Student testimonials

Derrick Dankwah – Master’s in Accounting testimonial

Getting a Master’s to Help His Career Take Off

Derrick Dankwah, Assistant Controller, AvtechTyee

After completing his bachelor’s degree in accounting at Central Washington University, Derrick Dankwah faced a key career decision: earn the credits needed to sit for a professional accounting exam or pursue a master’s degree?

“Accounting is a field where a bachelor’s degree will only get you so far,” says Derrick, who is originally from Ghana. “You either need some sort of certification or extra schooling.”

He was debating between preparing for the certified management accountant (CMA) exam or taking his certified public accounting (CPA) test — but then he considered the bigger picture.

“I decided that earning a master’s degree was a good way to bridge the gap for me,” Derrick says. “I knew that when I graduated, I’d have a master’s in accounting, which is crucial to advance your career. Also, at that point I’d have the credits to sit for a professional exam if I wanted to. So that was a great selling point for me.”

Derrick decided to enroll in the UW Bothell Master of Science in Accounting program. Here the 2024 graduate discusses why he chose UW Bothell and how what he learned in the program has helped him in his career in the aerospace industry.

Tell me about your current job?

I’m the assistant controller for AvtechTyee, which is a local aerospace manufacturing company. We make the audio systems that pilots use to communicate and other hardware, such as the rods that hold the engine on the aircraft so it doesn’t fall off.

What does an assistant controller do?

As an assistant controller, I’m responsible for ensuring that our accounting records are accurate;  most of my work centers around data analysis. Accounting is about using financial data to tell the financial story of a company and my role is exactly that: I turn the raw data into usable information for the decision-makers.

Also, because our company is publicly traded, we regularly go through multiple rounds of audits. My job is to coordinate with the auditors to ensure things run smoothly. I also do trend analysis, lead the budgeting process and prepare forecasts.

Were you able to apply what you learned in your master’s program directly to your job?

Yes. I thought the cost accounting class taught by Kara Wells was very informative. When I took my current job, I discovered it was heavy on cost accounting work — particularly standard cost, which I hadn’t done a lot of before. So, the course came at the perfect time. I got so much out of that class that I could immediately turn around and plug into my current role. I found that’s one of the main benefits of earning a master’s while you’re working: almost every single class has something that you can take and apply to your job, in my experience.

What appealed to you about the UW Bothell master’s program?

I looked at other programs, but many of them would have been online. I find that my learning goes further if I have face-to-face interaction with my teachers, and where I can build relationships with my fellow students. So, the UWB program was really attractive to me in that regard.

Also, the fact that the University of Washington is nationally recognized was important too. If I apply for a job and all the candidates have a master’s degree, the fact that my degree is from UW becomes a big differentiator. The job market is really competitive, and this gives me an edge; having a UW degree is a big deal.

How did the course schedule fit with your busy life?

I liked that the program’s schedule is very flexible, where you have some evening classes and some weekend classes, so it wasn’t such a disruption to my day-to-day life. I was already a working professional when I entered the program, and I have a wife and a 9-year-old child, so I decided to do it part-time over two years. It was very important to have that balance, where it didn’t disrupt my work or home life, and it worked out very well.

How did the course schedule fit with your busy life?

I liked that the program’s schedule is very flexible, where you have some evening classes and some weekend classes, so it wasn’t such a disruption to my day-to-day life. I was already a working professional when I entered the program, and I have a wife and a 9-year-old child, so I decided to do it part-time over two years. It was very important to have that balance, where it didn’t disrupt my work or home life, and it worked out very well.

Was there anything else that stood out to you about the program?

I also really liked the fact that they give you the option of taking MBA courses at UW Bothell. I supervise a group of seven people right now, and I was able to take MBA courses involving human resources and team management. I learned about succession planning and team development. You won’t get that at a typical master’s of accounting program, but UWB gives you the ability to tap into that diverse knowledge as well.

What’s next for your career?

I really enjoy working for my current company; they have offices spread across the globe. So, the next step for me would be to sit for the CPA exam. I decided to take that exam because it’s better known in the United States than the CMA; it gives you a competitive edge in the job market. Along with having the master’s degree and my work experience, I think that will give me the broadest career possibilities.

–Interview by David Hirning, June 2024