UH Hilo accounting program has exciting news: Scholarship awarded, upcoming international conferences, workforce development
Associate Professor of Accounting Andrey Simonov shares big news!
By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.
As the fall semester launches at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, exciting things are happening at the business college. In the spotlight is the College of Business and Economics accounting program.
Andrey Simonov, associate professor of accounting, shares big news about the awarding of a prestigious scholarship, two international accounting conferences coming to Hilo, and the importance of internships in workforce development.
Accounting student receives prestigious national scholarship
Noah Nakaoka, an accounting major and a member of the Vulcan baseball team, recently received a $15K scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a national nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies. The PCAOB Scholars Program seeks to benefit students who are likely to become auditors.
“This is the third year in a row that one of our students has received this prestigious national accounting award, which includes a $15,000 stipend,” says Simonov.
- UH Hilo accounting major Mavrick Faust receives $15K scholarship from national auditing organization (UH Hilo Stories, Sept. 26, 2025)
- UH Hilo business student Martha Aten receives prestigious $15K accounting scholarship (UH Hilo Stories, July 2, 2024)
Workforce development through local internships
Most UH Hilo accounting students complete internships before they graduate. As CoBE’s internship coordinator, Simonov works with students and employers to support internship placements, oversees the academic internship requirements, and helps maintain relationships with local organizations.
Simonov says students gain practical experience with local businesses and organizations, and some receive job offers from their internship sites.
This type of job networking is important in regards to workforce development, notes Simonov, because the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects continued demand for accountants and auditors (see U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). And the Hawaiʻi State Legislature has recognized the growing need for certified public accountants in the state while fewer accounting students are pursuing CPA licenses (see 2025 report from Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce).
Further, says Simonov, “with the continuing need for accountants in Hawaiʻi, internships also strengthen the program’s relationships.”
Here are several examples of recent accounting internships, all but one with local certified public accountant firms:
- Jared Hill: Ron Dolan & Associates, Inc.
- Jared Mobley-Hall: Accuity LLP
- Alan Murphy: Taketa, Iwata, Hara & Associates, LLC
- Alexis Popa: Egdamin, Hu CPA
- Gerald Santiago: Verity CPAs
- Sean Serville: HFS Federal Credit Union
Two international accounting conferences coming to Hawaiʻi Island; faculty encouraged to participate, discover opportunities for future research and collaboration
Students and faculty will be involved in two major international accounting conferences this academic year.
In November, the 35th Asian-Pacific Conference on International Accounting Issues will take place in Waikoloa.
“UH Hilo is sponsoring the conference and I am serving on the organizing committee,” says Simonov. “Our accounting students will help with the event. We expect around 100 researchers from about 20 countries.”
From January 2–5, 2027, UH Hilo and UH Mānoa will co-host the Hawaiʻi Accounting Research Conference. Simonov will be co-chairing this conference.
“We expect about 400 accounting researchers and faculty members from leading universities to come to the UH Hilo campus,” he says. “Our students will help with the event and have a chance to meet people from around the world who work and conduct research in accounting.”
UH Hilo last co-hosted this conference six years ago; it provided a great experience for students, faculty and the campus community.
“We are excited to help bring these two international accounting conferences to Hawaii Island,” says Simonov. “They will give our students an opportunity to meet scholars from around the world and learn more about current issues in accounting.”
Simonov hopes faculty from other UH Hilo departments will consider participating.
“Topics such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, data analysis, ethics, and decision-making cross disciplinary boundaries, so the conferences may create opportunities for future research and collaboration.”
Conferences are also a great way for more people to learn about UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Island.
“They may lead to future opportunities for collaboration, student exchange, and recruitment,” Simonov says.
Story by Susan Enright, public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
