Steven Fisher Uses His Point Park University Degrees to Go Above and Beyond in Accounting as a PICPA Young Leader Alumni Profile

How did Point Park University’s programs help prepare you for your career? 

During my undergrad programs at Point Park, I took business and accounting courses focused on my chosen field of accounting after completing my general courses at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC). Professors Amy Cesario, Jayne Olshanski, Cheryl Clark, Margaret Gilfillan and Rick Niesh taught one-on-one lectures and training that prepared me for real-world situations. Whether it was drafting financial statements with intermediate or advanced reporting footnotes, using accounting applications like Intuit QuickBooks or learning techniques to identify rulings and codifications for audits and tax returns, the classes at Point Park prepared me for what I would ultimately do in my career at Louis Plung and Company (LPC).

Beyond my undergraduate accounting classes, the business analytics MBA program further strengthened my skills by teaching me to use data visualization software such as Tableau and SAS Viya to tell stories with data. Professors Mark Voortman, Jeff Seaman and Patrick Maher shared their experiences in data programming and how they tell different stories in accounting, marketing, sales, sciences and more. Their experiences with how data analytics and computing are shaping our digital worlds are also vital. Even in my current position, AI and other computing software help pick out details that are crucial to report to government entities.

Tell us more about your current role and responsibilities. What does a 'day in the job' look like?

As a tax accountant at LPC, my days can consist of preparing tax returns with federal and state agencies (i.e., Individuals, businesses, non-profits, retirement plans, gift returns, etc.) in our data implementation software, communicating with clients over multiple channels to relay their tax reporting needs, preparing financial reporting statements at the tax basis level in our data collection software and collaborating with other staff and managing members to report complex tax issues that are new to the current year. There is never a moment of silence or slow day at LPC’s office.

This year, you received one of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants' (PICPA) Young Leaders Awards. Can you share what that award means to you and what opportunities it opens?

In May 2026, I was honored to join 30 other accountants and CPAs in PA in receiving the PICPA Young Leaders Award. The award recognizes PA residents under 40 who show an above-and-beyond commitment to the accounting profession through PICPA or community service. From my perspective, this award allows me to share my skills as a public accountant with others, new and experienced, in the industry and help those who need that extra push to meet expectations and trends around the world.

In addition, I serve as treasurer for the Pittsburgh-area nonprofit Evolve Coaching, which serves young adults on the autism spectrum through college success coaching and arts programming. At the convention in Bedford, Pa., I attended multiple panel discussions, public speeches and ceremonies that announced major innovations in AI for accounting, state-level tax changes and programs to better prepare future accountants for the CPA exam and jobs in the digital age. Through it all, I made plenty of new connections and walked away with the tools I need to help educate future accountants like me to shape the world tomorrow.

We last covered your journey when you interned at P4W. For students on a similar path, how important was that internship to your career success?

As an undergrad in Partner4Work’s internship program in the summers of 2020 and 2021, I jumped around in public accounting with two firms, one of them LPC. I learned so much about nonprofits at P4W that I ultimately became LPC’s first in-house contact for public and private foundation tax reporting.

My day-to-day work with nonprofits includes researching new tax laws and reporting them for clients, communicating with clients about estimated payments, distributing charitable contributions for tax compliance and working with my team of preparers to file tax returns with the IRS and other state agencies. For students who may be working with a specific internship they are passionate about, I say follow that passion as long as it is reachable and realistic for your goals. If it was successful and sustainable in my career, others should be able to follow similar goals in their career paths.

What is the experience like moving from the classroom to a career? What advice would you give to current students following your path?

Working at my firm after graduating from Point Park’s program was a new life experience. You learn so much beyond what our professors teach in the classroom. Beyond simple accounting functions and programming, I research and apply tax accounting policies that help our clients report their income taxes while saving them money for life’s most important moments. You learn so much about other people and the businesses they incorporate to serve local communities and beyond, and then tell their stories to agencies that need to give back. 

As an alumni looking back at students following the same path, I recommend starting early and to never stop studying for the CPA exam. Students who invest in their careers sooner will see bigger results in the future. 

Why should students be interested in pursuing a degree in accounting?

While many students in other majors worry that AI and other technological advances will make their careers less sustainable in the long run, the accounting industry still requires human judgment alongside these tools to keep up with the supply and demand of growing businesses. Although AI has made breakthroughs in handling mundane tasks accountants used to do, such as data entry, most CPAs have shifted into consultant roles, spending more time building relationships with clients up front and guiding their next steps toward a financially sound future. Building these connections with people and businesses on the front lines, while letting AI and other accountants work side by side to analyze these changes, helps shape the future for accountants and their clients.

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