Yash Patel (center) and his fellow Beta Alpha Psi members [Photo courtesy of Yash Patel]
By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
Linguists might say that Yash Patel speaks four languages – English, Hindi, Gujarati and American Sign Language. But Patel believes a fifth should be added to the list: accounting.
“Accounting is the language of business,” Patel said. “If you want to do business, you need to know that language, or work with someone who does.”
The Clearwater resident graduates this summer with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of South Florida.
It’s a journey that began nearly a decade ago when he first recognized the importance of understanding accounting.
Patel’s grandmother owns the Diana Motel in Clearwater. In 2015, struggling to make sense of her tax forms, she turned to Patel for help.
“I didn’t understand it either,” he recalled. “My family owns a business, so I figured maybe I should learn about accounting.”
He went on to earn an associate degree in accounting from St. Petersburg College, while applying his classroom knowledge to launch a business.
Yash Patel and his mother at his high school graduation [Photo courtesy of Yash Patel]
“I knew I wanted to go to USF, so I needed a way to pay for living and boarding expenses and afford a car without depending on my parents,” he said. “Using a small business loan, I came up with the idea of buying used vending machines.”
Patel purchased five, placing two in a private school and the remaining three in motels, one of which was owned by his family. After his first year at USF, he sold the business.
“I didn’t have the time,” he said. “I was too involved in Beta Alpha Psi.”
Patel credits the USF chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international honor and service organization for financial information students and professionals, with helping him secure internships.
“Funny story,” he said. “When I first transferred to USF in 2023, I showed up to the very first career fair in jeans and sneakers. I am the first in my family to graduate high school, so I didn’t know any better. The accounting firms were not talking to me. They were ignoring me because I looked so unprofessional.”
Soon after, Patel joined Beta Alpha Psi, where members educated him on professional presentation.
“They taught me how to dress up, what my resume should be like and how to present myself,” he said.
Applying these lessons, he landed accounting internships with the firms Cherry Bekaert and then Deloitte. He also went on to serve as treasurer and then president of Beta Alpha Psi.
USF's Beta Alpha Psi [Photo courtesy of Yash Patel]
Patel will remain at USF to complete his Master of Science degree in accounting and take the Certified Public Accountant exam. Afterward, he plans to work in public accounting.
“It’s a great experience,” he said. “You get to look at a lot of industries and then pick which one you want to specialize in. Maybe do that for five years and then look into a controller position or a CFO.”
Meanwhile, Patel continues to advise his grandmother and is also tutoring his mother so she can eventually take on that role.
“She’s learning the basics of accounting,” he said. “She’s learning that language.”