Industry Experts Lead TAMIU’s Oil & Gas Accounting Certificate Program

Understanding Petroleum Accounting and putting the Oil & Gas Industry in context is the focus of a new Oil & Gas Accounting Certificate Program offered at Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business (ARSSB) this Fall.

The Oil & Gas Accounting Certificate Program is a 12-semester credit hour class taught by two experts in the oil and gas industry and an experienced banker.

Leading the class are Cliffe Killam, Partner at Killam Oil Company; Donato Ramos, Jr., Partner at Law Offices of Donato D. Ramos; and Oscar Cisneros, Vice President at Texas Community Bank.

The certificate program is designed to provide additional education for business students and professionals who wish to enter the global oil and gas industry, with immediate job opportunities created by the Eagle Fold Shale formation. Those who complete the Oil & Gas Accounting Certificate program can expect to gain a crucial understanding of accounting in the industry.

Killam and Ramos said that the timing could not be better for students and professionals in Laredo to learn the inner workings of the oil and gas business with the Eagle Ford Shale boom and México eyeing possible energy reforms.

“With the president of México proposing energy reforms, Laredo will be well-positioned to participate,” Killam said, “Also, there’s shale expertise and additional investment that foreign companies can bring to México; TAMIU students in Laredo bring a bicultural and bilingual understanding, which creates immediate value for these foreign companies doing business in México.”

Ramos said that the idea to offer the certificate program came to him and Killam during a conversation at a carne asada held at his family ranch.

He said both wanted to do something to benefit Laredo in light of the Eagle Ford Shale exploration.

“Cliffe and I recognized that students and businesses in Laredo were at the right place and right time and wanted to offer a class that would offer students a look inside oil and gas industry,” Ramos said, “This is a win-win situation for everybody, for the students, the University and the community.”

Cisneros said that the certificate program provides students fundamental, functional skills in accounting as well as an understanding of the oil and gas industry opportunities available.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to explain the role and importance of the oil and gas industry for the U.S. economy, the industry’s different accounting aspects, and elements of oil and gas exploration and production, the instructors added.

Students will be able to explain the accounting descriptions and procedures for production activities, asset retirement obligations and asset impairment, accounting from oil and gas sales, and joint interest accounting for oil and gas operations, they said. They will also master basic taxation in accounting, conveyances of oil and gas interests, and oil and gas disclosures. In addition, they will be able to solve cases regarding accounting aspects of oil and gas leases, working interests and gas contracts.

Killam said he is excited to teach the class and also be involved in the fundraising and development of TAMIU’s Petroleum Engineering program.

“I’m humbled to be associated with the University and proud of the positive impact that it has on the community,” he observed.

For more information about the certificate program, please contact Leiza Nochebuena, graduate admissions counselor, at 326.2822, e-mail lnochebuena@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 204B.

University office hours are 8 a.m . – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu