Roy Baker, MSA, CPA, teaches and advises in Stark State College’s accounting and finance department. Here, Roy discusses the strengths of our accounting program, his passion for financial literacy and the outlook for future accountants.

Q: Have you always worked in higher ed?

A: I spent 30 years as a CPA working in the accounting and finance field before coming to Stark State. I always had the desire to teach, so I was fortunate enough to be able to transition to teaching the subjects that I love.

Q: What are the strengths of Stark State’s accounting program?

A: We have a very broad curriculum, with 14 different core accounting classes ranging from base-level introductory classes through advanced accounting with different focus areas. A student can graduate from Stark State with the background and knowledge to be able to perform well on the CPA exam if they choose to pursue that certification. They can also start here and finish their bachelor’s with just one year at our university transfer partners. It saves a lot of money and potential debt. Also, all the professionals in our department have real-world experience. We provide relatable experiences to students of how the concepts from the book apply to how they’re used in practice.

Q: What’s one thing that students are always surprised to learn about our accounting majors and certificates?

A: They’re always surprised when they learn how many industry-recognized Stark State accounting certificates and degrees are currently in the workforce. Many of those who went on to earn a bachelor’s degree have said that Stark State is where they gained the majority of their accounting knowledge. Our certificates and degrees are well respected by employers. They know the rigors of the classes we offer and how dedicated we are as a staff.

Q: You were recently featured in an article by The Ohio Society of CPAs, where you discussed the importance of financial literacy and why it belongs in Ohio curriculums. Explain why this is such an important subject for you – and why it should be important to our students.

A: Coming from a financially illiterate family, I understand this challenge more than many. It’s incumbent on us as educators to be that guiding resource. There is extensive research that shows the negative impacts of being under-educated in financial literacy.

Ohio high school students are now required to take a full semester of a stand-alone financial literacy class to graduate. It’s been long overdue that we teach this life skill to our youth. Many don’t have the resources and knowledge in their home life to be taught the essential basic financial skills that they will use in their everyday lives for decades.

Q:  What is the job outlook for the accounting profession?

A: The future is bright for those considering accounting. Bloomberg analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there are 340,000 fewer accountants today than five years ago. According to the Ohio Society of CPAs, “as many as one-third of current CPAs will retire in the next 5-10 years. Careers in finance or other data-driven careers are attracting accounting graduates with higher starting salaries and no need to sit for the CPA exam.”

Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of at Stark State?

A: At Stark State, financial literacy is more than just a class. It’s a way of life. And I’m proud of how we’ve come together as an organization to raise awareness about it and further this important initiative. Something that most people don’t know is how active we are inside the College furthering the mission. One of the things I mentioned in The Ohio Society of CPA’s article is that “it takes a village.” That’s what we are at Stark State, especially when it comes to financial literacy.

None of this would be possible without the support and forward-thinking leadership at Stark State. This, coupled with the efforts of the accounting/finance department and the extraordinary work of our College Credit Plus (CCP) team, has produced an environment of financial literacy focus.

Q: What’s one movie that you never get tired of watching?

A: Typically, I like psychological thrillers where you’re guessing the entire movie and/or don’t see the ending coming. However (somewhat embarrassingly), when I’m scrolling through the guide and I see “We’re the Millers,” I have to stop and watch it. I’m an accountant and I can’t count how many times I have watched that movie!