UCSB Staff Testimonial Sebastian Acosta
Working on campus means seeing opportunities for growth every single day. Sebastian Acosta decided to put his UCSB staff benefits to work by enrolling in the Professional Accounting certificate program at PaCE.
"I enrolled in the Professional Accounting program at UCSB PaCE primarily to fulfill prerequisite coursework for a Master of Professional Accountancy degree and accumulate the academic credits required for the CPA exam," Sebastian shares.
It did not take long for his dedication to pay off right here on campus. "While working as a Financial Administrative Assistant, I pursued a Professional Accounting certificate, demonstrating a commitment to professional growth that helped me earn a promotion to Financial Analyst at UCSB," he explains.
Part of what made the program so impactful was how directly the lessons connected to his desk every morning. "This program made a real impact on my career, largely because of incredible instructors like Bill Karalius, Travis Lishman, Henry Phan, and Christopher Mills," Sebastian says. "Travis Lishman’s Auditing class offered practical insights that I apply daily in my role at UCSB, particularly seeing internal controls like separation of duties at play across campus workflows. Similarly, Henry Phan’s Accounting Information Systems class opened my eyes to AI's growing impact on financial operations. Seeing how seamlessly all these concepts tie together in my everyday work has been incredibly valuable."
To his own surprise, the coursework opened up a whole new career path. "Prior to this program, tax wasn't on my radar, but learning the material showed me just how valuable the knowledge is. It sparked a genuine passion, and I'm now actively pursuing my Enrolled Agent credential," he says.
For Sebastian, staying ahead of the curve is a lifelong habit. "With how competitive the job market is, staying curious and continuously learning is necessary to keep moving forward," he emphasizes.
Looking ahead, Sebastian has a inspiring full-circle goal for his time at UCSB. "My personal goal is to teach Taxation at UCSB PaCE in the future," he says. "Once I finish my master's degree, obtain my Enrolled Agent credential, and gain additional industry experience, I look forward to giving back and educating students just as my instructors did for me."