NPOC has helped me to expand my network, develop communication skills, and uncover my passion for assisting small businesses and NPOs
Hi! My name is Bianca and I just completed my 4B term in the Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) program. Since spring 2020, I have been involved with the School of Accounting and Finance’s (SAF) Non-Profit Organization Consulting (NPOC) group where I work on multiple client projects helping non-profit organizations (NPOs) develop and grow their organizations. I have also been able to create learning tools, such as blog articles, to answer some common accounting and business related questions from start-up NPOs.
As director of NPOC, I lead the team with my two co-directors, Alicia and Iris. We are responsible for developing NPOC’s internal goals for the term and assisting our teams in meeting these goals! In terms of client work, Alicia, Iris, and I are the first touchpoint for our new clients to assess their needs and map out how our team can support their development.
My favourite part of being a member of NPOC is working with such a great team! I have been able to expand my network within SAF and connect with many highly motivated students. I also find it rewarding to use the knowledge that I have developed through completing the AFM program and four co-op work terms to assist NPOs that are striving to make a positive impact on our community.
Students who are looking to learn more about NPOs, and the business decisions that are involved in running an NPO would benefit from joining NPOC! There are a lot of opportunities to learn from your peers and to develop communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Personally, I have improved my professional writing skills. Putting together client memos and research articles has really helped me to refine my writing abilities; something that is also applicable at work and in upper-year courses when you are required to condense your ideas and research into easily digestible yet cohesive papers.
In terms of leveraging the knowledge that I have learned from SAF courses, I have been able to apply the accounting knowledge that I developed in AFM 491 (Advanced Financial Accounting) as well as problem-solving skills that I developed in AFM 433 (Business Strategy).
NPOC has helped me to discover my passion for using my accounting, finance, and business knowledge to assist small businesses and NPOs in achieving their goals. I plan on following this passion for my future career.