Ledgers and Lessons: The Making of a Future CPA
August 14, 2025
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
MOUNT OLIVE, NC – For University of Mount Olive (UMO) senior Joao Barboza Filho, the path to a future in accounting has been anything but conventional. Originally from Brazil, Barboza moved to the United States at the age of 16 without knowing a word of English. Today, he’s not only fluent in the language, but also thriving as an accounting major with a finance minor. He is currently completing a prestigious internship at RSM, one of the nation’s top accounting firms.
Now entering his senior year, Barboza reflects on the journey that brought him here. “Learning English was one of my biggest wins,” he shared. “And as someone who’s introverted, I’ve had to push myself to grow socially, too.”
Barboza credits much of his personal development to his older sister, who is also an accountant and has served as a role model and mentor. “She’s helped me not just with the profession, but with personal growth and advice,” he said.
His passion for accounting was sparked during a family dinner when his aunt, also an accountant, began describing her work. Intrigued, Barboza started researching the field. “The more I learned, the more I liked it,” he said. That interest soon became a calling and a major.
The University of Mount Olive became Barboza’s academic home not only for its business program, but also because it allowed him to pursue another passion. “UMO gave me the chance to play soccer and be close to my home in Wilmington,” he said. “I’ve built great friendships, enjoyed my classes, and had professors who make the journey special and meaningful.”
One of those professors is Waylon Woodall, who Barboza cites as a major influence. “I admire the way he teaches and the kind of person he is,” Barboza said. “He’s always willing to help students grow and prepare for the real world.”
Barboza’s academic training and personal drive helped him land a competitive internship at RSM in Raleigh, NC. “I applied through LinkedIn and was especially interested because my sister was also interning there,” he said. After several interviews and learning more about the firm’s culture, he knew it was the right fit.
His experience at RSM has exceeded expectations. “Everyone is incredibly supportive and willing to help,” he said. “I thought it would be very formal, but people actually take the time to teach you.” He describes a typical day that begins at 6:30 AM, filled with hands-on tasks such as preparing tax returns, collaborating with team members, and meeting weekly with a professional advisor for feedback and growth.
One of Barboza’s mentors this summer has been Kara Hunt, a Senior Associate at RSM. She said, “Joao has been a great intern. He’s contributed to several projects and consistently produced high-quality work. He picked up new software and technical skills quickly, and he’s shown strong communication abilities. He’s easy to work with, takes feedback well, and has truly been a pleasure to have on our team.”
One highlight of the internship was the “Bottom Line” activity, in which interns acted as partners for a day, analyzing potential clients and presenting to real RSM partners. “It gave me a deeper understanding of strategic thinking and how leaders approach client relationships,” he explained.
Barboza has discovered that attention to detail, time management, and teamwork are just as critical as technical knowledge. “I’ve learned that I’m more capable and adaptable than I thought,” he said. “The Excel course at UMO turned out to be one of the most valuable. Almost everything I do at RSM involves Excel.”
Expected to graduate in May 2026, Barboza has big plans. He intends to pursue a master’s degree, while simultaneously studying for and completing all four parts of the CPA exam. “My goal is to be fully prepared before starting a full-time position,” he said. That goal is now even more exciting as RSM has offered Barboza a full-time position starting in 2027 after he completes his master’s degree.
Five to ten years from now, Barboza hopes to still be at RSM, working in areas like international tax or financial services. “I want to keep learning and challenging myself. If I can build a career I enjoy and continue to grow at a firm like RSM, that’s exactly where I want to be.”
For other students considering a similar path, Barboza offers this advice: “Stay curious and never be afraid to ask questions. Use your resources, real-world experience makes all the difference.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
