Recruiting Season: There’s No Crying in Accounting

Posted on by Caleb Newquist

Are you desperate for an internship, full-time position, ANYTHING that won't have you slumming it as a freeloading 47%er? Email us your questions about getting a job, leaving a job or making hummus.

I'm in need of some serious help. Tonight was one of the most humiliating experiences I have had in recent memory. It was "Meet the Professionals" night at my campus. 30 national, regional, and local firms were in attendance. What went wrong? I didn't approach or talk with a single firm representative the entire 45 minutes I was there. My problem? What the hell am I supposed to talk to these people about? I am a Junior, which means I have a whopping 3 weeks of actual accounting curriculum under my belt. Obviously I am not going to be able to have any kind of technical conversation with these people. Another problem I have is that I'm more informed than most accounting students are about how the recruiting process actually works because I read accounting blogs, accounting forums, etc. So I don't feel comfortable asking the dumb or really basic questions. What are some semi-informed questions I could ask these people? What are some conversation starters? I feel like if I could at least start a conversation with these people I would be able to at least keep it up. But what the hell do I open with? Please help GC. I feel utterly depressed, dejected, worthless, and humiliated and I want to cry.
Okay, Junior. I'm going to breakdown your little sob story and hopefully you'll realize how silly this is:
 
I'm in need of some serious help. Tonight was one of the most humiliating experiences I have had in recent memory. – The occasional humiliating experience is good for you. The sooner you realize that laughing these off is the way to go, the better off you'll be. I'm not suggesting you starting soiling yourself in front of colleagues on a regular basis to increase your tolerance but at least try to avoid FREAKING OUT. Yes, emailing Going Concern in a fit of anguish qualifies as freaking out. That's okay though; we love this stuff.
 
I didn't approach or talk with a single firm representative the entire 45 minutes I was there. My problem? What the hell am I supposed to talk to these people about? – Were all these people unattractive and/or smell like the monkey house at your local zoo? Have you ever interacted with another human being? Try chatting up some comely person at one of the booths to find out what they do at their firm. Ask them questions. Answer their questions. ACT INTERESTED (it's better to be sincere, but I know it's hard sometimes). This is how other humans behave.
 
I am a Junior, which means I have a whopping 3 weeks of actual accounting curriculum under my belt. Obviously I am not going to be able to have any kind of technical conversation with these people. – I got news for you, they don't want to have a technical conversation with you. I get that some of you people like discussing what you would write in your comment letter on the latest release from COSO but most people at these events don't give a baker's fuck. Any student that approaches a campus recruiter and starts jabbering about something technical is going to get a blank stare until you shut up. After you walk away, they're going to look at their colleagues wide-eyed and silently mouth, "WHAT. THE. FUCK?"
 
Another problem I have is that I'm more informed than most accounting students are about how the recruiting process actually works because I read accounting blogs, accounting forums, etc. So I don't feel comfortable asking the dumb or really basic questions. – Oh, Christ. Congratulations on being "more informed" than everyone else. So I guess these firms should just pull an offer letter from their secret stack that they keep around JUST IN CASE someone like you came along and wowed them because you are ALL OVER THIS. But since you said exactly nothing, not even "Hi," to anyone, how could they possibly know that you're such a bright and informed recruit? Should they have just known by looking at that thoughtful gaze in your eyes and ran right over to you? At the very least you could have done this:
That would have helped.
 
What are some semi-informed questions I could ask these people? What are some conversation starters?  – I don't know, maybe try the polar bear joke? Or maybe "Hello"?  As far as questions are concerned, this isn't the White House briefing room so you can ask simple questions. "What do you like about your job?" and insist that they don't say, "the people." Everyone says that. It's a bullshit cop-out answer. If they SWEAR to you that "it's the people" then ask specifically, "which people and why?" Most people like talking about themselves so if you make it personal and not just about the firm, you'll get more interesting answers, and thus, more interesting conversations.

Please help GC. I feel utterly depressed, dejected, worthless, and humiliated and I want to cry. – Sigh. Refer to the headline.

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Job of the Day: Bring Your Extensive GAAP Knowledge to Fannie Mae

Thumbnail image for Need_a_job.jpgIt’s already been determined that Fannie Mae is TBTF so any concerns that you have about company security should be put to rest.
Plus, as a quasi-government entity (or is it just a government entity now?) your country will owe you a debt of gratitude.
Get the details for a Senior Manager of Accounting Policy position in Washington, D.C. after the jump.


Company: Fannie Mae

Title: Senior Manager – Accounting Policy

Location: Washington, D.C.

Minimum experience: 4 – 6 years public accounting experience or equivalent experience

Description: This Senior Manager of Accounting Policy will work with his/her Director and peers to ensure up-to-date company-wide accounting policies in compliance with relevant authoritative accounting literature. The Senior Manager will interact with internal customers (e.g., business units, Accounting Operations and financial reporting) to understand new transactions/business changes, research technical accounting literature and provide applicable accounting guidance.

Responsibilities: Evaluate new business initiatives, products and changes to the business through interaction with internal customers, understanding the facts and researching applicable technical accounting guidance; Write accounting policy memos documenting facts and applicable accounting policy guidance and discuss proposed accounting guidance with Directors, VPs and others within Accounting Policy Address implementation issues and questions; Interact and coordinate with consultants, auditors, and other stakeholders; Monitor accounting developments through the accounting setting process, communicate status of projects and impact to Fannie Mae, and provide guidance on the implementation of new accounting standards; Prepare and review SEC and other external reporting relating to assigned areas.

Skills: CPA required; Experience in the interpretation and application of SFAS No. 166, SFAS No. 167, FIN No. 45, SFAS No. 133, SFAS No. 5/114, SFAS No. 15/65, SFAS No. 115 and/or SFAS No. 157; Relevant SEC experience preferred

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 Information Systems Auditor

Need help deciding what you want to be when you grow up? Check out the rest of our posts on credentials for accountants.

If you’re really into internal audits and information systems, want to make decent money and never want to worry about having to find a job, you may want to look into the CISA.


Education Requirements
None that we know of, beyond what you’d need to secure a job in the field to gain required professional experience.

Professional Requirements
CISA candidates must have 5 years of relevant experience in IS auditing, control or security work and adhere to the IASCA Code of Professional Ethics. Experience must be obtained in the 10 years before taking the exam.

CISA Exam
The exam is administered twice a year (June and December) and candidates must register no less than two months before the exam date. The exam is made up of 200 multiple choice questions that must be answered within 4 hours. The score is graded from 200 – 800 points and a CISA candidate must score at least 450 points to pass. It covers the following areas:

IS Audit Process (10%)
IT Governance (15%)
Systems and Infrastructure Lifecycle Management (16% of Exam)
IT Service Delivery and Support (14%)
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (14%)

The Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) sets the standards of and administers the CISA examination.

Compensation
PayScale has some interesting figures on compensation for those with the CISA and we have to say, it’s one of the more lucrative credentials we’ve covered thus far. Interestingly, GT pays its CISAs far better than P-Dubs.

Deloitte $59,942 – $86,500
Ernst & Young $60,737 – $90,757
KPMG $70,736 – $111,331
PricewaterhouseCoopers $58,448 – $97,657
Grant Thornton $56,500 – $143,400

IS Auditors make between $60,047 – $82,842 while IS Audit Managers can make up to $108,226. The money is good if you’re willing to put in the hours and pass a little more than half of the exam.

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.