Transaction Services at Broad marks five years of building transaction-ready talent

In 2026, the Broad College of Business Transaction Services (TS) Program marks five years of developing talent for one of the most demanding and fast-moving areas of the business profession. What began as a targeted effort to differentiate Broad students has grown into a recognized, practitioner-driven pipeline connecting the classroom to the career field through hands-on exposure to real transactions.

Created by faculty and deal professionals, the TS curriculum follows the full transaction lifecycle, combining accounting, financial modeling, valuation, and data analysis in hands-on coursework that leads to a practitioner-led capstone.

Beyond the classroom, the student-led Transaction Services Organization (TSO) provides technical programming, case competitions, and meaningful interaction with industry professionals. Together, the TS Program and TSO equip graduates with the analytical rigor and professional fluency to contribute immediately and grow quickly in mergers & acquisitions (M&A), transaction advisory, investment banking, and consulting roles.

Transaction Services sits at the intersection of accounting, finance, strategy, and execution, making it one of the most impactful areas of modern business. Broad recognized early the importance of preparing students for this work through direct exposure to real deals rather than purely theoretical coursework.

“The Transaction Services Program prepares students for transaction-driven careers by combining rigorous coursework with direct exposure to real M&A deals and practitioner-led instruction,” said Mark Blaufuss, fixed-term faculty in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems and a leader of the TS program. “Students graduate having developed both the technical expertise and professional confidence needed to succeed in highly competitive M&A and advisory roles. We are proud that Broad is one of only two universities in the United States to offer a Transaction Services program.”

The program’s outcomes position Broad graduates among the most competitive candidates in the market while continuing to attract high-performing students seeking a rigorous, career-focused academic experience.

The Transaction Services Capstone is the defining experience of the program. Led by Blaufuss, the course immerses students in dozens of high-profile transactions and real-world deal scenarios drawn from current market activity.

Students gain direct exposure to how transactions are evaluated, structured, and executed by learning from practitioners who have led deals at the highest levels. This approach provides practical insight into deal execution while simultaneously strengthening networking skills and helping students build meaningful, lasting professional relationships.

“Being part of TSO has not only helped me refine my own professional and leadership skills, but has also given me the opportunity to mentor students exploring alternative pathways within accounting.” -Yakes

This semester, the Transaction Services Organization continued expanding its presence on campus through a strong mix of professional programming, technical education, and community building. Led by President and senior accounting student Alex Yakes, the organization hosted three tabling events, eight internal education meetings, a case study workshop, and a social night that welcomed 25 new members.

“It’s been exciting to see the rapid growth of our organization,” said Yakes. “Across the college, student interest has increasingly shifted beyond traditional audit and tax roles toward consulting and other transaction-related career paths. Being part of TSO has not only helped me refine my own professional and leadership skills, but has also given me the opportunity to mentor students exploring alternative pathways within accounting.”

Through these events, students gained direct exposure to the deal landscape through guest speakers from The Carlyle Group, Cantor Fitzgerald, Ernst & Young, Plante Moran, and Doeren Mayhew, with additional sessions scheduled throughout the Spring 2026 semester.

The organization also strengthened its competitive and professional footprint. Two teams are representing TSO in the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Cup case competition, competing for a $6,000 prize. TSO also launched a new branding and merchandise initiative, created a LinkedIn page, and secured up to $1,000 in sponsorship support which is expanding opportunities for member development and industry engagement.

Nearly 100 Broad Transaction Services alumni are building early-career momentum across transaction advisory, investment banking, and related roles. By applying the same deal frameworks, analytical rigor, and execution mindset emphasized throughout the program, alumni are strengthening Broad’s reputation as both a destination for students pursuing transaction-driven careers and a trusted source of talent for firms.

“What makes the TS program especially rewarding is watching the community form around it,” said program director Allison Dellapelle. “Through the Transaction Services Student Organization and alumni-driven networking opportunities, students are building real relationships with professionals who were in their seats just a few years ago. Those connections are opening doors, strengthening mentorship, and reinforcing a powerful pipeline between Broad and the deal community.”

Looking ahead, TSO plans to build on this momentum by expanding industry partnerships, increasing practitioner-led programming, and creating earlier opportunities for students to engage with real-world transactions. As the organization grows, these efforts will further strengthen the Transaction Services pipeline at Broad, deepen student exposure to deal-focused careers, and create meaningful touchpoints for firms and alumni seeking to connect with the next generation of transaction-ready talent.

Visit the Transaction Services website to learn more.