Kerkering, Barberio & Co., Certified Public Accountants, has established a five-year gift to the University of South Florida Muma College of Business that will encompass multiple components in the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy, including scholarships to students. The announcement was made Nov. 7 during the 27th Brunch on the Bay at the university’s Sarasota-Manatee campus.
As part of this gift, Kerkering Barberio will provide annual scholarship funds to accounting majors each fall, extending opportunities for KB scholars to take advantage of internships with the firm. Kerkering Barberio has three offices throughout Tampa Bay and has been recognized as a 2021 Accounting Today Best Firm to Work For by Accounting Today and has been honored annually since 2015 as a Best Firm for Equity Leadership by the Accounting MOVE Project that highlights top accounting firms for women.
“Our roots run deep with USF and we couldn’t be more excited to establish this important partnership,” explained Rob Lane, KB’s managing shareholder. “More than a third of our team is proud USF Bulls, and we’ve supported the Muma College of Business for many years through our internship program and scholarships, so this is a natural fit for us that will help grow the next generation of accountants in our community.”
The Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy is one of six schools in the USF Muma College of Business and has a long history of strong CPA pass rates. The school is known for excellence in teaching. Its undergraduate and graduate programs have been ranked in the top 50 in the United States by Public Accounting Report. In the 2020 Brigham Young University accounting research rankings, the school is ranked No. 3 in the nation in accounting information systems research and No. 17 in audit research.
“We’re thrilled to enter this relationship with such a strong locally-owned CPA firm as Kerkering Barberio,” said Mark Taylor, Director of the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy who also holds the Dan and Tina Johnson Endowed Directorship in Accountancy. “Accountancy is much more about relationships than it is about financial statements and giving the opportunity for our students and faculty to connect with KB in meaningful ways through this gift and support will be mutually beneficial for years to come.”