Brand Ambassador Bill Karalius
If you think accounting is just about numbers on a spreadsheet, you haven’t met Bill Karalius. An instructor in UCSB PaCE’s Accounting and Finance program, Bill brings a unique blend of expertise, creativity, and humor to his courses.
With over a decade of experience as a CPA, Bill has worked in everything from regulatory reporting, to tax compliance, to auditing. He’s also a key figure in CPA exam preparation working at Becker Professional Education, helping students navigate the complexities of certifications such as the CPA exam, CMA exam, and CIA exam. But there’s more to his story. When he’s not teaching, Bill is a voice actor, having lent his voice to characters like Lego Green Lantern in animated projects. It’s a fitting role for someone who spends his days guiding future accountants through the often-intimidating world of accounting and finance.
For Bill, teaching is more than simply delivering information. It’s about making accounting approachable, engaging, and even enjoyable. He believes that nontraditional students need nontraditional solutions, and he’s constantly exploring new ways to enhance the learning experience to meet the needs and demands of a diverse student base in various stages of their academic and professional careers.
His courses are structured differently from the standard lecture-heavy approach. Instead of long, dense lessons, he breaks topics into short, digestible videos, making it easier for students to absorb the material at their own pace. He encourages discussion, creating a space where students can share insights and apply concepts in real-world scenarios. And in a particularly innovative move, he even developed a video game to reinforce key accounting principles—because learning, he believes, should be both practical and memorable.
Beyond the classroom, Bill is also preparing students for the future of accounting, which is evolving rapidly with advancements in artificial intelligence and automation. He integrates AI-driven accounting tools into his courses, ensuring that students graduate not only with technical skills but with an understanding of how technology is reshaping the profession.
For Bill, accounting isn’t just about numbers. It’s the language of business, the foundation of financial decision-making, and a skillset that can open doors to countless career paths. His passion for teaching and his ability to connect with students make him a standout instructor, one who is changing how accounting is taught—and how students experience it.
For those looking to enter the field or sharpen their skills, UCSB PaCE’s Accounting and Finance program offers an opportunity to learn from an instructor who brings both expertise and energy to the subject.