RENE MORALESUNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · ACCOUNTING

MY PROFESSIONAL PERSONA

Small Steps,
Long-Term Picture.

Rene Morales

Get to know me
Rene Morales in a suit at the University of Arizona Eller College of Management
PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO · 2026SCROLL TO EXPLORE ↓

01 / ABOUT ME

The person
behind the work.

I’m an accounting student at the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, pursuing a future career in auditing. My interest in accounting began during my Introduction to Financial Accounting course, where I discovered how financial information tells the story of a business. I became fascinated by how accounting serves as the language of business, helping people understand an organization’s performance, make informed decisions, and plan for the future.

That interest eventually led me to become an Accounting 200 preceptor, where I had the opportunity to help other students understand the same concepts that first sparked my passion for accounting. Through this experience, I discovered how rewarding it is to share my knowledge and help others succeed. My experiences as a VITA tax volunteer and bookkeeper further strengthened my attention to detail while showing me the importance of building trust and meaningful relationships with clients.

Looking ahead, I plan to earn my bachelor’s degree in 2028 and pursue a Master of Accounting on the audit track, with the goal of becoming CPA-eligible in 2029. I’m particularly interested in auditing because it offers the opportunity to understand how businesses operate, evaluate financial information, and build trust through accuracy and transparency. Beyond the technical work, I hope to develop long-term relationships with clients, understand their businesses beyond the numbers, and become someone they can depend on over time.

My resumeEducation, experience, leadership and skills · PDF
View / download resume ↗

02 / PROFESSIONAL EVOLUTION

What I've learned.
Who I'm becoming.

“Small Steps, Long-Term Picture” describes how I approach professional growth. I compare my self-perception with feedback from others, then turn those findings into actions I can carry into public accounting. My Self-Perception Inventory (SPI) describes how I see myself; my Professional Reputation Survey (PRS) summarizes feedback from four respondents.

01

CORE VALUES · IDENTITY & REPUTATION

Values become credible when others can see them.

I identify with empathy, honesty, respect, hard work, responsibility, growth, and attention to detail. My goal is to make those values visible through how I treat people and the quality of my work.

CLAIM

Hard work and continuous improvement are not just qualities I value; they are also qualities others recognize in me. Other values remain goals I want to demonstrate more consistently.

EVIDENCE

In my PRS (four responses), “hard-working” and “growth-oriented” each appeared three times, “empathetic” twice, and “respects authority” four times. Written feedback also described me as ethical and trustworthy. My SPI indicates strong social interest (90/100) and financial interest (85/100), though these measure motivations rather than ethical values.

REASONING + BRAND STRATEGY

This feedback suggests that others already see several qualities I value. “Respects authority” is related to, but not identical to, my value of respect. I want to demonstrate honesty and responsibility through careful work, explain my reasoning transparently, and build relationships where clients feel heard.

Qualities others mentionedPRS · 4 RESPONDENTS

Counts are mentions of adjectives, not performance scores. These observations are not direct ratings of my seven stated values.

02

COMMUNICATION STYLE · RADIAN

Analytical by nature. More proactive by intention.

My natural communication style is analytical: I prefer to gather information, understand the details, and think before making decisions.

CLAIM

Others recognize the same Analytical communication style I identify in myself, but they experience me as somewhat more proactive and reactive than I do.

EVIDENCE

My SPI scores were −3.0 for proactivity and −3.0 for reactivity. The average PRS scores were −2.0 and −0.5, respectively. Both fall within Radian’s Analytical quadrant. Written PRS feedback encouraged greater confidence, initiative, and willingness to share my ideas.

REASONING + BRAND STRATEGY

Preparation and careful analysis are strengths in accounting, but precision is most useful when I also communicate findings promptly. I will ask thoughtful questions, share conclusions earlier, and speak with greater confidence while remaining receptive to other perspectives.

Identity vs. reputationRADIAN COMPOSITE SCORES
−90+9
Proactivity · SPI
−3.0
Proactivity · PRS
−2.0
Reactivity · SPI
−3.0
Reactivity · PRS
−0.5
Self-perception (SPI) Others (PRS)

Radian scale: −9 to +9, centered at zero. PRS averages four respondents. More positive is not automatically “better”; the scores indicate communication tendencies.

03

GROWTH MINDSET · PRESENTATION FEEDBACK

Small improvements. Stronger communication.

I want to become a communicator who combines credibility, preparation, and genuine engagement rather than sacrificing my personality to fit a script.

CLAIM

Across two major individual presentations, I improved my overall performance while learning how to make my natural communication style more engaging.

EVIDENCE

My first presentation (CRA) earned 9.96/12, or 83%. My second (SBA) earned 14/16, or 87.5%—a 4.5 percentage-point increase. In the first evaluation, my instructor noted good eye contact, voice projection, and posture, while asking for more enthusiasm. In the second, my instructor highlighted authenticity, vocal inflection, and a natural conversational tone, but continued to recommend stronger visible energy and more consistent eye contact.

REASONING + BRAND STRATEGY

The increase in scores is one indicator of progress, while the written feedback explains my specific strengths and areas to practice. I plan to use deliberate pauses, maintain eye contact, and show greater enthusiasm—skills that can help me explain financial information confidently and connect with clients.

Progress across two presentationsINDIVIDUAL GRADES
First · CRA83%
9.96 / 12 points
Second · SBA87.5%
14 / 16 points
+4.5 percentage points

Sequence of two course presentations; exact dates not provided. Different point totals are normalized to percentages. The results do not measure every communication skill directly.

LOOKING FORWARD

Building the long-term picture.

My self-perception and reputation align around an analytical approach, hard work, and a willingness to grow. Feedback also challenges me to speak with more confidence and initiative. I will keep strengthening my technical accounting skills, practice sharing ideas earlier in group discussions, and approach each client interaction with empathy and care. My goal is to become a trusted public accounting professional who pairs accurate work with lasting relationships.

03 / SELECTED WORK

Evidence in action.

Each project shows a different side of my professional persona—technical accuracy, analytical judgment, collaborative communication, and client service. The materials below use academic or fictional examples where indicated.

01 / INDIVIDUAL WORK · ACCT 420Precision
in practice.

TAX PREPARATION · COMPLETED INDEPENDENTLY

Fictional Client Tax Return

Context: I prepared a 2026 individual tax return for a fictional household in a tax coursework project, including Form 1040 and related schedules.

Claim: The completed forms demonstrate my ability to organize financial facts, apply tax concepts, and check details across connected documents.

Reasoning: Careful tax preparation supports my commitment to responsibility and accurate client work.

View fictional tax return ↗
02 / INDEPENDENT SIMULATIONFrom data
to insight.

KPMG FORAGE · AUDIT JOB SIMULATION

Audit Planning & Balance Analysis

Context: In KPMG’s Forage Career Catalyst: Audit simulation, I worked with fictional audit materials, including a company trial balance, and practiced evaluating account balances and communicating findings.

Claim: The exercise showcases structured analysis, attention to materiality, spreadsheet work, and professional judgment.

Reasoning: It reflects my Analytical communication style and my interest in translating financial details into clear information for clients and audit teams.

View sample trial balance ↓View completion certificate ↗This was a virtual job simulation, not employment at KPMG or an actual client engagement.
03 / TEAM PROJECT · BCOM 314Different
perspectives.

STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS · GROUP PRESENTATION

Government Regulators as Stakeholders

Context: My BCOM 314 team developed a stakeholder presentation. I was responsible for researching and presenting the government-regulator perspective.

Claim: My contribution demonstrates research, audience awareness, stakeholder analysis, and oral communication.

Reasoning: Understanding external stakeholders helps me communicate more thoughtfully when different groups have different priorities.

Download presentation template ↓Group work; my contribution was the government-regulator stakeholder portion. File is a PowerPoint template (.potx).
04 / PROFESSIONAL SERVICEPeople
first.

IRS VITA · TAX VOLUNTEERING

Client Service in Tax Preparation

Context: As a VITA volunteer, I assisted low- to moderate-income clients through tax preparation and information-verification interviews.

Claim: The experience demonstrates clear client communication, patience, confidentiality, and technical tax preparation.

Reasoning: Working directly with people shows why I value empathy and long-term trust alongside attention to financial detail.

View VITA Advanced certificate ↗Certification for 2025 tax-year Advanced test, dated January 26, 2026. Client returns are not shown.

04 / MY STORY ON VIDEO

Where it started.
Where I'm going.

In this video, I share how overcoming early challenges taught me the value of patience, persistence, and consistent growth, principles that continue to shape the professional I aspire to become. As I pursue a career in audit, I hope to carry that same mindset into my work by continuously developing my expertise, earning clients' trust, and building relationships that extend beyond a single engagement.

Watch on YouTube ↗

05 / LET'S CONNECT

Let's build
something meaningful.

I'm interested in connecting with public accounting recruiters and professionals, especially in audit and assurance. I'm eager to explore internship opportunities where I can contribute through careful analysis, attention to detail, and a commitment to building long-term client relationships.

Email rene.a.morales01@gmail.com ↗LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/renemorales16 ↗