Hiroki Cruz

About Hiroki Cruz

My name is Hiroki Cruz, and I am a Senior accounting and finance student at ECU. My passion and fascination with the accounting profession originated in high school, where I launched a business that sourced rare plants from across the world and distributed them across the U.S. As the sole owner and operator, I wore many hats and learned effective time management skills; however, the hardest aspect to full grasp was the accounting side. This led me to attend ECU for accounting, tackling my weakness. Here, my perspective grew exponentially! Accounting went from just another facet of business in mind to a dynamic and vast field of opportunities, which I fell in love with. Now my career goals have pivoted from starting another business to building a career in public accounting.

Experience

1. Tax Accounting Intern

   Katy Labarbera Cpa

   May 2025 — Present · Washington, NC, US

   Manage bookkeeping for 120+ clients annually, including full reconciliations of bank and credit card accounts, ensuring accuracy of financial statements• Prepare an average of 10 tax returns per week from start to finish, including gathering workpapers, creating working trial balances, adjusting journal entries, recording assets and depreciation• Process payroll cycles for multiple clients, ensuring compliance with federal and state requirements and accurate employee compensation reporting with various pay structures• Assist in developing the firm’s training software for new hires and interns, streamlining onboarding and standardizing accounting workflows

Education

• East Carolina University

  Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

  2022 — 2025