Growing up, Yehan Weerasuriya’s grandfather was his role model. He ran his own accounting and audit firm in Sri Lanka, which inspired Weerasuriya to pursue a B.A. in business management economics with a concentration in accounting and finance at UC Santa Cruz. Now, a year after graduating, Weerasuriya (Cowell ’23, business management economics) continues to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps.
Weerasuriya currently works at PwC as a consultant and associate in the Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory group. He works with client projects, as well as internal work at PwC.
Weerasuriya’s favorite part of working as a consultant at PwC is contributing to the bigger picture in the consulting and professional services industry.
“I’m working on two client projects at the moment: One, an acquisition in which a US company based in the Bay Area acquired a company in Germany, and the other in which a company in the Bay Area is divesting a business unit from a company it recently completed acquiring.”
Weerasuriya grew up in Sri Lanka, before moving to the United States in 2013. As a first generation college graduate, he has demonstrated his commitment to excellence through his academic and professional achievements at UCSC.
Weerasuriya is grateful to Lecturer Kevin Jones and the Accounting Department at UCSC, which helped him focus on his technical fundamentals within accounting, preparing him for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam.
Jones, the Accounting Path Director at UCSC mentored Weerasuriya and supported his career pursuits by providing letters of recommendation and nominating Weerasuriya for several accounting scholarships and grant awards.
At UCSC, Weerasuriya was also involved in the professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. Alpha Kappa Psi provided Weerasuriya with an environment that improved his interpersonal skills, expanded his professional network leading to his first accounting internship, and helped develop key leadership skills. Weerasuriya served as president, executive vice president, and vice president of finance for the fraternity. These roles were crucial in developing his ability to organize financial operations within a professional setting.
Alongside his involvement in Alpha Kappa Psi, Weerasuriya also worked as a peer coach in the Career Success Department. Within this role, Weerasuriya gained practical experience that was financially supportive during his college years. He had the opportunity to improve his communication skills, while also staying informed on effective resume building, cover letter writing, and interview preparation.
Weerasuriya completed multiple internships including his first internship in the United States with Adora Winquis. The internship provided him with direct exposure to finance and accounting in a professional setting and solidified his passion for the field. In addition, he interned at PwC for the Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services, which played a significant role in expanding his network within accounting.
Looking to the future, Weerasuriya aims to expand his professional goals by pursuing investment banking or private equity, or possibly even both. Although he is not certain which path he will continue long term, Weerasuriya’s motivation to contribute meaningfully within the field of accounting and finance remains unwavering.
“It would be really cool later in my career to have gotten a chance to have been a part of a fund that invests in growth companies, and have a chance to sit on multiple boards of directors as a member or observer,” Weerasuriya says “Adding value to the economy through providing capital for companies to grow seems pretty cool.”
Read more about the Class of 2023 and their lives beyond the UCSC redwoods.
