School of Accountancy’s Tax Teams Place Third among Nation’s Top Schools

Utah State University School of Accountancy’s graduate and undergraduate tax teams placed third in the Deloitte Tax Case Study Competition in November.

The competition draws the highest level of talent throughout the nation in tax education and gives students the opportunity to work in a competitive environment to solve some of today’s complex tax issues, said Richard Jenson, head of Utah State’s School of Accountancy.

“Any time our team can be among the top six in the nation it’s a validation of the quality of our students and the quality of their instruction,” Jenson said.

The teams were given up to five hours to complete a complex theoretical case study that required them to analyze information, identify issues and consider alternative tax treatments for a hypothetical client situation.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Utah State’s graduate team has successfully reached the finals. It is the third out of the last four years that Utah State’s undergraduate team has competed in the finals.

“The team was preparing, in some form, all year round for this competition,” said Jenson.

Vance Grange, associate professor in Utah State’s School of Accountancy, serves as advisor to both teams.

“Under his leadership, Utah State’s tax teams have brought national exposure to an outstanding tax program here in Utah State’s School of Accountancy,” Jenson said. “I can’t begin to express how proud I am of them. What a great group of kids.”

Other graduate team finalists were Brigham Young University, University of Kansas, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, University of Denver and University of Central Florida.

Other undergraduate team finalists were Boston College, Brigham Young University, College of William and Mary, University of North Carolina-Charlotte and University of Northern Colorado.

As finalists, each team member was awarded a $250 scholarship, and the School of Accountancy received a $2,500 award.