Seven years ago, Ellion Magsino arrived in the United States from the Philippines with a dream of building a better future. This month, the Onondaga Community College alumnus begins the next chapter of that journey, starting his career in New York City as a Tax Associate with KPMG, one of the world's "Big Four" accounting firms. "It's exciting to begin this next chapter and continue learning as I start my career in public accounting," said Magsino, who earned a degree in Business Administration from OCC in 2022.
His path to one of the nation's top accounting firms began on the OCC campus. After immigrating to the United States in 2019, Magsino graduated from Chittenango High School in 2020 and enrolled at OCC that fall. While building a strong academic record, he immersed himself in campus life as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Lillian Slutzker Honors College, and as a student representative on the OCC Foundation Board and its Finance Committee.
One opportunity, however, proved especially transformative. Through OCC's Career Services office, Magsino secured a summer internship with Brackens Financial Solutions Network in Syracuse. The experience not only introduced him to the accounting profession but also helped define his future. "I could not have asked for a better place to start my professional journey," Magsino said. "From the very beginning, the Brackens team was deeply invested in helping me grow and succeed. They were always willing to offer guidance, connect me with the right people, and help me develop practical, career-ready skills."
Working on projects across multiple areas of the business gave him valuable hands-on experience while helping him discover where his interests and talents aligned. "That exposure helped me better understand my strengths and ultimately confirmed that accounting and tax were the right career path for me," he said. "I'm incredibly grateful for everything I learned and for the support I received from everyone at Brackens."
After graduating from OCC, Magsino continued his education at the University at Albany-SUNY, earning a Bachelor's degree in Accounting with a minor in Business Administration before completing a Master's in Taxation this past May. He graduated summa cum laude with both degrees. His academic success continued beyond the classroom. Magsino also passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam while completing his master's degree and working part-time.
"When I decided to study for the CPA exam while simultaneously doing my master's program, I knew it was going to come with a lot of challenges and major sacrifices. There were late nights at the library and time I missed with friends, but when I received my passing score, it was an incredible feeling. Knowing that more than 400 hours of studying had paid off made all the hard work feel worthwhile."
His accomplishments also earned him recognition from KPMG before he even graduated. Along with receiving a full-time offer as a Tax Associate, he was selected as one of the recipients of the firm's Tax Scholarship Program, which helped support his graduate studies.
Despite all he has accomplished in a relatively short time, Magsino admits he doesn't often stop to reflect on how far he has come. "I'm usually focused on my current goals and what's next," he said. "But now I realize that so much growth and so many accomplishments have happened since I first moved here. I'm very grateful for all the people, the circumstances, and the opportunities that made it all happen. I think if my younger self could see where I am now, he'd be proud - not just of what I've accomplished, but of the journey it took to get here."
As he begins his career in New York City, Magsino also carries fond memories of the campus where his professional journey truly began. "There are so many great memories to choose from," he said with a laugh. "I remember dissecting a fetal pig in Biology class and realizing biology definitely wasn't my career path. I remember playing Just Dance with members of the Global Students Club and making friendships I still value today. And I remember simply walking around campus. Sometimes the sunlight would hit just right, and I'd stop to take pictures of the scenery. Those little moments made OCC feel like home, and I genuinely had an amazing experience there."
