Accounting Advisory Council

Accounting alum elevates talent and culture at KPMG

Katelynn C Hipolito — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:57:31 +0000

Accounting alum elevates talent and culture at KPMG Katelynn C Hipolito Mon, 11/03/2025 - 10:57

Growing up in southern Virginia, Sandy Torchia, BS Accounting ’93, discovered her passion for accounting early. During high school, she realized that hard work in the field could not only open doors to exciting opportunities but also to a fulfilling career.

Sandy Torchia. Photo by KPMG

As the first in her family to attend college, she chose �� because it checked a multitude of boxes for her, including its academic rigor, location in vibrant Fairfax, Virginia, and proximity to Washington, D.C. Four years later, she graduated from the Costello College of Business with an even deeper appreciation for the learning environment that shaped her educational and professional journey.

“My parents taught me to put in the work and dream big,” Torchia says. “Graduating from George Mason was accomplishing one of those dreams for myself, and also for them.”

Torchia attributes her current position as vice chair of talent and culture at KPMG to the education she received at Costello, which equipped her with a strong business foundation and a comprehensive expertise in accounting. She states that these skills are critical to her and her organization’s success as they drive the firm’s talent strategy, positioning KPMG to attract, develop, and retain the best talent.

Her work—leading KPMG into the future—puts her focus on the firm’s employees and partners and how they experience the firm. And like her passion for accounting, she also has a passion for people—she states it’s one of the main reasons she’s stayed at KPMG for more than 28 years. “I love the people I work with,” she says.

Among Torchia’s most impactful experiences at Costello was helping found George Mason’s chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, one of the largest co-educational professional business fraternities in the country. Establishing and leading the chapter honed skills she has continued to use throughout her career, including relationship management, public speaking, and negotiation. Those came in handy as the work required her to coordinate with other universities and organizations at George Mason.

She’s proud to not only have co-founded the chapter but to be part of the chapter’s first graduating class too. Torchia encourages Costello students to get involved in special projects and extracurriculars like Delta Sigma Pi. "Whenever and wherever you can, take advantage of opportunities to develop and elevate your skills, including those beyond the classroom,” she says. “Whether it's a formal program like a business fraternity or an informal mentorship, seeking new experiences or training will always add value."

"Whenever and wherever you can, take advantage of opportunities to develop and elevate your skills, including those beyond the classroom. Whether it's a formal program like a business fraternity or an informal mentorship, seeking new experiences or training will always add value."

—Sandy Torchia, BS Accounting ’93

Of course, her drive extended to the classroom as well. “Sandy was a student in one of the first accounting classes I taught at ��, and she remains every professor’s model success story,” says Janet Faughnan, senior instructor of accounting at the Costello College of Business. “The technical accounting knowledge and interpersonal skills Sandy developed through her dedication to her studies at George Mason have been refined and perfected throughout her professional career.”

Sandy Torchia’s journey from a first-generation college student to management committee member at KPMG is a testament to the impact of education, leadership, and innovation. Her time at the Costello College of Business not only equipped her with academic and technical expertise but also inspired her to build something lasting—like George Mason’s Delta Sigma Pi chapter—that continues to benefit students today. As she leads KPMG's talent strategy, Torchia can call back to those academic and leadership experiences as a strong foundation, equipping her with the right skills for fostering environments that encourage new ideas to excel and people to thrive.

In This Story

Janet Faughnan

Topics

Accounting Area

Costello College of Business News

Costello College of Business Alumni

Accounting Advisory Council

Alumni

first-generation

Accounting alumna finds acceptance and opportunity at Baker Tilly

Marianne Klinker — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:11:11 +0000

Accounting alumna finds acceptance and opportunity at Baker Tilly Marianne Klinker Thu, 02/01/2024 - 15:11

Shabinaaz Mahdi, BS Accounting ’12, discovered a passion for accounting at the Donald G. Costello College of Business at ��. While in school, she was introduced to Baker Tilly, a leading advisory tax and assurance firm, where she has risen through the ranks to become partner.

Fifteen years had passed since high school graduation when Shabinaaz Mahdi decided to return to her education at Mason. Her focus had been on raising her children and adjusting to life after immigrating to the United States from Sri Lanka. Taking night classes at Mason allowed her to keep her priorities in focus while exploring her burgeoning passion for accounting and the career paths where it could lead. After transferring from Northern Virginia Community College, she worked diligently at Mason in joining extracurricular groups, including the GMU Accounting Honors Program, Beta Gamma Sigma, Golden Key International Society, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Additionally, she was named to the Dean’s List in 2010 and 2011.

Shabinaaz Mahdi

The subject of accounting was attractive to Mahdi due to her love of mathematics. “I’m a numbers person, especially being an immigrant and English not being my first language, numbers are a universal language,” she says. It was never a struggle for her to study because she so thoroughly enjoyed the tax work and research. During those night classes, she bonded with her classmates and learned about what kinds of careers could be available for her. She learned even more about the field through an audit and tax internship. Soon after that, she attended a leadership conference and was introduced to Baker Tilly. “Seeing the potential for growth in a mid-sized firm, I applied for a full-time position and received an offer during my senior year, feeling incredibly fortunate to secure employment before graduation,” she says.

Mahdi credits the culture and people of Baker Tilly for her tremendous professional growth. After beginning as staff accountant in 2012, she began her rise through the ranks, finding her strengths and developing proficiency, leading to her recent promotion as partner at the firm. In her current role, she focuses on partnerships and corporations within the professional services industry, particularly law firms. She loves working with her clients, but she also loves working with her colleagues, collaborating with them, and soaking up all the knowledge that she can. Mahdi’s impressive success at Baker Tilly is not at all surprising to JK Aier, senior associate dean and associate professor of accounting at the Costello College of Business, who had her in his intermediate accounting class. “Right from day one, she was motivated to not only do well in the course but also work to understand the subject matter thoroughly by asking clarifying questions.”

As an immigrant, Mahdi had initially felt anxious about being accepted, but she quickly found that her colleagues embraced her. “The firm's inclusive culture has enabled me to find fulfillment in my work by allowing me to be my authentic self, free from pretense or peer pressure,” she says. “This culture of acceptance has fostered a sense of belonging which, in turn, has empowered me to perform at my best.” Baker Tilly promotes a healthy work/life balance for its employees by encouraging effective communication. “Communication is key to make sure you are prioritizing the things that are important to you,” she says. “I always have my Outlook calendar updated which truly helps manage both home and work.” Throughout the year, employees at Baker Tilly make a conscious effort to completely disconnect from work in order to recharge, reset, and relax. And in order to destress and wrap up the work week productively, they avoid scheduling meetings on Fridays.

When Mahdi first arrived in the United States, she only knew her husband and children. Going back to school began as a way to keep herself occupied, but it has since led to an accomplished and rewarding career and a vast network of positive relationships. “I strongly believe that if you give your best effort in everything you do and leave your quality mark on every work product that crosses your desk, work diligently and intelligently, remain open to continuous learning, and stay humble, recognizing that your knowledge is just a drop in the ocean, and, most importantly, enjoy the process, success will inevitably follow when the time is right,” she says. Mahdi has experienced great success following that mindset at Baker Tilly, where she is embraced and encouraged.

Topics

Costello College of Business News

Costello College of Business Alumni

Accounting Advisory Council

Alumni

Learn more about the Undergraduate Accounting Concentration

Learn more about Mason's Master's in Accounting program