Christina Huizar and Orlando Pastore earned their Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting from the School of Accountancy & MIS in 2008 and 2010 respectively. Today, Huizar is a senior manager at Deloitte, and Pastore is a senior financial analyst at Walgreens. Read on to learn more about their professional experiences and what tips they have to offer students and new alumni.
Christina Huizar (BUS ’08)
Orlando Pastore (BUS ’10)
What’s the most enjoyable or fulfilling aspect of your career?
Huizar: What’s most fulfilling to me is the opportunity to continuously develop myself and develop those around me. The fact that our industry is always evolving ensures that no day is ever like another. There’s always a new opportunity or challenge to be met, and that keeps things fresh and exciting. I also really enjoy the collaborative work environment; it creates opportunities for me and my team members to learn from one another.
Pastore: I have always thought of myself as a problem solver, so I enjoy the daily challenges I am tasked with and the process of developing solutions. I am also very proud to work for a company that plays such an important role in
How do data analytics and technology shape your work?
H: The use of data analytics and technology has automated many tasks that used to be manual in nature. Our work has become not only faster, but smarter. As a result, we’re able to be much more efficient and focus on areas that add the most value to our clients.
P: Over the past few years, I’ve seen a dramatic shift in the responsibilities of accountants. Technology has made it possible to reduce or completely automate tasks that used to require entire accounting teams. It’s made the role of the accountant evolve into an increasingly analytical role. Instead of spending countless hours performing journal entries and reconciliations, accountants are now spending more of their time finding ways to automate these manual processes and focus their attention on analytics and activities that create value for the organization.
What tips would you give to new alumni starting their accounting careers?
H: I find that our interns and first-years are hesitant to ask questions, maybe because they’re afraid they’ll be judged negatively, but in reality, hearing people ask questions is a sign that people are thinking through things and want to learn more. So, ask questions! Also, do whatever is in your power to get through the CPA exam before you start. Trust me.
P: I agree. Your managers will not expect you to understand everything on day one, so take the time to think through your questions and leverage your colleagues’ and managers’ experiences to get answers. I’d also recommend networking, building connections and getting involved immediately. Not only is this a great way to learn more about your team and your organization, it makes work more fun and enjoyable when you have a network of friends across the organization.
What skills should students work on during college?
H: Time management, leadership and collaboration skills, conflict management skills, effective communication (especially under difficult circumstances) and, last but not least, Excel skills.
P: It all starts with the basics, so develop a mastery of basic accounting and business skills. Invest in learning how to leverage technology to be as efficient and effective as possible. I can’t stress enough the importance of building relationships and networking. Take advantage of the DePaul network to continue to fine-tune your networking and relationship-building skills. This will prove invaluable as you progress in your professional career and will make it much more fulfilling and rewarding.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
H: When I’m not in the audit room, you would normally find me at a music festival, a sports stadium—I’m an avid Chicago sports enthusiast—or at the airport heading off to the next adventure. As you can imagine, these past few months have been especially difficult for me, but it has given me the opportunity to rekindle an old hobby of mine—puzzles!
P: Fitness and reading are two of my favorite hobbies and stress relievers. I also love spending time with my family. My wife and I have 5- and 2-year-old boys. With COVID-19 keeping us home, we have spent a lot of time playing sports and working on home improvement and landscaping projects, which has been really fun for us.