For the eighth year in a row, the Financial Management Association (FMA) student organization in the Harbert College of Business has a 100% job placement rate for its graduating seniors and an equally perfect internship placement rate for its juniors, said Tracy Richard, director of the Integrated Financial Leadership Program and FMA faculty advisor.

It’s not surprising, then, that the organization won the AU Involvement Excellence in Career Readiness Award in April. Additionally, Richard was named the Corey Edwards Organization Advisor of the Year recipient by AU Involvement.

Composed of highly motivated Harbert, engineering, sciences and mathematics students, FMA provides its members with opportunities to participate in case competitions, an alumni mentorship program, and practical application classes in financial modeling, security analysis, portfolio management and advanced investments.

“Our 2023 graduating class will enter the workforce with an average starting compensation of $148,400, a testament to the practical and technical preparation our students undergo throughout their time in FMA,” said Richard, noting that these graduates primarily accept jobs with investment banking on Wall Street and across the U.S.

The national FMA organization has taken notice of the Auburn FMA student group, awarding them with its National Superior Chapter of the Year award five years in a row.

In addition, the group won $46,000 in prize money in 2022, including taking first place in the Kroll One Team Challenge for the second straight year. This prestigious international contest pits teams from hundreds of colleges representing some of the highest-ranked programs in business education in the world who square off to conduct an analysis of a hypothetical company, establish a valuation and then develop a business strategy.

“Auburn FMA is fueled by students and alumni…who are there to help each other and the university,” said Nick Thompson, senior in finance and Auburn FMA co-president. “We are passionate about providing practical skills and resources that make tangible impacts.”

Auburn FMA was named Most Exceptional Campus Organization at last year’s Involvement Awards. 2023 marks the second year in a row that a Harbert-affiliated student organization has won the Career Preparedness prize—last year the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) won this same award.