This UNI grad found a path at a major accounting firm immediately after graduation
This UNI grad found a path at a major accounting firm immediately after graduation
When many people think of accountants, they think of someone who does the same thing every day. But for Alexis (Hahn) Munsell, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Most days bring something new, whether that’s someone new to talk to within [Deloitte & Touche LLP] or at my client, something new to learn, something new to lead, something new to teach,” she said.
Now an audit and assurance senior in Des Moines at Big Four accounting firm Deloitte, Munsell has spent nearly four years building a dynamic and rewarding career. She credits UNI for helping her transition seamlessly into the professional world and be ready for business.
Munsell earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Master of Accounting through the Wilson College of Business at the University of Northern Iowa. As a student, she was active in the Accounting Club, where she regularly brushed shoulders with industry professionals from top accounting firms. Those connections proved important. During a club trip, she attended a networking event with Deloitte, where she was encouraged to apply for a busy season internship, an experience that ultimately led to a full-time offer.
“My transition from UNI to Deloitte was very smooth,” said Munsell. “What I learned in school has been very beneficial in my full-time job. Busy season can be challenging some days, but I often think back to my CPA review semester and think, ‘Well, at least I don’t have a big test at the end of these few months!’ Each semester at UNI taught me the value of hard work and discipline, how to manage priorities, and how to balance life amongst studies, and these are skills that I use each and every day.”
Munsell interned multiple times as a student, including not just one but two experiences at Big Four firms. This allowed her to explore different workplace environments and refine her career goals before graduation, allowing her to step into her first full-time role with confidence.
Today, her work reflects both the technical skills and collaborative mindset she developed in the accounting program at UNI.
“My days consist of collaborating with my team, working with data specialists to test journal entries, using one of the many new technologies that are available at my fingertips to assist me with the auditing task I am working through, meeting with clients, bonding with my team, contributing to the learning and development of my staff and interns, and ultimately, working to get the audit done,” she explained.
For Munsell, choosing UNI was a natural decision. Having grown up in Cedar Falls, she was already familiar with the university — but her path wasn’t always set on accounting.
“Once I realized music education wasn’t the right fit for me, I walked across the street to the business building, took my first accounting class and absolutely fell in love with it.”
That moment of discovery — and the support and opportunities that followed — set the foundation for a successful career right out of college. Munsell’s story is an example of how UNI equips students with the knowledge, experience and connections needed to thrive from day one.
