Alumna Spotlight: Ambereen Bashar (Accounting, ’15)

Accounting was a natural fit for Ambereen Bashar ('15). "I always loved math. That's why accounting was so great. I feel like I landed on a major that aligned with my strengths."

Ambereen didn't have to look far for inspiration. Her family's accounting firm, Bashar & Johnson, P.C. (co-founded by her father, Anwar Bashar, in 1990), has been a part of the local business community for over 30 years.

"I worked there administratively before college, so I knew quite a bit about the accounting world," she explains. "I wanted to go into something practical and felt there were endless opportunities in the field."

With her mind made up, Bashar set her sights on Portland State. "I knew I wanted to go to PSU, I was very certain about that," she says, adding that her older sister Aysha had also gone through the program and loved it.

At PSU, Ambereen found a wealth of support. "Portland State has so many resources in the accounting department and business school," she says. "The faculty and counselors made it easy to know exactly what I needed to do to graduate and get my CPA." Outside of classes, Ambereen spent time honing her skills through mock interviews, resume reviews, and leadership opportunities through Beta Alpha Psi, where she served as Vice President.

After graduation, Ambereen dedicated ten years of hard work and growth to the family business, where she obtained her CPA and eventually stepped into a management role alongside her sister. Bashar & Johnson, P.C. primarily serves clients in manufacturing, construction, and non-profit work. Their father Anwar, who began his career at KPMG, built strong relationships with clients, relationships that Ambereen and Aysha continue to nurture today.

"One thing I love about working here is that our clients feel like family," she says. "My dad built those relationships, and we work hard to maintain them while also growing the business."

During her time at PSU, Ambereen's professors encouraged her to think beyond the immediate challenges at hand. "One particular professor in my senior accounting capstone stressed how important it was to have long-term goals," she says. This advice guides her now, a decade later, balancing clients' urgent needs with plans for future growth.

Ambereen's connection to PSU remains strong. She attends alumni events, stays in touch with classmates, and has her sights set on getting involved in PSU's mentoring program. She's also committed to rethinking how accounting firms operate. While preserving the strong client relationships her father valued, she's equally dedicated to modernizing the firm by introducing new techniques and fostering a forward-thinking office culture