The Elliott Davis accounting firm partners with the Moore School on a number of initiatives to help develop future business and community leaders.

To support the undergraduate accounting and Master of Accountancy programs, Elliott Davis annually gives $30,000 that contributes to undergraduate scholarships and MACC student fellowships and sponsors faculty and departmental initiatives. The firm, based in Greenville, South Carolina, with nine offices in the Southeast, also actively recruits interns and full-time staff from the Moore School.

One aspect of Elliott Davis’ contributions includes providing resources for the accounting program to recruit and retain top accounting faculty and expand the impact of faculty through research and professional development.

“Part of the mission of Elliott Davis is to make a positive community impact, and USC plays a vital role, not only in the Columbia market but also beyond our state borders,” said Brittany Owen, a principal with Elliott Davis and a Moore School 2006 accounting and 2007 MACC alumna. “We believe that educating each generation to address complex challenges is essential to transforming our communities. A USC education prepares graduates to contribute to making businesses stronger, which also creates better places to live and work for everyone.”

Elliott Davis’ relationship with the Moore School is reciprocal; they hire interns and full-time staff who have attended or graduated from the Moore School.

“Elliott Davis knows firsthand that the Moore School’s intensive accounting program produces well-prepared and successful students who bring immediate value to the firm,” Owen said. “Our partnership enables us to support the university while also building a pipeline of top talent through professional opportunities.”

Owen herself is thankful for the strong foundation she received through her education at the Moore School, and she uses that foundation in her career and community service, she said.

The intense curriculum gave her a deep understanding of accounting, but she also became proficient in other areas of business including marketing, finance, communications and business law, she added.

“The Moore School definitely takes a holistic approach to training [students] in all aspects,” Owen said. “The business school also encouraged my philanthropic endeavors by encouraging students to get out of their comfort zones and participate in numerous volunteer activities and leadership roles.”