Have Questions? We have answers.
Contact UsCareer Blueprint – Explore Accounting Career Paths
Event recap in case you missed it!
August 28, 2026
What can you do with an accounting degree? The better question might be: What can’t you do with an accounting degree?
With career opportunities spanning public accounting, industry, government, nonprofit organizations, fraud and forensic accounting, and even entrepreneurship, one of the first steps for students is simply learning about the many paths available to them. And who better to share those possibilities than our own alumni and local accounting professionals?
Last week, we kicked off our Fall 2026 virtual event series with “Career Blueprint – Explore Accounting Career Paths.” Moderated by Senior Lecturer Sheri Betzer, the panel featured four accounting professionals who shared insights into their career journeys, current roles, and advice for students exploring the profession. Together, these speakers demonstrated how an accounting degree can open doors to a wide variety of rewarding and impactful careers.
Check out the speaker portion of the event below:
The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of MSU Denver.
Speaker Prolfiles
Sheri Betzer, CPA, CFE | Senior Lecturer at MSU Denver
Sheri Betzer is an accredited CFE from Denver, CO. Since receiving her B.S. in Accounting from Colorado Mesa University, Ms. Betzer has become one of the foremost experts in fraud and forensic accounting. She regularly conducts continuing education courses for CPA’s and attorneys while maintaining her presence in a local CPA firm that specializes in litigation support and fraud investigations. Some of her former clients include the US Dept. of Justice, the Colorado Dept. of Revenue, and public defender offices throughout CO, AZ, and WY, just to name a few. Ms. Betzer is a full-time faculty member at MSU Denver and currently teaches courses related to fraud investigations, forensic accounting and Ethics in the MPAcc program.
David La Veau, CGFM | Staff Accountant, Audit Liaison Officer, Program Audit Coordination Branch at U.S. Department of the Interior
I started working with the Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in June of 2002 – as a member of the inaugural class of DOI’s Financial Management Career Internship program. Throughout my tenure I’ve supported the US FWS’s: CFO Act, Real Property & Storm Damage related reporting, Charge Card program oversight, Office of Management and Budget’s Circular A-123 (Internal Controls), Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) standards – SFFAS 47 (Reporting Entity and Disclosure), SFFAS 49 (Public Private Partnerships), SFFAS 54 (Leases), and SFFAS 59 (Land) – amongst other assignment. More recently, I’ve been reassigned to DOI’s Office of Financial Management, within the Audit and Internal Control Division, to assist with monitoring and supporting remediation efforts being directed towards our program audit (performed by both the Interior Office of Inspector General (OIG) & the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)) and annual CFO Act independent audit findings.
Jackie Mai, CPA, MPAcc | Tax Senior Manager at Plante Moran
I am a Tax Senior Manager with more than 10 years at Plante Moran’s Denver office, specializing in tax compliance and planning for high net worth individuals, families, and their businesses. My work includes income tax, multi-state and international tax matters, and estate and gift tax planning. I strive to be a trusted advisor, helping clients navigate an ever-changing tax landscape while identifying opportunities to preserve and transfer wealth efficiently. Originally from Vietnam, I am fluent in English and Vietnamese and enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors with my husband and four children.
Becky Sheppard, CPA, CFE, MPAcc | Owner at AccountAbility, Inc; Partner at Sheppard & Hathcock, PC; Partner at Betzer, Call, Lausten & Schwartz; Affiliate faculty at MSU Denver
Becky is a 2020 graduate from the MPAcc program with Metro State. She has been in the accounting world for 30+ years and has worked in a variety of roles including bookkeeping, tax, and forensics. Becky is currently working on her Master of Taxation through the University of Cincinnati and teaches Principles I of Accounting at Metro State.
Peter Ulrich, CIA, CISA, SAFe LPM, MPAcc | SOC Compliance Manager at Rowan Digital Infrastructure
IT audit leader and risk strategist with extensive experience in internal auditing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, compliance, project management, and IT general controls. I specialize in optimizing processes, enhancing cyber resiliency, and driving operational efficiency. With deep expertise in NIST, SOC, SOX, ISO, ITIL, PCI-DSS, and ESG frameworks. I have worked in multiple industries including government, hospitality, financial services, construction, data center operations, and professional accounting. I graduated from MSU with a bachelors and masters in accounting, but had a different career path as I started with a CPA in mind.
This fall, our 3-part virtual event series, “Accounting Career Toolkit,” is designed to help students explore career opportunities, navigate the interview process, and build the professional skills needed for long-term success. Through insights from experienced accounting professionals in our Accounting Roadrunner Community, attendees will gain practical advice to confidently move from student to professional. RSVP to join us in the next session in this virtual event series:
- Interview Toolkit – Prepare, Present, and Stand Out – September 4th noon MT
Check out the slate of upcoming Fall ‘26 events we’ve got lined up here!