships. His role includes ensuring high quality audit execution and distinctive client service.

David Pate, BS’88

David Pate, BS’88

CFO, Richardson Independent School District

Pate, a resident of Rowlett, has spent almost all of his professional career in the service of education.

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