VERONA, N.Y. — As businesses continue to struggle with unfilled positions, Oneida Nation Enterprises has launched a new scholarship program designed to attract and retain accounting professionals. The Professional Accounting Development Program for employees in its finance department is designed for accounting students as well as professionals working toward an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree […]
VERONA, N.Y. — As businesses continue to struggle with unfilled positions, Oneida Nation Enterprises has launched a new scholarship program designed to attract and retain accounting professionals.
The Professional Accounting Development Program for employees in its finance department is designed for accounting students as well as professionals working toward an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in accounting. In exchange for the scholarship, which covers the tuition for accounting classes, recipients must sign on for a three-year commitment to working full time in the Oneida Nation Enterprises’ financial department while taking classes part time.
The vast and varied businesses operated by Oneida Nation Enterprises means there is a great need for services like accounting, says Robert Fetterman, senior VP for finance. At the same time, “the reality is fewer people are going into accounting right now,” he adds.
The scholarship program is Oneida Nation Enterprises’ answer to the issue, Fetterman says, providing a path to an accounting degree and a career at the organization.
“We think it’s a good, creative solution,” he says. The scholarship program complements an existing financial-development program, and between the two, the hope is to attract current accounting students to open jobs at Oneida Nation Enterprises, as well as provide pathways to career advancement to current employees.
A master’s degree is one pathway toward becoming a certified public accountant (CPA), and this program opens that opportunity for those who wish to pursue that designation, Fetterman says. The organization already pays the costs associated for the CPA exam as well as the certified management accountant (CMA) designation.
Most staff-accountant positions require a bachelor’s degree, while many entry-level positions call for at least an associate degree.
“We have openings today at all those levels,” Fetterman says. With the recently announced cannabis enterprise and a multi-year “evolution” project at Turning Stone Resort Casino, the number of jobs will only increase.
Scholarship-program participants must be full-time employees of the finance department at the time of their application and must not have earned below a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average in previous college-level courses. The scholarships are awarded on a semester-by-semester basis, and participants must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA for courses paid by Oneida Nation Enterprises to remain eligible.
Participants must have solid employee-performance ratings prior to and throughout school enrollment. Oneida Nation Enterprises will cover the cost of up to six credit hours per semester at the current SUNY tuition rate.
In return for that, participants agree to work for the organization for three years. If a participant leaves within three years of receiving a scholarship, most will be required to repay a pro-rated portion of their scholarship.
The terms of the program are designed to attract candidates who are serious about their education and their future with Oneida Nation Enterprises, Fetterman says. “The people we’re looking for are looking for careers, not jobs.”
Oneida Nation Enterprises currently employs about 200 people total in its finance department. About 70 of those positions are back-of-house finance roles, such as staff accountants and more senior roles.
Fetterman says there has already been interest in the program from finance department employees looking to advance their education.
The new scholarship program is the latest investment in employees by the organization in the past year. Along with increasing starting pay, providing paid training opportunities, and standard incentives like hiring bonuses, Oneida Nation Enterprises also opened employee housing as well as dorm-style housing for interns.
Oneida Nation Enterprises is the parent organization for all business enterprises of the Oneida Indian Nation and employs more than 4,500 people. Business ventures include Turning Stone Resort Casino, YBR Casino & Sports Book, Point Place Casino. The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, The Cove at Sylvan Beach, Maple Leaf Markets, SavOn Convenience stores, an RV park, two marinas, five golf courses, a hunting preserve, and a salmon-fishing destination.