Auron Moore: More to Accounting
Coming into college, I was just as indecisive as any other freshman, if not more. I was an undeclared major with too many interests and withdrew from two courses in my first year. I hopped around majors from Criminology to Mathematics and then finally settled on Accounting. I slowly learned that I have a passion for mathematics and wanted to be able to incorporate it into my daily life after graduation. Once I finally settled on Accounting, I was behind in classes and needed to get some work experience, so I reached out to a local firm and was able to earn a spot as an intern with them for three semesters.
When I started, I expected a quiet cubicle job with paperwork, spreadsheets, and tax returns. And for a while, that was my truth. I spent my days after class preparing returns, building Excel files, and handling routine accounting tasks. It was valuable to apply what I had learned in school and to have professionals nearby to answer questions. But I soon realized that technical work is only part of what defines an accountant.
Within two weeks at Manley Garvin, I discovered the job was not just about completing assignments. At the start of my internship, I was focused on learning the firm’s workflow and doing tasks correctly, but toward the end, I began receiving varied assignments and interacting more with the team. That was when I learned how essential communication is, not just doing the work but talking with colleagues and clients clearly and consistently.
Fitting into this open and friendly culture was challenging at first. Being new and inexperienced made it difficult to join conversations. So, I practiced: using professional language, asking questions, and engaging with accountants I did not normally work with. By implementing these into my daily routine, I became more comfortable and started to feel like part of the Manley Garvin family. The office was starting to feel full of life inside its four walls and LED lights, and eventually, I found my place in it.
After interning at Manley Garvin for a semester, I primarily worked with three different accountants: Josh, Bonnie, and Jim. This was mostly due to the type of work I was trusted to handle during tax season and the tasks I was originally brought in to complete. After a while, tax returns and Excel projects became limited; to keep me busy, Josh and another Senior Accountant, Anthony, invited me to help with a new project. For this assignment, I was expected to coordinate directly with Anthony on any issues and, if new steps were needed, discuss them with him. Since this type of project was new to me, I often found myself in Anthony’s office learning what to do next and trying to absorb as much as I could.
At one point, Anthony and I were waiting for the computer to finish a process that was taking an annoyingly long time. To fill the silence, I started asking about his background and how he ended up in accounting. I learned that he was a Lander graduate and already had his CPA. When I asked if he planned on pursuing further education, specifically his MBA, he told me he was not interested. He felt comfortable in his career and wanted to spend time with his family.
It may sound cliché, but this conversation gave me an epiphany. Hearing him talk about his path made me think about what I enjoyed and helped me realize that not everything in life has to be as rigid or as clear as I expect it to be. I did not have to immediately jump into work after graduating with my undergraduate degree. I could pursue a Mathematics degree, earn an MBA, or go directly into the workforce. I realized that while I love planning for the future, I was so focused on what comes next that I was overlooking the opportunities right in front of me. However, my indecision has not left me; only time will tell where I go after graduation.
Ironically, about a month later, I learned that Anthony actually did have an MBA. My moment of clarity came from a miscommunication and from his own indifference to putting up his diploma, yet the lesson remains just as meaningful. I look forward to many more naïve revelations.
Auron Moore is a Business Major with an emphasis in Accounting from Aynor, South Carolina. He interned with the Manley Garvin accounting firm in Spring and Fall 2025. After graduating in May 2026, he plans to work and study in preparation for his CPA.