An Interview with Sean Oliver ’09

Sean Oliver ’09, senior audit associate at Grant Thornton, was one of several young accounting professionals who joined students from our Master of Accounting program on their recent study tour in the Netherlands. He shares his experiences in the interview below.

What was the most important takeaway for you?
I took away many important experiences from this trip, with the most significant being a greater understanding of IFRS vs. U.S. GAAP. This knowledge helped me to develop a big picture understanding of my industry and auditing by shifting to an alternative way of viewing accounting issues with more of a substance over form focus. It was a great opportunity to see things in a new light and gain information which will benefit me in my field.

Was there one thing you learned that you just couldn’t wait to tell your colleagues?
I was surprised by the emphasis that Europe’s investor market places on sustainability reporting which focuses on a company’s impact on the environment and the economy as well as the company’s corporate social responsibility. Prior to this trip I hadn’t gained much exposure to sustainability reporting as it is not as prominent in the industries I serve in the States. I was fascinated by the difference in the values placed on reporting by users of financial information and looked forward to discussing it with my colleagues.

You met some major players in the European accounting and financial world. Can you talk a little about that?
I was impressed with the program coordinators’ efforts to put together a schedule with such high-profile individuals as well as the generosity of these professionals to spend the time with us. I think it was beneficial to gain exposure to not only European public accounting firms, but also standards offices and industry professionals alike. We all benefited from learning from their knowledge and experience. It’s not often you get to casually network with such high-level executives, and I was happy to see the students have that opportunity.

What was it like to meet these high-powered people?
I found that although they were highly accomplished professionals, they were more than willing to take the time to share their knowledge with the students and showed a lot of interest in ensuring we had a positive experience during the duration of our program. It was refreshing to see that individuals who hold such high-profile positions can also be down to earth. One of the statements that stood out to me was from the CFO of Aegon, an international insurance company. When discussing his career path, he emphasized the importance of finding a mentor early on in your career and the importance of social and communication skills; I was impressed by his modesty, and found it sound advice for the students.

What kind of value do you think the MAcc students got from the trip?
I think the MAcc students, as well as myself benefited from all aspects of the trip. Daily activities included classroom lecture, foreign language and cultural exposure, professional and technical accounting discussions, and fun social experiences. I thought the program did a great job to challenge the students by requiring them to present speeches on case studies, conduct debates, and interact with high-level professionals. The trip also offered students the opportunity to become familiar with European business culture and just have a good time, relax and enjoy themselves.

What kind of value would you have gotten from a trip similar to this one, if it had been offered while you were an undergraduate at the Lundquist College of Business?
I would have loved the opportunity to gain an international perspective. I think experiences abroad greatly enhance your personal development and it’s for that reason I decided to study abroad during college although it was difficult to schedule a term to do so given the rigorous curriculum of the accounting major. I am happy that the MAcc students are now able to have the opportunity to have such an experience as an integral part of the program as this will allow them to gain confidence in their ability to succeed in the global business world while increasing their knowledge about the accounting profession.

What do you think of the current group of MAcc students?
I was extremely impressed by the high caliber of the MAcc students who attended the program. They were professional, intelligent, and outgoing which made the program that much more enjoyable for me. I was constantly impressed with their ability to do complete difficult assignments, ask thoughtful questions and interact with accomplished professionals with ease.

Was this your first time in Europe?
It was my second time traveling to Europe as I studied abroad in the Netherlands during my time at the U of O. It was great to be back in Europe and see aspects of the Netherlands that I didn’t have exposure to during my first trip abroad. I think going to Europe is always an amazing opportunity to gain a different perspective and learn about history and other cultures. I was grateful to have that opportunity again.

What did you find was most different about being in The Netherlands?
The most difficult aspect of being in The Netherlands was the language barrier as the Dutch language can be difficult to learn. Other than that the landscape has a lot of history, so you’ll see cobblestone roads, unique shops, and narrow homes which line the streets side-by-side and not very many tall buildings like you’d see in major cities in the States.

What was the most unusual food you ate?
The Dutch only have a few notable items which are unique to their cuisine but one thing that repeatedly came up were croquettes, which are breaded and deep-fried ground meat, mashed potatoes, cheese, and vegetables. My favorite part about food in the Netherlands though is the dairy products – no one does dairy better than the Dutch. I brought home cheese from a gift shop for all of my family.

What was the most memorable fun or cultural event for you?
It may have been partly because it was nostalgic for me given I’d been there before, but I greatly enjoyed the walking dinner tour of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a very lively city. With its historical buildings and lights which reflect off of the water in the canals which line most every street, it is especially beautiful at night. Our guides gave us a highly informative tour about the history of the city, and treated us to some very nice places which had a lot of character. Everyone had a great time, and as it is a uniquely vibrant city with visitors from all over the globe it was a memorable cultural experience.

Written by grimstad@uoregon.edu

Senior Honors Business Student