Category: Career Center

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Job of the Day: Harvard Management Company Needs a Senior Accountant

Harvard Management Company is looking for an experienced accountant to join their accounting and finance department.

The position is focused on the Marketable Securities Funds portfolio which is comprised of hedge fund investments. This person will be responsible for all the accounting and analysis for the portfolio.

Candidates should have a minimum of three years experience, hedge fund experience being a plus, and a CPA is preferred.


Company: Harvard Management Company, Inc.

Title: Senior Accountant – Marketable Securities Funds

Location: Boston, MA

Description: The Senior Associate will be responsible for all accounting and related accounting-specific analysis and reporting functions of the MSF portfolio as well as contributing to the accounting of the NR portfolio, as needed. This includes transaction entry, cash movement, and valuation input processes related to these portfolios as well as valuation review and analytical procedures. This also includes the reconciliation of transaction entry, accounting, and performance systems to ensure trade execution accuracy and proper recording of all transactions. The Senior Associate will work closely with other members of the external management accounting team to execute the accounting period close on a monthly basis. This process requires in-depth understanding and analysis of the MSF portfolio investments, including the documentation of significant matters on an ongoing basis. Lastly, the Senior Associate will be involved in the ongoing assessment of accounting and valuation issues related to these portfolios, including financial reporting considerations.

Responsibilities: Maintain the integrity of the portfolio accounting systems and general ledger records; Monitor proper reconciliation of transaction entry, accounting, and performance reporting systems; Contribute to financial statement and valuation analysis; Execute cash movements in coordination with custody operations personnel and ensure trades are processed accurately and timely; Analyze current industry and accounting guidance and its applicability to the MSF portfolio accounting process; Facilitate communication with external managers to provide relevant insight into the accounting and valuation process; Obtain and review fund valuation statements and assist in the analysis of these statements; Interact with and support the MSF portfolio managers regarding current investments; Assist during the annual audit, providing information as requested and maintaining audit reports throughout the year; Participate in special projects and duties as assigned ; Provide accounting-related support and reporting to HMC’s Tax department; Manage responsibilities pertaining to business continuity preparedness, documentation, Disaster Recovery site visits, etc.

Qualifications/Skills: BS Accounting, CPA preferred; Minimum 3-5 years of relevant accounting experience (hedge fund specific experience a plus); Ideal candidate will be very proficient with hedge fund L.P. investment accounting/industry issues; Knowledge and demonstrated interest of financial markets and products

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Credentials for Accountants: Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Check out our previous certification posts on the CMA and CFE if you are interested.

The CFP is a pretty common sense credential for an accountant to pursue if one is focused on client service and looking to work closely with clients to create a blueprint for their future financial success. If you became an accountant to help people put their finances together, this one is for you. Unless you’re the least bit unethical or otherwise of unsatisfactory moral fortitude; check the CFP board’s Candidate Fitness Standards if you’re not sure whether or not your sketchy past will pass.


Here’s a quick rundown on the CFP:

Education requirement
The CFP Certification Examination is administered by the CFP board and in order to take the exam, you will need to be knowledgeable in all of areas covered by the financial planning topic list. There are three ways to complete the educational requirement: CFP Board-Registered Programs, Challenge Status or Transcript Review.

CFP candidates must have a bachelor’s degree but that requirement is a condition of initial certification and is not needed to take the exam. The areas of financial planning are as follows:

• Financial planning: process and environment
• Fundamentals of insurance planning
• Income taxation
• Planning for retirement needs
• Investments
• Fundamentals of estate planning

Professional requirements
Three years of full-time relevant personal financial planning experience is a requirement for certification.

Career Options
There are approximately 59,000 CFPs today, twice the number there were a decade ago. Despite the explosion in this designation’s popularity or perhaps because of it, the CFP is still an in-demand certification that can only grow in these uncertain financial times. CFPs can end up at large or small firms, or wish to start a private practice.

Compensation and Other Benefits
CFPs with 20 years experience make twice as much as those just starting out in the field, according to PayScale. Starting median salary is about $50k, and by 20 years a CFP can make anywhere from $90 – $100k. Of course pay depends on location and NY CFPs will naturally make much more (about $75k in their first year) than, say, metro Houston CFPs. Naturally, adding an MBA to one’s resume on top of the CFP will likely earn you an extra $20k in your first year. Income potential is based mostly on performance (sales).

It’s clear that CFPs have a real desire to help their clients (and pay their bills), so if you’ve got stars in your eyes and are planning to make a partner’s salary one day, this may not be the designation for you. But if you’re driven, love finance, and have a real feel for investments and clients, perhaps this is just what you need.

Adrienne Gonzalez is the founder of Jr. Deputy Accountant, a former CPA wrangler and a Going Concern contributor . You can see more of her posts here.

Job of the Day: Cecil College Needs a Controller

Cecil College is looking for a Controller to lead its financial services department in North East, Maryland.

Candidates should have a minimum of five to seven years experience with CPA and Masters a plus.


Company: Cecil College

Title: Controller/Finance Director

Compensation: $85,000-$92,000

Location: North East, MD

Description: The Controller is a senior level position at Cecil College and is responsible for providing overall leadership and direction for the Financial Services Department which includes a broad range of financial and business services within a robust technology based system.

Responsibilities: Fiscal responsibilities: Accounting (accounts payable, accounts receivable, capital projects and foundation accounting, grant accounting, investment management and payroll), Annual Audits, Budget Development and Management, and Financial Reporting.

Business services responsibilities: purchasing, insurance/risk management controls, and auxiliary services. Three (3) Accounting Managers and the Manager of Procurement are direct reports. The Controller is the “subject matter expert” concerning the finances of the College and keeping the Vice President for Administrative Services, and the leadership of the College informed about its financial condition.

General responsibilities: Provide leadership for all financial operations of the institution which includes the design of systems, preparation/presentation of financial reports and budgets, preparation of documents for annual audits, monitoring of revenues and expenditures, conducting financial analyses and development of internal controls. Provide leadership in the use of technology to achieve administrative efficiencies. Recommend and develop strategies and goals to meet College objectives, and to support sound fiscal management. Participate in the development of short term and long range financial projections along with organizational and staff planning. Provide strategic financial leadership and support on potential alliances, investments, capital projects and other issues affecting the College’s business. Develop an effective structure and plan for monitoring projects and foster continual improvement. Establish fiscal and personal credibility throughout the organization. Enhance and/or develop, implement and enforce policies and procedures of the organization that will improve the overall operation and effectiveness of the College.

Qualifications/Skills: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance; experience in finance in a higher educational environment valued highly. CPA or Master’s Degree a plus Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, fund accounting and ability to apply knowledge within higher education setting. 5-7 years of progressively responsible non-profit accounting using an integrated accounting system. Proficient in the use of word processing and spread sheet software applications (Word and Excel preferred). Effective oral and written communication skills. 3-5 years of supervisory experience.

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Job of the Day: Jefferson Wells Needs a Tax Fund Accountant

Jefferson Wells is looking for tax fund accountants to join its New York office. The position will have a number of responsibilities including preparation of corporate and partnership returns including those for hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds and investment advisors.

The position requires a minimum of nine years experience, including multi-national tax experience and a broad understanding of technical tax issues. CPA or EA certifications are preferred.


Company: Jefferson Wells

Title: Tax Fund Accountant

Compensation: 80,000-150,000

Location: New York, NY

Responsibilities: Prepare tax returns for S corporations, C corporations, and partnerships; Preparation of accounting records, and financial statements and tax returns for several investment partnerships; Reviewing and preparing yearly tax filings for Hedge Fund, Private Equity Funds, Real Estate Funds, and Funds’ general partners and investment managers; Performing security analysis and calculating various Fund tax adjustments; Preparation of Tax Form 1065 income tax returns and related K-1s and supporting schedules; prior experience with form 1120; Recording all accounting transactions of the fund and ensuring all investments are booked accurately; Preparation of limited partner capital calls and capital distributions; Researching tax treatment of complex financial instruments and corporate actions of Funds.

Qualifications/Skills: Experience with CorpTax software is required; Bachelor’s degree in relevant subject area required (accounting, auditing, information technology, sciences, taxation, finance etc.); Minimum nine years applicable experience in tax required (federal, state and local or international tax); Experience with multi-national corporate taxation preferred; Broad understanding of tax technical areas and a strong familiarity of FAS 109 preferred; CPA, MST, Enrolled Agent (EA) or Project Management (PMI) certifications preferred.

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Survey: CFOs Don’t Think You Should Start Your Career at a Big 4 Firm

Accountemps released the results of a survey today that shows many Chief Financial Officers think that the best place for accounting graduates to start their careers is in a “small to midsize company.” The surprising thing about this particular survey is that the numbers aren’t even close.

When CFOs were asked, “In which one of the following employment environments would you recommend today’s accounting graduates begin their careers?” Their responses were:

Small to midsize company 56%
Small to midsize public accounting firm 16%
Large corporation 14%
Large public accounting firm 8%
Other/don’t know 6%


“Small to midsize public accounting firm” dropped 14% from 2005.

Oh right. And “large public accounting firm” came in dead last. So, for the CFOs surveyed, they’re not really hot on public accounting like they were five years ago and they’re really not crazy about the Big 4 and next tier firms.

Accountemps Chairman Max Messmer says, “At smaller companies, employees often must wear many hats because workloads are spread between fewer workers. Having a wider range of duties enables new hires to quickly build skills, gain exposure to diverse areas of the business and assume strategic roles earlier in their careers.”

From a personal standpoint, we’ve seen both the small and the freakishly large so we’ll try to provide some perspective here.

Maximilian’s thoughts are accurate as it relates to smaller companies. They do have more of a sink or you’re out on your ass approach that will help you grow up quick in that company. Additionally, small businesses have the tendency to be a little more flexible when it comes to your work/life balance. There aren’t any fancy initiatives or bombardments of emails; it’s more of the behavior of those around you. In small companies, you see people taking vacation for days and weeks at at time. That should encourage you to do the same.

At large companies, you hear about people that are losing their accrued vacation, mostly because they are lunatics, but also because it’s likely a widespread occurrence at the company. People in large firms have the asinine notion that somehow the wheels would fall off if they were to disappear for two days, forget about a week. This sounds ridiculous but it’s true.

However, large firms and companies do have resources and opportunities that smaller shops simply cannot provide. Want to move to San Francisco? Your large firm has an office there. Think you might want to spend two years in Australia? Your large company can make that happen. Small shops? Not so much.

What the press release doesn’t say is why the CFOs think you should start at a small/midsize company. Max’s opinion is fine but did he conduct all 1,400 of those phone interviews himself? Of course not. The survey was “a random sample of [CFOs at] U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.” Chances are, most of those CFOs have never worked at a big company so their perspective is likely skewed.

The other thing is – trying not to overstate this – you’ve got to make up your own damn mind about what you want to do with yourself. Do you want Big 4 experience? Then go for it. Do you want a flexible schedule that doesn’t involve a multi-level bureaucracy? Then a small company is probably more your speed.

No survey can answer those questions for you.

THINK SMALL: CFOs Recommend Accounting Grads Start Their Careers at Smaller Companies [Accountemps PR]

Job of the Day: Computer Sciences Corporation Needs a Senior Accountant

Computer Sciences Corporation is looking for an experienced accountant to join their group in Sterling, VA. The position is responsible for supervising the posting and balancing of general and subsidiary ledgers, along with account analysis and journal entries.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of six years experience, including three year of supervisory experience and a CPA license is a plus


Company: Computer Sciences Corporation

Title: Accounting Senior Supervisor

Location: Sterling, VA

Description: Supervises the posting and balancing of general and subsidiary ledgers; ensures accuracy and timeliness. Oversees the preparation of account analysis and journal entries to ensure records

Responsibilities: Supervises the posting and balancing of general and subsidiary ledgers; ensures accuracy and timeliness; Oversees the preparation of account analysis and journal entries to ensure records are organized and standardized; Oversees the coding of invoices and vouchers with proper account distribution support to ensure accuracy and validity; Oversees and prepares, as appropriate, foreign currency exchange and remeasurement calculations and journal entries; Supervises and assists in the compilation of data for preparation of regularly scheduled and special accounting reports; verifies statements to ensure accuracy and to meet company information needs; Supervises and assists in the implementation of accounting systems and accounting control procedures to ensure adherence to company guidelines; Recommends and/or initiates the selection and hiring of employees. Trains and evaluates employees to enhance their performance, development and work product. Addresses performance issues and makes recommendations for personnel actions. Makes recommendations for salary increases, transfers and terminations to manager; Provides supervision of the accounting staff to ensure activities are completed accurately and in a timely fashion. Analyzes and resolves work problems or assists employees to resolve problems;

Qualifications/Skills: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience; Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting or related field strongly preferred; Six or more years of accounting experience; Three or more years of leadership experience included; CPA or CPA candidate preferred; Experience working with generally accepted accounting principles; Experience with SAP, Hyperion and Lotus Notes a plus.

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

What the AICPA’s New Website Means for CPA Exam Candidates

The short answer: not really anything but I spent 3 years slogging through that last design and can I tell the AICPA that it was absolutely awful? I’m not bitter or anything but I can only imagine what candidates felt like trying to find even the simplest bit of information.


They tell you before you take on the CPA exam to check out cpa-exam.org and run the tutorial before you actually sit down for a section so you can familiarize yourself with the computerized format. CPA Review providers cannot duplicate exam content or the environment exactly, as it is proprietary information, so simulations are a must-do and navigating is a skill you’ll pick up along the way if you don’t already have it. So as long as you’ve already done that, your next stop is the redesigned AICPA website.

Watch a PPT on becoming a CPA, learn about joining the AICPA as a candidate member, or check out their many resources on career options in the accounting industry. You’ve seen Start Here Go Places (an AICPA project that markets the exciting career of accounting to high schoolers and beyond), I don’t need to point you to that.

The AICPA is hot on marketing and excellent at it, even if they do make a poor choice every now and then (Benjamin Bankes, I’m talking about you, dude), so it’s no surprise that they are trying to seduce undecided college students and disgruntled finance professionals looking to switch professions. Things are slightly better in accounting so it isn’t all slick marketing, but I digress.

You can check licensure requirements for your state and even find out how much “average” accountants make. I encourage all of you considering accounting as a career to doublecheck those numbers with Going Concern salary threads.

Anyway.

Overall it’s an improvement and hopefully aggregating this information on the AICPA’s website will make it easier for candidates to find what they need. What do you think?

(Remember also that the ultimate authority on your CPA exam experience is your state board, NASBA, or CPA exam administrating company (like Washington), not the AICPA. Always check with your state board et al. before filing applications or forms if you are unsure on any CPA exam information you read.)

Adrienne Gonzalez is a Going Concern contributor and former CPA wrangler. You can see more of her posts here and all posts on the CPA Exam here.

Job of the Day: Moody’s Needs a Senior Revenue Analyst

Moody’s is looking for someone to join their accounting team in San Francisco as a Senior Revenue Analyst.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree, between two and five years experience in a Big 4 firm, and a CPA license.


Company: Moody’s Corporation

Title: Senior Revenue Analyst

Location: San Francisco, CA

Description: Operate with considerable latitude in performing highly complex duties related to preparing and analyzing financial information to record transactions, prepare financial reports, and review and verify accuracy. Provide value-added expertise to consultants, auditors, and others in development of new concepts, techniques, and standards. Utilize wide-ranging experience to conduct research and problem-solving. May operate in a lead role within the team.

Responsibilities: Ensure that all invoices and key contracts are reviewed for revenue recognition compliance in accordance with US GAAP (SOP 97-2, SOP 81-1, SAB 101); Prepare Deferred Cost analysis for Costs related to SOP 81-1 revenue recognition; Maintain Project spreadsheet with up to date information on on-going and new SW arrangements; Maintain Revenue Analytics spreadsheet on a monthly basis reconciled against all recognized revenue related to on-going or completed services; Reconcile general deferred revenue account on a monthly basis and keep track of all additions and subtractions to account; Work with the Professional Services team to maintain and improve the process to monitor the progress towards completion for fixed-price arrangements; Answer questions from Legal and Sales related to draft orders with the potential revenue recognition implications; Ensure that all revenue deferrals are communicated and recorded properly, and that the recognition of revenue occurs in the proper periods; Prepare and record monthly J/E’s to recognize revenue; Prepare revenue accounting memos and/or checklists to document accounting positions for unusual and/or significant deals; Participate in revenue recognition meetings with internal and external auditors; Ensure compliance of the Revenue Recognition process with Sarbanes Oxley.

Qualifications/Skills: CPA or equivalent qualification; 2-5 years working with within a Finance / Accounting environment; Previous experience with multi-national software revenue recognition or Big 4 accounting firm experience a distinct advantage; Ability to understand legal contracts and determine the proper revenue recognition; Experience with accounting practices and knowledge of accounting rules and regulations faced by public software companies, including revenue recognition; Experience with ERP systems including Peoplesoft and Softrax as well as hands on experience with Great Plains a plus; Bachelor’s degree required. Additional education or degrees in finance or accounting are highly preferred.

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Small Businesses Need Accounting Help + Accountants Want Opportunities = This Should Be Easy

With all the uncertainty out there, more and more small businesses are cropping up. As anyone who has started their own business knows, there are plenty of decisions to be made, including your accounting method. While that answer may come easy, at some point small business owners have to ask themselves honestly A) Do I know squat about accounting? B) If no, do I hire someone full time or do I contract the work out as needed?


First, if you’re not versed in accounting and taxes are you really going to take the time to learn everything you need to know at the behest of growing and refining your business? Have you seen the tax code? You want to take advantage of everything you can, right? Best to call an expert.

Secondly, if you do decide to get some help, are you willing to pay for someone to keep the books, file tax forms, manage the payroll, etc. etc. full time? Are you going to pay them a salary, benefits, supplement their daycare, give them vacation? If you’ve got the resources to bring someone on, that’s great, start interviewing people. But what if you’re still in the early stages? Finding a CPA firm that can provide those crucial services for you can save a lot of headaches.

On the other hand, if you are already an accountant, maybe this growth in small businesses is your opportunity to get a little entrepreneurial yourself. CPA firms are the most profitable small businesses out there and somebody has to help those business owners keep their debits, credits and tax forms straight; it might as well be you.

Job of the Day: Fannie Mae Needs a Senior Accountant

Fannie Mae is looking for an Senior Accountant – Debt, Derivatives in their Washington, DC/Metro location.

The position requires a minimum of six years experience, with exposure to FASB 52, 91, 133, 155, 157, 159 a plus.


Company: Fannie Mae

Title: Sr. Accountant – Debt, Derivatives

Location: Washington, DC/Metro

Description: Operate with considerable latitude in performing highly complex duties related to preparing and analyzing financial information to record transactions, prepare financial reports, and review and verify accuracy. Provide value-added expertise to consultants, auditors, and others in development of new concepts, techniques, and standards. Utilize wide-ranging experience to conduct research and problem-solving. May operate in a lead role within the team.

Responsibilities: Compile, review, analyze, and record financial information to the general ledger; Complete monthly closings; Prepare balance sheet and profit and loss statements, consolidated financial statements, and other accounting schedules and reports; Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly reconciliations to ensure general ledger account information is accurate, consistent, traceable, and auditable; Execute and manage timely and accurate transactions; Identify control weaknesses, communicate to management, and operate in a lead capacity in making remedial changes to tighten and enhance controls and mitigate risk; Design and produce reports; Conduct research and analyses on highly complex issues. Devise creative and effective solutions; Provide requested information to auditors, consultants, and others on highly significant matters requiring coordination; Design, modify, install, and/or maintain accounting systems to ensure adequate recognition of financial transactions; May perform highly complex projects or participate as a team member on projects at the highest level of complexity.

Qualifications/Skills: Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent required; 6-8 years; CPA preferred; Knowledge of financial instruments (debt, derivatives, short term investments) and/or familiarity with financial statements of financial services companies; Knowledge of any of FASB 52, 91, 133, 155, 157, 159 a plus.

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Job of the Day: Morgan Stanley Needs a Real Estate Accounting Manager

Morgan Stanley is looking for an experienced accountant to join their real estate group to be responsible for all aspects of accounting for the company’s real estate leases and associated fixed assets.

The position requires a minimum of three years experience with real estate accounting experience preferred and advanced Excel skills including pivot tables and lookup functions.


Company: Morgan Stanley

Title: Real Estate Accounting Associate/Manager

Location: New York, NY

Description: This position will be responsible for all aspects of accounting for Morgan Stanley real estate leases and associated fixed assets. This position will work closely with the space reporting, strategic analysis, lease administration, space planning and property management groups.

Responsibilities: Review of new leases to ensure financials are accurate in the Real Estate System; Calculate and record straight-line rent adjustments as well as prepare monthly reconciliation and analysis; Promptly respond to requests of internal & external auditors by providing lease documentation and supporting schedules; Month end close and expense accruals; Prepare balance sheet reconciliation of all rent & rent-related accounts; Accrue & monitor all costs associated with abandonment of space & assess adequacy of vacant space reserves on a quarterly basis; Review all Corporate Services fixed assets to ensure they are accounted for in accordance with Fixed Asset policy and are assigned to the right locations; Monthly analysis of space & occupancy variances and drivers; Compute and record Interest on Fixed Asset allocations; Assist with all aspects of accounting for the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney joint venture; Support the Global Reporting Space Initiative; Ad hoc reports.

Qualifications/Skills: Strong Accounting skills with detailed working knowledge of the General Ledger; 3-5 years of accounting experience; Must have advanced Excel skills, including use of Pivot Tables and Lookup functions; Detail oriented with strong analytical and interpersonal skills; Proven track record of good organizational skills, sound time management, and ability to prioritize and multitask; Team oriented; Systems experience: Omega, REM, BOXI; Communication and presentation skills; Bachelors in Accounting; Background in Real Estate Accounting; PC Skills: MS Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, Mainframe General Ledger.

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.

Job of the Day: Peak6 Investments Needs a Senior Accountant

Peak6 Investments is looking for an experienced accountant to join their team in Chicago.

An ideal candidate will possess superior analytical and reconciliation skills, at least five years of experience in Big 4 accounting is required; CPA designation and previous payroll knowledge is a plus.


Company: Peak6 Investments, LP

Title: Senior Accountant

Location: Chicago, IL

Description: This position will require you to manage accounts of the general ledger within a specific business unit of PEAK6 for which you will be solely responsible in addition, serve as the main contact for all payroll related issues.

Responsibilities: Manage accounts of the General Ledger System; Post and reconcile journal entries; Process semi-monthly payroll for 400+ employees; Work with third parties to resolve payroll tax issues; Assist with the annual audit and be a point person for outside auditors; Drive complex reconciliations Communicate with business leaders within your given business unit; Understand and apply regulatory business rules to accounting procedures.

Qualifications/Skills: Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance or related degree; Prior Broker Dealer or similar industry experience preferred; Minimum 5 years experience with automated accounting systems in a customer service, high volume, deadline driven production environment is required. Mastery of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and have familiarity with SEC reporting rules. Creating journal entries and maintaining accounts within an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required—Dynamics GP is preferred.

See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.