VITA – A way to introduce the accounting profession to high school students

By Ian Chang, Annette Hoelzer, Tracie Miller

Franklin University, located in Columbus, established its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in 2013, with the goal of providing accounting and finance majors with experiential and service-learning opportunities through preparing tax returns at no charge for those in need in the Central Ohio community.

Over the past 10 years, Franklin’s VITA program has grown into a strong program with 27 volunteers serving 415 clients in 2024.

During my eighth-grade year, I volunteered through Franklin University’s VITA program. On the first day of training, I pored over the handbook and became engrossed with the plethora of guidelines that made up tax returns. For the past three tax seasons, I was actively involved in the VITA program as a greeter in the first two years and I became an intake specialist in my third year. In completing the IRS training and helping clients, I developed basic tax knowledge such as knowing the different filing statuses, types of income, expenses, retirement accounts, and deductions. The work with clients taught me how to explain complicated terms and documents in such a way that each client from every walk of life understands, including the elders, refugees, international students, and people with limited English or education who struggle with their tax documents.

The VITA program is where I first discovered my passion for the accounting profession. Through volunteering in the VITA program, I also learned that accounting extends beyond just working with numbers; it involves engaging with various clients, understanding their needs, and applying strong accounting knowledge to deliver high-quality service.

In my first year of volunteering as a greeter, interacting with clients was a challenge. I felt uncertain about how to start conversations with people I had never met before. However, I made a conscious effort to step out of my comfort zone, ensuring clients were warmly welcomed and had a positive tax preparation experience. By the end of my first tax season, I became much more confident in communicating with clients and was able to provide clear instructions on completing the intake forms.

As an intake specialist, my responsibility was to review clients’ intake forms and answer their questions to make sure all information and documents were ready for the tax preparers to prepare for the return. I also helped upload the tax documents to the system so that the preparers could prepare the returns. I played an important role in ensuring the entire process ran efficiently.

VITA introduced me to accounting and community service. This experience sparked my interest in studying accounting in college. This experience not only helped me but also my sister, Anna, who is currently a student at the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. Anna volunteered at VITA during her four years of high school. Before joining VITA, she had little understanding of accounting and never considered it as a potential college major. However, after four years of volunteering, she developed a keen interest in the field and ultimately chose to major in accounting. Anna's life is an example of how a bottom-up approach to relevant skills and exposure to community service at tender ages can shape the choice of academic and career life. Her dedication to her studies and the impact of VITA continue to inspire me in my own pursuit of a career in accounting. During her freshman summer, Anna secured a paid internship with an accounting firm in auditing, where she discovered the vast array of career opportunities and growth potential within the field. Reflecting on her experience, she feels grateful for her involvement in the VITA program, which opened the door to accounting - an avenue she may not have considered otherwise.

Many high schools require students to complete a certain number of service hours; for instance, my high school mandates at least 45 hours of volunteering outside the campus. Community service has also become a significant factor in college applications. However, despite the availability of multiple VITA sites in most cities, many high school students are unaware of the opportunity to volunteer with the VITA program. Additionally, there is often a lack of awareness among high school students about the accounting profession and its various career paths.

I believe that if high school students had the chance to volunteer at VITA programs in their cities, it would provide them with valuable insights into the accounting profession and encourage them to consider accounting as a major in college. I recommend that VITA program coordinators reach out to high school service boards to introduce these opportunities to students from the freshman year onward. Collaborating with high school counselors to promote the VITA program as a community service option would also be beneficial.

As high school students start participating in the VITA program, the coordinators can encourage current volunteers to start a VITA or accounting club at their high schools to further promote the volunteer opportunities and also invite accounting professionals to talk about the accounting profession and share their journeys. This approach would not only help students learn about accounting but also develop their interpersonal skills and potentially inspire them to pursue accounting as a future career.

Participating in the VITA program has been a transformative experience for me as a high school student. I have gained invaluable skills in communication, basic tax knowledge, and client interaction, which have deepened my understanding of the accounting profession. Volunteering has also fostered a passion for serving my community. I have witnessed firsthand how impactful this program can be, both for volunteers and the clients we assist.

I strongly encourage other students to consider volunteering with VITA. This experience offers a unique opportunity to learn about accounting while making a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need. By stepping outside of your comfort zone and engaging with diverse clients, you will not only gain practical skills but also enhance your personal growth and confidence.

For accounting professionals, I urge you to advocate for the VITA program within your networks and organizations. Consider reaching out to local high schools to promote these volunteer opportunities and inspire young students to volunteer at VITA. Your support can encourage the next generation of accountants to learn how great the profession is and get involved early. By investing in the future of the profession, we can help create a passionate workforce that will make a real difference on our communities.

Ian Chang is a junior at Columbus Academy High School in Columbus. Annette Hoelzer, MT, CPA, CFE is a lead faculty member in forensic accounting  and business forensics at Franklin University. Tracie Miller is the program chair, MS and BS Accounting at Franklin University.