New Interactive Game Lets Students Experience the World of a Record Company Executive

New Interactive Game Lets Students Experience the World of a Record Company Executive

Created to Interest Them in Business and Accounting

NEW YORK, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- High school and college students who wonder what it would be like to run a record company may now get a taste through a new online game produced by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

The Turnaround Game (http://www.theturnaroundgame.com/) asks the players to develop a winning proposal to save an ailing record company called BigNoizz. The interactive game introduces students not only to the music industry, but to the wider experience of the business world -- specifically, that of the CPA.

The AICPA developed The Turnaround Game with its marketing communications firm, Wunderman New York, as the latest installment of its award-winning Start Here Go Places campaign (http://www.startheregoplaces.com/), designed to interest high school and college students in an accounting career.

In creating The Turnaround Game, the AICPA tapped into two abiding passions of students: video games and music.

"We want to reach out to younger audiences and give them a sense of what being a CPA is all about," said Barry Melancon, AICPA President and CEO. "Since students are so interested in games and music, we believe a vehicle like The Turnaround Game clearly demonstrates the challenges and rewards that CPAs face every day."

Indeed, Melancon noted that a number of today's music stars are also successful business professionals who rely on the talents and expertise of their CPAs.

The accounting profession has gained a higher profile among students in recent years. According to a 2005 AICPA survey of U.S. colleges and universities, enrollments in accounting programs have increased 19 percent over a four-year period.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (http://www.aicpa.org/) is the national, professional association of CPAs, with approximately 350,000 members, including CPAs in business and industry, public practice, government, and education; student affiliates; and international associates. It sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for audits of private companies; federal, state and local governments; and non-profit organizations. It also develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination.

Source: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

CONTACT: Joel Allegretti, +1-212-596-6111; Anne Sittmann,
+1-202-434-9213

Web site: http://www.theturnaroundgame.com/
http://www.startheregoplaces.com/
http://www.aicpa.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: To log onto the game, your username is press@shgp.com and your password is "press."

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