When Arianna Morataya ’25 first learned about Lehigh from her college counselor, she was drawn to the opportunities available in the College of Business. While she didn’t know what her focus would be, she knew — with math as her strongest subject — that it would likely lead her toward finance or accounting.
Not knowing much about the ins and outs of each field, she was grateful for intro classes that offered some clarity. One class in particular stood out, introducing her to the person who would become her most trusted faculty mentor.
She remembers immediately recognizing a connection between her interests and the way Professor Parveen Gupta spoke about his own experience.
“I didn't really know much about accounting,” Morataya recalls. “There aren't any accounting professionals in my family.”
Gupta answered questions she hadn’t previously had the opportunity to explore.
“I asked, ‘What does this major entail?’ I had no idea what the process was and what it would mean for my schedule.”
All Business
“I came into Lehigh without any credits,” Morataya explains. “So I was very much starting at the beginning.”
When she ultimately chose accounting, Gupta became invaluable in helping her map out her four years so she could reach the 150 credits that would allow her to begin her certified public accountant (CPA) exams immediately after graduation.
That meant finding opportunities to gain credits beyond her standard course load.
“My accounting degree required 124 credits, so I needed an additional 26 credits to fit into my schedule. I had to take an average of 16 credits throughout my college career.”
She spent summers gaining credits through her community college and Lehigh online courses. Study abroad also helped. In summer 2023, she traveled with Gupta to Milan for six accounting credits, and in winter 2024, she accompanied Professor Douglas Mahony to Vietnam.
“Very early on, I started understanding how much Lehigh prepares you for the real world,” she says. “The faculty really pushes you [...] Sharing their backgrounds, whether audit, tax, or managerial, helped with my preparation. They [also] helped me learn how to get out there and network.”
Full Steam Ahead
In spring 2023, Morataya applied for an internship at PwC and its Destination CPA program, an event that shows interns and students what the CPA path looks like in practice. She says it reassured her and made it clear that earning a CPA while working was achievable.
Her audit internship was in the consumer industrial products and services industry in the NYC office. She commuted from her home in New Jersey and made quick friends, many of whom were also hired as audit associates after graduation.
“I still get to see them in the office. The environment is great, and they've been very supportive of my CPA progress,” she says.
She credits the PwC environment with helping her continue progressing toward her final CPA exam. She has passed three of the four exams, giving herself time to enjoy the holidays with her family before preparing for the final one in the spring, between her two busy seasons at PwC.
Morataya says the most surprising thing about life after Lehigh is how much studying she still does, but the transition felt manageable., She credits her professors for encouraging her to complete a few tests before starting work.
“I feel like I still had the rhythm of coursework coming right off my degree. Lehigh has prepared me for that, especially learning how to study.”
Business Aside…
The only daughter between two older brothers and two younger, Morataya says most of her free time is spent with her family. Her younger brothers are elementary and middle school age, and their mother, Helen, has recruited the entire family to help at the local school district. Morataya even chaperones her brothers’ field trips.
“My mom is a big volunteer in the school district, helping with festivals and family events. I volunteer after work to help. It’s fun to be at events I remember doing when I was in school.”
“My cousins also live in town,” she continues. “We have a close-knit family, and anytime one of them has an event, like a band concert or sporting event, you will most likely see the entire family helping any way possible.”
“Anytime my mom’s signed up, we are all signed up.”
The Business of Service
Morataya has carried her commitment to service beyond her hometown. At Lehigh, she worked at an after-school tutoring program, and she continues to engage in service opportunities through PwC, including mentoring Lehigh students visiting the NYC office.
“There were Lehigh business freshmen that came to visit the New York office, so I met with them for lunch [and] shared tips on getting to their 150.”
While audit season and preparing for her final exam might temporarily limit her volunteer time, she’s already planning to re-engage more fully afterward.
“I'm hoping after the busy season to really look into volunteer work because PwC offers 40 hours to utilize for volunteering.”
It sounds like a juggling act, but Morataya says she learned how to manage it all at Lehigh.
“Being able to translate those time management skills to my day-to-day has been helpful. I've grown a very positive mindset of how I can apply myself but also take a break and wind down with my family.”
Words of Wisdom
Despite initial concerns that life after Lehigh would be difficult, Morataya says the transition has been smooth.
“Everyone has nerves when they start working — obviously, I had those. But I haven't experienced anything I wasn't prepared for.”
She offers one tip for accounting students: Connect with peers early.
“Surround yourself around other people who share your interests. When I was taking my exams, it was nice knowing other people who were taking theirs and can understand your experience.”
She adds that engaging with your academic community can open unexpected doors.
“There might be something you didn't know was an option, whether it’s in consulting, finance, or tech. Learn about their interests, what they know, and how they plan to pursue their goals. It's nice to know you aren't alone.”
