A M.B.A. Helps A Dallas Auditor Keep The Lights On
George DeLaRosa is a business unit lead in the financial compliance dept. at Luminant Power, that is part of Energy Future Holding Corp. (EFH) formerly TXU Corp. He coordinates audits for security, change management and production controls.
In order to successfully complete account reconciliations, financial statements, risk assessments and update corporate policies and procedures, DeLaRosa needed a strong educational foundation. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from DeVry University and his master's in business administration from the University of Phoenix.
Originally hired at Aviall Services, a subsidiary of Boeing Co., as a compliance auditor. Aviall Services offered tuition reimbursement and DeLaRosa took advantage of the benefit. "I started out with a plan to take a few advanced courses in accounting in preparation for the CPA exam. However, after looking at the course schedule, I realized that it would just require another six courses to complete an M.B.A.," said DeLaRosa.
While he only needed a few courses to complete his master's degree; juggling school, work and family life was not always easy for DeLaRosa. "Learning to stay on a schedule to attend class, study, meet with classmates on projects and finding the time to do homework after working full-time at my regular job as an accountant, spending time with my family not including schedules when I had to travel for work were a challenge," said DeLaRosa. Upon completing his M.B.A. he was promoted to senior financial compliance auditor, a position that he held for six years.
DeLaRosa's advice for others considering returning to school: "An M.B.A. is a big decision not only financially, but requires dedication of time along with support from family and your employer. My last few classes were the hardest and I wanted to walk away, but my classmates and family wouldn't let me."
DeLaRosa said the biggest reward for earning the master's degree was, "It prepared me for the fast track demands to transition from general accounting to the world of financial compliance. My M.B.A. contributed to my advancement at Aviall Services and my new position at Luminant Power."
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com
