Grace Helmers, a Master of Professional Accounting student in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, has secured a postgraduate technical assistantship with the Financial Accounting Standards Board. She is only the second University of Arkansas student to achieve this honor, and the first since 2012. The assistantship is highly coveted and reflects the growing recognition of the William Dillard Department of Accounting on the national stage.

The FASB assistantship is among the most selective early-career opportunities in accounting. Each year, the FASB selects approximately 20 of the most talented accounting graduates from across the nation. During the one-year assistantship, students work directly with the FASB staff, participating in the organization's due process, conducting research, and advising the Board on accounting standard-setting initiatives.

"The FASB PTA is one of the most prestigious opportunities an accounting graduate can receive. I often liken it to a law student receiving a clerkship with the United States Supreme Court," said Dr. Zac Wiebe, associate professor of accounting and the Walter B. Cole Chair in Accounting, who nominated Helmers for the position. "Many former PTAs have become partners in public accounting firms, CFOs of major companies, or pursued Ph.D.s in academia. It is a springboard to exceptional career opportunities."

Helmers, who initially majored in finance before discovering her passion for accounting, balanced her pursuit of the assistantship while completing a full-time master's degree coursework, maintaining a 20-hour per week graduate assistantship, and studying for the CPA exams, on which she has already passed two sections on her first attempt.

"I was drawn to this opportunity to gain deeper knowledge about accounting standard-setting and to be recognized by a mentor I respect," Helmers said. "The interview process at FASB was rigorous but rewarding — discussing technical accounting issues with some of the world's most knowledgeable accountants reminded me why I chose this path."

Helmers will begin her position at the FASB in January 2026 following her graduation in December 2025.

"This achievement represents a significant milestone for the Walton College and the William Dillard Department of Accounting," Wiebe said. "Grace's success on a national stage reflects the quality of our program, and I'm hopeful she will inspire other students to pursue similar opportunities."

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business stands as one of the largest colleges at the University of Arkansas, serving over 10,300 students across undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs. The college holds AACSB accreditation and consistently ranks among the top business schools in the United States. Walton College ranks 25th for its undergraduate business program among public colleges in the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 national rankings. Its undergraduate supply chain management program is recognized as the top program in North America by Gartner. In 2025, The Princeton Review included Walton's M.B.A. program in its Best Business Schools list for On-Campus M.B.A. Programs.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.