Kazuki Yamashita, on target to receive a master’s degree in accounting and a graduate certificate in accounting data analytics in May 2027, recently accepted an internship with PwC, globally considered one of “the Big 4” among accounting and auditing firms. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)
The first time Kazuki Yamashita came to the University of Missouri–St. Louis, it was somewhat by chance as an exchange student from his native Japan. But Yamashita’s return to UMSL to continue his studies was definitely by choice, and he couldn’t be happier with the decision.
Currently working toward a master’s degree in accounting and a graduate certificate in accounting data analytics, Yamashita recently accepted an internship with PwC, globally considered one of “the Big 4” among accounting and auditing firms.
On target to graduate in May 2027, Yamashita will start June 8 and spend about two months in the company’s Chicago office as a Tax Japanese Business Network Intern, doing tax research and assisting multinational clients with tax compliance and cross-border advisory. Yamashita said had he been attending a different school, he isn’t sure that this opportunity would have come his way.
“Without UMSL’s support, it definitely would have been much harder,” he said.
That Yamashita was ever at UMSL in the first place was a little bit luck of the draw.
While working toward his undergraduate degree in economics at Toyo University in Tokyo, Japan, Yamashita decided to spend his junior year as an exchange student in the United States. Yamashita said that his mother had lived in the U.S. for three or four years while she was in elementary school, which sparked Yamashita’s curiosity and spurred a desire to experience life on the other side of the world.
“Since I was young, she let me interact with or get to know different cultures,” Yamashita said. “And since she was in the U.S., I wanted to study in the U.S.”
UMSL happened to be on the list of universities with which Toyo had a partnership, but Yamashita didn’t dive too deeply into learning about it.
“I thought the city looked cool, and that’s the reason I ended up here the first time,” said Yamashita, who initially attended UMSL from August 2022 until May 2023.
But UMSL certainly made an impression on Yamashita, and before he had even earned his undergraduate degree from Toyo, he knew exactly where to go for his master’s, returning to UMSL in August 2024.
“When I was here as an exchange student, the academics were very hard, mainly because my English was not too good, and it was hard to catch up,” the 24-year-old said. “But all the faculty members, they were great. They were very supportive, and I thought this place has a lot of support for their students, and that’s one of the main reasons why I came back here.”
That support was on full display while Yamashita worked on getting his internship. He first became aware of the opportunity with PwC last September, when he heard of an annual event called the Boston Career Forum. Billed as the “world’s largest job fair for Japanese-English bilinguals,” the three-day event, which was held Nov. 21-23, offered attendees the possibility for everything from internships to full-time positions, with nearly 200 companies represented, including PwC.
Yamashita made arrangements to be in Boston for the event the weekend before Thanksgiving, but getting there was the easy part. In order to make the best possible impression, Yamashita said he knew he would have to be prepared. Fortunately, being prepared is one of Yamashita’s many strengths.
“That’s just who he is,” said Colleen Mpofu, an assistant teaching professor of accounting in the Ed G. Smith College of Business.
Among the first courses Yamashita took as a grad student were Principles of Accounting and Cost Accounting, both taught by Mpofu, who said she learned very quickly that Yamashita was always ready for class, and more importantly, ready to learn.
As he continued working toward his master’s, Yamashita began to serve as a graduate assistant to Mpofu in those same classes. She saw more of not only Yamashita’s eagerness to learn, but also his desire to help others and willingness to speak up and offer suggestions. Like the time Yamashita took it upon himself to set up a final exam study session because he thought the students could use the extra assistance. Or the handful of simple changes Mpofu ended up implementing at his suggestion.
“He just has this drive, this initiative to do everything he needs to do,” Mpofu said. “Typically with the grad assistants, they’re kind of off on their own, doing their thing. But with Kazuki, I know he’s doing the work and he’s going to do more besides what he’s called to do. He’s just always ready, he’s always prepared.”
Yamashita took full advantage of UMSL’s services to make sure he would be prepared for his meeting with the PwC representatives at the event in Boston, as well as the interview that took place two weeks later. He had multiple mock interviews with Tyler VonJensen, business student professional success coordinator in the College of Business, and several preparatory discussions with Emily Rapko McEneny, associate director of Career Services.
UMSL’s Accounting Club – for which Yamashita is an administrative officer – provided many opportunities for one-on-one conversations with accounting professionals. Yamashita said that gave him valuable practice on how he should interact with them. Yamashita also spoke glowingly of the vital assistance he received from many faculty members, including Associate Teaching Professor Marcia Countryman, advisor to the Accounting Club; Assistant Professor Paul Ordyna, a former PwC employee who offered insider tips; and Curator’s Distinguished Professor Steve Moehrle, who will serve as Yamashita’s faculty advisor for the internship course.
“It was a long journey, and I’m so grateful for every faculty member,” Yamashita said.
Yamashita is a great representative of the College of Business.
“Kazuki is doing a really excellent job, and he’s going to go far,” said Dean Shu Schiller, who got to know Yamashita as a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board. “And you can see very clearly there is a strong support system behind him. Our people always come together to help our students, whether that’s the faculty or staff. We support our students in the classrooms in their academic domain, and outside the classroom with their professional success. Behind each successful story of a student are so many hands and minds coming together to help them.”
