Meet Victoria Jones, CPA, treasurer for the University of Virginia Law School Foundation

What college or university did you attend?
Florida State University, B.S. Accounting, 1992.

When did you decide to major in accounting and to become a CPA?
I decided to major in accounting about the time I was a junior in high school. I was interested in starting my own business and based on talking with business people, I was advised that accounting would provide me with the technical knowledge to understand financial data and enable me to keep my own records.

What is your current position?
I am the treasurer for the University of Virginia Law School Foundation. My major responsibilities include accounting, investments, human resources and payroll.

What do you like most about your job?
In the past year, I have designed and implemented a new financial accounting system. I feel great satisfaction in seeing that I have improved the information that can be provided to donors and our board. I've particularly enjoyed learning about HR and payroll laws. Due to the small size of our organization, I have had to become the HR and payroll supervisor. This has expanded my professional capabilities.

What piece of advice do you have for students about the "real world" of accounting?
The "real world" of accounting is much more complex than it appears from accounting textbooks. In class and on exams, there is only one right answer. In the "real world," there are gray areas and areas where guidance is not clear. As in life, there is give and take to everything. Trust your instinct and the "gut" feeling to tell you if something is not right when you are in a questionable area. Be sure that you would be proud to have someone review your work and that you could explain it.

What are some of your volunteer activities?
I serve as advisor on the chapter relations and standards board for the UVA chapter of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

What do you do for fun? Hobbies?
My interests include antiques and decorating. I've tried my hand at selling antiques as an entrepreneur. Other than that, my biggest interest in life is my 8-month-old daughter!

What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about you?
Folks probably think accounting majors sit around and study all the time in college. I think they would be most surprised to learn that I had a great time in college and went to lots of fraternity parties.