From classroom to clients: 'Berg young alum shares real-world accounting insights

Dreona Hughes ’22, MBA ’23 stepped back into a familiar setting when she returned to Heidelberg on Tuesday. But this time, she was in front of the class, visiting Professor Doug Woods’ Senior Seminar in Accounting course to provide a candid look at life as a senior auditor in financial services at Deloitte in Columbus.

Just two-and-a-half years into her career, Dreona has built a strong foundation, having interned with Deloitte and the State of Ohio Auditor’s Office before transitioning to full-time at Deloitte. She credited those early experiences with helping her navigate the uncertainty many students feel about their first permanent employment assignment.

“My senior year, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she told students. “The best way to figure that out is to get your foot in the door. Leverage your professors and counselors as resources.”

Dreona described a structured and supportive onboarding process at Deloitte, with training sessions held in Chicago, Cincinnati and Texas. New hires are introduced to company systems, terminology and workflows, setting them up for success. She emphasized the importance of mindset from day one: “Come in with a good attitude and ask great questions.”

Still, she was honest about the challenges of transitioning from college to a full-time career. “Work is very different from class,” she said. “The hours are definitely an adjustment.” During busy season, 55-hour work weeks are expected, with peak periods sometimes stretching to 70 or even 80 hours.

Despite the demands, Dreona reassured students that they are more prepared than they might think. “Heidelberg prepared me with a base knowledge and learning how to learn,” she said. “On the job, I just have to integrate that knowledge.”

She explained that new hires are supported through layered mentorship, including assigned coaches and onboarding advisors who serve as go-to resources, even for what might seem like small or simple questions.

Dreona also highlighted key differences between internships and full-time roles. While internships focus heavily on networking and developing soft skills – like building rapport and understanding workplace culture – full-time work shifts toward performance and professional interactions. With a laugh, she summed it up: “The biggest difference is less happy hours.”

Today, Dreona works on a team of six to eight colleagues, balancing time between client sites, the office and remote work. “It’s pretty flexible,” she noted, adding that the pace and expectations remain high.

Her advice to students preparing for careers in accounting or any field was consistent: embrace challenges and stay adaptable. “You’re intentionally put into situations that are hard, and you’ll be expected to grow from it,” she said. “It does get easier. You learn very fast.”

She also addressed the realities of preparing for the CPA exam while working full-time and, in some cases, pursuing graduate studies. “It can be a lot,” she acknowledged. “The key is just how you balance it.”

By sharing both the rewards and realities of her profession, Dreona gave students a clear-eyed view of what lies ahead along with the confidence in their preparation and capabilities.