Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Job of the Week: Taxes Aren’t Going Away…Ever

Posted on by Caleb Newquist

hire me2.jpgFortunately for you tax people anyway. It was a rough week for a lot of you out there. Luckily, in our selfless nature, we’ll kindly remind you to check out the GC Careers Center for your next career move.
Hopefully, we’ve found someone their next job, because we’re sure some of your severance is blown already:
Details, after the jump


Company: John Hancock
Location: Boston
Title: Senior Accountant – Investment Tax Accounting
Description/Responsibilities: Manulife’s US Taxation Department within the Corporate Division is responsible for the tax compliance and financial reporting for Manulife’s operations within the US tax jurisdiction. Maintaining timely and accurate tax basis inventory of U.S. jurisdiction investments to support financial reporting and IRS audit work.
Assisting in the implementation of appropriate process improvements and technology solutions for the ongoing tax accounting and controls to support tax return preparation and financial reporting.
Assisting in analyses of investment tax positions taken and proposed to support ongoing valuation allowance analysis and tax planning initiatives.
Experience/Skills Required: Minimum Bachelors degree in accounting required, experience with tax accounting for investments preferred.
CPA or M.S.T. or M.S.A. would be preferred but not required. 3-5 years’ experience with: life insurance company financial reporting for NAIC and U.S. GAAP, experience with Canadian GAAP is a plus.
Must have expertise in Federal and State taxation laws as well as a strong knowledge of accounting for investments.
See the full description at the GC Career Center and if this position doesn’t get you amped, go to the main page and find something that does. We can’t do everything.

Related Posts

Corporate Tax Jockey Wants Some Details on Life in Public Accounting

Welcome to the Rock-Chalk-Deadhawk edition of Accounting Career Emergencies. In today’s edition, a young tax accountant working for a Fortune 100 company wants to jump over to public accounting and wants to know what expect (other than the long hours, of course).

Looking for some average to above-average career advice that doesn’t come from your breathlessly judgmental friends? Wondering if a co-worker or client is annoyed with you but can’t seem to pick up any hints? Short on family time and need some solutions? =”mailto:advice@goingconcern.com”>advice@goingconcern.com and we’ll make you “Parent of the Year” in no time.

Turning back to tax trouble du jour:

Dear Going Concern,

I am interested in hearing your thoughts about how to make the move from the private tax world and into a public accounting firm. I just completed a Macc degree and have spent nearly one year working in the tax department of a Fortune 100 company. During the college recruiting frenzy I had an opportunity with a regional firm but opted for the large company instead because I felt it would provide more opportunity. After working on the private side for awhile I have realized that I want to pursue an opportunity in public accounting.

As I research firms to determine what they are looking for in an experienced hire I frequently see “1-2 years public accounting experience”, “MST and/or JD/LLM”, and “CPA or enrolled agent”. These qualifications have prompted me to contact you in order to receive your uncensored comments and answers to the following questions:

• Are a lot of Tax Senior positions filled by law school graduates?

• What is the difference between 1-2 years in public tax compared to 1-2 years at a Fortune 100 corporate tax department?

Dear Tax MAcc,

You kept it simple, so much so that we can barely find an angle to mock anything that you wrote. With that, I’m guessing you’re not working at GE (aka “best tax law firm“) otherwise you wouldn’t have tapped out your inquiry.

As a general rule, I’d say that the answer is no. It may depend on your definition of “a lot” and also what tax group you’re referring to but most of the SAs in tax practices are accountants with law school grads sprinkled in here and there. A public accounting firm is a choice of last resort for most (if not all) law school grads but in these desperate times they may be more common than in years past. Public accounting firms advertising for a JD/LLM simply don’t want to narrow their candidates to the MSTs/CPAs/EAs out there as anyone with a JD/LLM is clearly qualified to perform several aspects of the job.

Secondly, the main difference between 1-2 years working in public accounting versus 1-2 years at F100 tax department will be the diversity of tax issues as it relates to various clients and transactions. The tax department of a Fortune 100 company works for one client and should be well staffed with competent professionals that know the tax issues inside and out with very few surprises (unless you run your tax department like WFT). During the first two years in a public accounting firm your superiors will throw everything they can at you, including new clients and all the work they don’t want to do. This smorgasbord of clients will pose different issues and transactions that wouldn’t necessarily see at your Fortune 100 company.

Anyone made the jump from private to public? Give our hero some of your thoughts. I’m going to try and get my ears to quit bleeding.

Job of the Day: Morgan Stanley Needs an Internal Audit Senior Manager

Morgan Stanley needs a Internal Audit Senior Manager to join its Institutional Securities Group. This person will assist the Institutional Securities audit team in completing its annual audit plan, communicating to senior management and the Audit Committee those areas requiring control enhancements and improvements.

The position requires a minimum of seven years experience with a CPA license or equivalent strongly preferred.

Get more details on this position in New York, after the jump.


Recruiter: Morgan Stanley

Title: Internal Audit Senior Manager – Institutional Securities Group

Location: New York, NY

Minimum experience: 7 years

Description: The person in the role will assist the Internal Audit department’s Institutional Securities audit team in completing its annual audit plan, communicating to senior management and the Board Audit Committee those areas requiring control enhancements and providing recommendations for improvements.

Responsibilities: Preparing audit planning memorandum including identifying and evaluating key risks, setting audit scope, determining budgets and staff assignments; possessing considerable experience performing walkthroughs, assessing the internal control environment and performing controls and substantive testing; being able to supervise and mentor junior staff, and review work papers to ensure they meet internal standards; being able to manage audits to meet budgets and the time frame for completing audits; being able to properly assess potential findings for significance; drafting audit reports including writing clear and concise findings and recommendations; following up actions quarterly with clients through to completion.

Qualifications: 4 year college degree required, CPA or international equivalent strongly preferred; seven to ten years experience in financial services with a preference for those with at least five years auditing financial services; strong knowledge of financial instruments including derivatives (e.g. good understanding of option valuation, able to discuss trading strategies with the front office).

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