Name: Shahzaib Riaz
Age: 21
Occupation: Tax Consulting Intern at PwC
Hometown: Jersey City, NJ
School: Rutgers Business School-Newark
Major: Accounting
Graduation Year: May 2025
When Shahzaib Riaz stood at a crossroads of his academic journey, he decided on Rutgers Business School in Newark, New Jersey. “I chose Rutgers University due to its renowned reputation for academic excellence and, as a Jersey City native, its convenient location, both of which aligned perfectly with my educational and logistical needs,” explains Riaz.
As a senior studying accounting with the aspiration of becoming a certified public accountant (CPA), Riaz immerses himself in business-centric workshops and student organizations. His most beneficial involvement, according to him, is joining NABA, the National Association of Black Accountants, where Riaz served as a treasurer and has made invaluable connections with guest speakers, alumni, and like-minded students. “The accessibility to various clubs provided me with a network I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” says Riaz.
He also has interned with Merck, RSM, and now interns as a tax consultant for Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC), one of the largest accounting firms in the nation. “By gaining industry-specific knowledge and building professional networks, [this] internship equipped me with the tools and confidence necessary to succeed in my future career endeavors,” Riaz says. —Mahima Aktar
