A rising trend is taking shape in accounting education: Colleges and universities are increasingly turning to working certified public accountants (CPAs) to serve as adjunct professors, part-time instructors who typically teach while maintaining full-time professional roles outside of academia.
As the accounting and finance profession continues to evolve— shaped by technology, regulation, and shifting workforce expectations—CPAs are in a unique position to bring their realworld insights into the classroom, helping make concepts feel more tangible. At the same time, adjunct professorships can offer CPAs a meaningful way to give back to the profession, strengthen the talent pipeline, and further develop their own leadership and communication skills.
For CPAs weighing this unique career path, here’s what current adjunct professors and faculty say they should consider.
“Adjuncts are the bridge between theory and practice, applying real-world scenarios in the classroom,” explains Klementina Andonova, owner of True North Accounting and part-time adjunct accounting faculty at the College of DuPage.
Andonova, who also formerly served as a student ambassador for the Illinois CPA Society, believes that adjunct faculty add particular value in introductory and foundational courses. Specifically, she says their lived perspective provides context to theory and helps make accounting feel more accessible and engaging early in the curriculum.
Scott Judd, Ph.D., CPA, clinical assistant professor of accounting, assistant department chair, and director of graduate studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, sees that value extending to students further along in their academic and professional journeys: “The greatest needs are often in upper-level undergraduate courses where specialized expertise can enhance learning and in evening graduate courses that frequently serve working professionals.”
Brian Maj, Ph.D., senior program administrator and adjunct instructor at DePaul University, says the real value adjuncts bring to classrooms is their industry currency. They can infuse life perspective into their lectures and connect students with a network of professionals.
“Students want to understand how teams are managed today, where firms are going, and what their career paths should look like,” Maj explains.
CPAs interested in pursuing adjunct professorship opportunities can stand out to hiring managers by first meeting the core qualifications: a CPA license, an advanced degree, and recent and relevant professional experience. Prior teaching experience is also a bonus.
Beyond credentials, great adjuncts also translate complex concepts into tangible, actionable knowledge and bring a genuine commitment to mentoring students as they work toward their full potential.
Michael Mago, CPA, CFE, who began his teaching career as an adjunct professor teaching accounting courses at multiple institutions, is now a full-time professor at Triton College. He believes that one of the most important skills that any professor can possess is the ability to take complex topics and simplify them: “I try to explain concepts as if students are hearing them for the first time—because many of them are.”
He also emphasizes the importance of patience: “You need to be able to explain the same concept in multiple ways because every student learns differently and at a different pace.”
In addition to being able to simplify complex concepts, Andonova adds that effective adjuncts must also be able to bring those concepts to life in ways that resonate with students: “We must be part expert and part storyteller to show students that accounting is about solving business problems, not just crunching numbers.”
Leadership and management experience can also serve as a meaningful differentiator.
Kent Foutty, an adjunct professor serving multiple universities, including Arizona State University (online), Loyola University Chicago, and University of Illinois Chicago, notes that candidates with leadership backgrounds bring more than just technical expertise into the classroom: “An ability to show that you have mentored others in your profession translates well to mentoring students in the classroom.”
At the core, Maj says what matters most is having genuine care for students’ well-being and success. “That’s the call to teach—you have to believe that every student matters,” he says. “In a class of 40, one student might take a lot of time, but you’re changing their life.”
He adds that the adjunct professor role often extends beyond coursework: “Half of the students’ questions aren’t about homework. They’re going to ask about your career, life, and background. Students are looking for signals that people like them have succeeded.”
Many CPAs turn to teaching out of a desire to give back to the profession and mentor the next generation. For Foutty, helping others learn was a key driver in his decision to become an adjunct professor.
“In 2002, I realized what I liked best about my corporate job: mentoring the dozen people that worked for me,” Foutty recollects. “So, I thought, perhaps I should teach! I sent out resumes to area schools, and Loyola called me when they had a summer session class that needed an instructor.”
Mago discovered his passion for teaching while pursuing his master’s degree and working as a graduate assistant and tutor.
“One of my first students said, ‘I see you as a teacher one day,’ and while I had never thought about it before, it just felt right. I really enjoyed helping people accomplish something challenging,” Mago says.
Even after his assistantship ended, Mago continued tutoring. A former professor took notice of his enthusiasm and invited him to teach a class. Although he was still early in his career—with experience as an intern at PwC, auditor, and bookkeeper for a family construction company—he quickly found his groove in the classroom.
“I began with one class, and within a year, I was teaching at multiple schools,” Mago recalls. “My course load quickly grew from two classes to six or seven, sometimes more.”
CPAs interested in pursuing adjunct teaching should consider whether the opportunity aligns with their professional and personal goals, available time, and willingness to take on the many demands the role requires.
While adjunct teaching does offer flexibility, Mago attests there’s a significant amount of time and energy required to develop and deliver a course. Instructors are often responsible for building syllabi, preparing lectures, grading assignments, and being available for students.
“Ask yourself if you have the time,” Maj suggests. “You need margin for the student who stays late—those conversations matter. You can’t rush people out to catch your train.”
Another thing for CPAs to consider is pay. If you’re motivated by compensation, this might not be the right path. Adjuncts are typically paid per course rather than by the hour, so compensation may not always reflect the time invested. As such, many adjunct faculty members are motivated less by pay and more by personal fulfillment and a desire to give back. For some, that level of commitment may not align with current life or career demands.
For those who can afford to make the investment, however, the impact extends far beyond the classroom. Adjunct faculty play a meaningful role in shaping the next generation of accountants, helping students connect theory to practice and envision their future in the profession. There’s also a deep sense of fulfillment that comes with that mission, especially over time, as instructors begin to witness the success of their former students.
In fact, while being interviewed for this article, Maj came across a former student featured in a previous issue of this magazine. Even through the distance of a Zoom call, you could feel his pride. Maj says those moments are what define the role—the deep sense of fulfillment that comes with knowing you’ve made an impact on someone’s future.
