Fresh off the presses from CNBC, PwC US Chair Tim Ryan just dropped the mic on the talent shortage:
In the headlines, the war for talent is still taking place on two fronts, with a hot labor market still tilted to job seekers even in a cooler economy, and companies testing the power they have post-pandemic to mandate a return to office.
On that second front, though, PWC U.S. Chairman Tim Ryan says the winner has already been declared.
“The war for talent is over. Talent won,” Ryan said at the CNBC Work Summit on Wednesday.
The PWC chairman’s view of this shift in the balance of power between management and labor is key coming from a firm with nearly 300,000 workers, over two-thirds of whom are millennials and represent a departure from the work paradigm built during the baby boomer and Gen X generations.
The war for talent is over. Talent won, says PwC U.S. chairman Tim Ryan [CNBC]
Welcome to the I’ve-never-been-so-disappointed-with-commercials-in-my-life edition of Accounting Career Emergencies. In today’s edition, a future Big 4 auditor is thisclose to finishing up the CPA and is worried that his summer won’t be sufficiently ruined without an exam to study for. Is hitting the books for a Certified Internal Auditor badge the answer?
I keep going back and forth on whether or not to go for another certification. This month I’m studying for, and taking, the last section of the CPA exam. I’m starting an auditing gig at a Big 4 firm this Fall. With no CPA exam to ruin my life this summer, I’ve considered ruining it by studying for a new exam, specifically the CIA.
I’ll have the required work experience for the certification as of June 2011, so my first set of biz cards would be able to read “Indentured Servant, CIA” right out of the gate, with it being updated to “Indentured Servant, CPA, CIA” in 2012, just in time for the world to end.
The CIA exam is cheaper than the CPA and probably easier at this point. Plus, everyone would think I worked for the CIA. Should I take the exams, or get a life that will be ripped away from me in a few months?
Best,
Indentured Servant
Dear Indentured Servant,
I think a more appropriate pseudonym for you might be “Auditing Overachiever” or “Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” OR “Prefers Books About Auditing as Opposed to Interacting with Humans, Even Those Who Might Want to Have Sex with Me.” NEVERTHELESS, I’m here to help.
Your letter is a little confusing but I’ll try to piece things together. Your job starts in the fall but you’ll have enough work experience (24 months) to obtain a CIA in June so that can only mean that you’ve been an auditor for awhile. It also means this new Big 4 gig is fresh start for you in some way, shape or form since you’ll effectively be a new hire. Making those assumptions, I’m not really sure what the CIA will do for you as a Big 4 auditor. Yes, having a extra credential is nice but it likely won’t mean squat to your co-workers, partners or clients and it won’t make you any extra money. Plus, as far as I can tell, the superficial motivation behind this endeavor – paraphrasing your words – is A) “I want to ruin my summer” B) “it’s cheaper than the CPA” C) “people will think I’m a spy.”
My response to these is A) What’s wrong with you? B) How is spending more money “cheaper”? C) No, they won’t.
See why I’m confused? The underlying motivation – if i can put you on the couch for a sec – is that you’re worried about being bored. Are you completely incapable of enjoying a summer if it doesn’t involve being indoors with your nose in a book? Take a vacation, take a staycation or do nothing but study for an exam that will get you an obscure certification? In my opinion, there’s extremely limited upside to the CIA at this point in your career so do yourself a favor, finish your CPA and give the certifications a rest for awhile. They’ll always be there for when the disappointment of the world NOT ending in 2012 gets you down.
With all the news on raises, promotions etc. etc., a reader got in touch, asking the following:
Can we start a thread to discuss when you need the CPA designation if you want to move up at various firms by practice (audit, tax, specialty groups, etc.) and what exceptions there are?
From what I can derive, PwC was bleeding staff in the early part of the year to the best of my knowledge, requires more time to get promoted up the ranks (3 years to senior compared to 2 at all other firms) and the requirements are higher (must have passed the CPA exam). The higher raises, at least from PwC’s perspective, may be their way of staying competitive with the market because, without higher pay, PwC is not competitive. E&Y may also be attempting to compensate but I am not entirely sure what for.
So three years to earn a promotion to SA at PwC isn’t news to us and some – dare we say, many – may argue that should be the standard timeline for associates in the Big 4/second tier firms. You can debate that all you want but what about the CPA requirement? If PwC does in fact require their associates to have their license before making SA, that’s nothing if not a motivation to finish the CPA ASAP. At the same time, there are many SAs that don’t have their license that do excellent work but for whatever reason are still stalling on obtaining the CPA.
The reader continues by asking:
For instance, if you have an Enrolled Agent, can you still make manager if you’re in tax, etc. [?] I’m also curious about any place that will demote anyone of a certain level who hasn’t gotten their CPA in the last couple of years. KPMG has threatened it for managers in tax who are qualified to sit for the exam (U.S. accounting degree with enough hours), but I wonder if that’s more empty talk.
That’s the first we’ve heard of a demotion for not having a CPA but frankly, that seems appropriate. If the manager has an EA, then perhaps that’s a suitable exception, although the idea of a Big 4 tax manager without a CPA just doesn’t seem right. For many, the lack of the those three precious letters means the end of their careers at the Big 4, so it’s definitely an issue.
So indulge our reader and let us know your firm’s policy regarding promotions and CPA license status. Does it matter? Are there exceptions? Should your performance make up for your uncanny ability to fail FAR? Talk it out.
UPDATE: We obtained a copy of the KPMG policy mentioned above and it appears to be FSF with a few exceptions for those that are “CPA Eligible” and certain “waivers.” Also there’s this, “In circumstances of noncompliance without appropriate waiver, professionals may be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to demotion or termination from the firm.”
An asset management company is looking for an experienced accountant to fill a controller position that will oversee its accounting department and report directly to the CFO.
The position requires a CPA with a minimum of seven years experience, including partnerships and foreign currency. This position is located in Kirkland, Washington.
Title: Controller
Compensation: $140,000
Location: Kirkland, WA
Description: The firm manages $1.8 billion of long-only funds invested in Japanese publicly-traded companies through three separate funds each having a focus area of large-cap, mid-cap or small-cap companies in Japan. The firm is planning expansion into other Asian markets in the near-term for which substantive discussions are underway. Currently located in Monterey, CA, the firm is relocating to Kirkland, Washington in July 2010. The firm is seeking a Controller based in their Washington Offices. The position will report to the CFO and work closely with the CFO on all matters.
Responsibilities: Responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the general ledgers of each fund and the fund management companies; Directly manage the Fund Accountant position, reviewing all work performed by the Fund Accountant; Oversee certain aspects of the Accounting Manager’s work with regards to payables and other general accounting matters; Manage the month-end closing and reporting for each fund, reviewing all journal entries prepared by the Fund Accountant ensuring that fund financials are prepared and submitted timely to CFO; Review all journal entries prepared by Accounting Manager for the fund management companies; Review and help prepare the computation of partner allocations; Oversee the Fund Accountant’s daily computation of NAV and daily trade reconciliation process, including the internal reporting of daily performance for all funds; Step in as a back-up for the Fund Accountant to complete Fund Accountant responsibilities as required; Prepare the annual financial statements and all supporting documentation for the auditors; Prepare tax supporting documentation for the fund tax returns; Monitor tax filing deadlines and FBAR filings and coordinate with tax firm; Coordinate and interface with auditors on year-end audits SAS 70 Type I (and possibly Type II in the future) engagement, and annual GIPS verification; Assist on special projects for internal or external reporting, as requested by the CFO.
Qualifications/Skills: CPA with 7-10 years of experience in investment management industry with strong preference for experience in public equities (including Asian public equities).; Experience in all aspects of partnership accounting for funds, including foreign currency experience; Strong experience in various financial reporting systems required. The firm currently uses Axys (Advent), Moxy and Peachtree. The firm is evaluating the potential for a technology platform for its accounting area which would integrate general ledger, investments, trade recording under a single solution. To this end, strong knowledge of financial reporting systems is a requirement; Experience in budgeting, payroll, general HR and accounting matters as they relate to fund management company; Experience supervising accounting team staff; Working knowledge of Advent Axys and Moxy software systems preferred.
See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.
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If talent was one side in this war, then what was the other side? The partners?
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An asset management company is looking for an experienced accountant to fill a controller position that will oversee its accounting department and report directly to the CFO.
If talent was one side in this war, then what was the other side? The partners?