KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, announced today the release of the KPMG GO app for iPhone® and iPad®, designed to provide tips and information to help college students in every major launch their job search in today's competitive employment environment. Available for download in the Apple iTunes Store, KPMG's new application delivers fresh videos, articles, blog posts, Q&As, and branding tips from its partners as well as its professionals in HR and campus recruiting. "Today's students face a very competitive market and need every advantage to make a good impression and secure that first job," said Blane Ruschak, KPMG's executive director of university relations and recruiting. "We are excited to offer a resource that provides helpful and practical advice to young adults entering the job market." [KPMG]
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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]
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Job of the Day: Visa Needs a Senior Financial Analyst
Visa is looking for an experienced professional to a Senior Financial Analyst role in its Foster City, CA location.
Responsibilities include applying U.S. GAAP to business activities and documenting analysis and conclusions in HR accounting, with an emphasis on compensation and pension accounting.
Qualifications include a CPA and strong technical accounting skills (FASB statements: 87, 88, 106, 112, 123R, 146, and 158). Big 4 experience and exposure to IFRS is preferred.
Company: Visa
Title: Sr. Financial Analyst
Location: Foster City, CA
Description: The Sr. Financial Analyst will apply U.S. GAAP to business activities and documenting analysis and conclusions in all areas of Human Resources accounting, with an emphasis on compensation (stock-based compensation, deferred compensation arrangements, executive compensation) and pension accounting.
Responsibilities: Technical accounting expertise and operational application of the following specific pre-Codification FASB statements: 87, 88, 106, 112, 123R, 146, and 158; Drafting and maintaining global accounting policies for Visa Inc. in accordance with GAAP and SEC guidance; Providing non-U.S. geographies with technical accounting guidance and assisting them in solving Human Resources-related accounting issues; Preparing and reviewing journal entries, complex general ledger account reconciliations, and analyses to support accounting estimates and adjustments.
Qualifications: CPA license (active status); Strong technical accounting skills and experience in handling complex U.S. GAAP accounting matters, as well as the demonstrated ability to perform technical accounting research and use technical accounting research tools; Direct experience with the following specific pre-Codification FASB statements: 87, 88, 106, 112, 123R, 146, and 158; Strong communication skills, especially in writing technical accounting position papers and explaining and presenting technical accounting matters and positions to auditors and management.
Preferred qualifications: Familiarity with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), including the significant differences with U.S. GAAP, especially in the areas of stock-based compensation and pension; Expatriate accounting and tax experience; Big 4 and public company experience, including familiarity with Form 10-K and 10-Q disclosures and disclosure requirements; Operational experience in Human Resources accounting.
See the entire description over at the GC Career Center and visit the main page for all your job search needs.