The opening of Loyola Marymount University’s Hilton Center for Business in 1995 was an important milestone in the 100-year history of the LMU College of Business Administration (CBA). Troy Varenchik ’97, a sophomore majoring in accounting at the time, and now a partner at Deloitte Tax LLP, was among the first students to attend classes in the new building. “It’s a true honor to have been part of campus history,” he reflected. “I’m proud to be an LMU alumnus, and it’s important to me to stay engaged in many different ways.”
Varenchik joined Deloitte soon after graduating from LMU, and in recent years, he has played a significant role in fostering the university’s connection to the firm. “LMU students transition very well into our business,” said Varenchik. “We’re big fans of the CBA curriculum, not only are students trained in the academic rigors of the accounting and tax concepts, but they also have a strong awareness of the importance of ethical integrity and giving back in the community, which is directly aligned with our culture and brand.”
Varenchik enjoys returning to campus as a guest speaker, and he is a regular presence at networking gatherings hosted by the LMU Accounting Society. He was named Accounting Alumnus of the Year in 2023, not least for his role in establishing the Deloitte Foundation Accounting Scholars Program. The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition for selected students enrolling in the M.S. in Accounting and M.S. in Taxation programs, and Varenchik has worked tirelessly to support LMU campus recruiting, develop career opportunities for graduating LMU students, and strengthen the ties between Deloitte and LMU.
“I count the launch of the scholarship program as one of the highlights of my career,” he said. All the hard work is rewarded whenever Varenchik hears from students who have benefited from the program. “The scholarship honestly changed my life,” said Emilio Mayer ’26, a 2025 recipient of the scholarship. “I am now pursuing a career that I genuinely enjoy.”
“Over the past four years, the Deloitte scholarships have provided a path for 23 students to enter our M.S. in Accounting and M.S. in Taxation programs,” said Lawrence Kalbers, R. Chad Dreier Chair in Accounting Ethics, who collaborated with Varenchik to bring the Deloitte scholarship to LMU. “In the first three years of the scholarship program, all 13 students earned their graduate degrees and received full-time job offers, including 10 at Big Four firms, two at other public accounting firms, and one in government.”
Varenchik associates his alma mater with far more than academia. He attended LMU with his future wife, Alicia, and his brother, Jonathan, and it was there that he made lifelong friends. “My daughter is now experiencing that same sense of community as she pursues a degree in business at CBA,” said Varenchik. “For me, the time spent at LMU will always be memorable and cherished. The relationships I built on campus have extended throughout my life.”
When Varenchik returns to LMU for speaking engagements, he makes a point of highlighting the sense of community when it comes to establishing a successful career.
“We all know that the tax and accounting industry is rapidly changing with the advancement of artificial intelligence,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the trusted relationships you develop are critically important in this profession. The job market is rapidly evolving as we introduce new technologies, so your network remains strategically important to your success.”
Varenchik is committed to helping students stay on top of the key skills they’ll need to navigate a volatile business landscape. “At a practical level, I think it’s important to be aware of the AI tools and certifications that will give students a competitive advantage when they graduate,” he said. “It used to be enough just to know the core concepts of tax and accounting, but now it’s equally important to have the capacity to learn and adapt to new technology if you’re going to hit the ground running.”
Varenchik encourages students to view their time on campus as an opportunity to practice those skills, especially through student organizations that provide opportunities to practice public speaking and open pathways for interactions with alumni and firm recruiters.
“Your career path is already being developed right here on the LMU campus,” he advised. “Your professors, your friend groups, student organizations, your alumni network — we’re all here to help you succeed. Focus on relationships as much as fluency in new technologies, and you’ll be able to pivot and advance throughout your career.”
To learn more about the Deloitte Foundation Accounting Scholars Program, visit cba.lmu.edu/Deloitte. To support LMU College of Business Administration, contact Jonathan Adrias, senior director of development, at [email protected] or 310.338.7856. You may also support accounting students by giving directly to one of our accounting scholarships.
