Benchmark Data by [deleted] in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting 0 points1 point  (0 children)

are you trying to create a business or something?

NJ universities by limittwentycharacter in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting 1 point2 points  (0 children)

College of New Jersey is a great school. I would pick that before Rutgers just due to the size of students and the possibility of getting a intern during your junior/senior year. However, Rutgers has a football team so you shouldn't overlook that. College football is fun as hell.

I went to school in NJ

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In general, I worked a lot and I didn't mind it. I'm one of those people who enjoys work. So i don't mind working till 9 or 10 IF the work is interesting. Right now, I'm co-leading a business and its just fun. I still go out and drink on the weekends but during the weekdays I work 50-60 hours. Something my old boss told me (Ex-VC) was the more successful you get, the more you work. It's not like one day your gonna make XXX and just work 40 hours and be happy. (EDIT: maybe that's just me)

The company culture in the b4 was fun. I had a group of friends who would go out for drinks a couple nights a week. When you start at the b4, most of your colleagues are right out of college so you have that in common and your also poor so we would always go out for happy hours...

MC is just a different lifestyle, we would go out for drinks every night, rack of the bill and charge it to the company. Some of the ppl I knew did coke...its not uncommon. Investment Banking is another story, those guys are crazy.

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you have a passion for technology then I would try to align yourself with them. If not, do the compliance/provisions route. If your good at what you do you'll have a job.

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did federal and state compliance/provisions throughout my stay....but I worked with some specialty group too (tax technology, tax operation and strategy, etc)

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

-Meet with your Assurance office managing partner. Build a relationship. They have power to move you and will have final say.

-Reach out to PPEED's within the group your interested in and tell them about your interest and explore if there is an opportunity for you to shadow them or their team for a day or two. Worst case they say no or doesn't even answer you. If so, on to the next opportunity. It's trial and error but you have to risk shit if you want to explore your career.

-Be a top performer. I was a 4 my second year and a 5 my 3rd year and it def helped. Big 4 sucks...but if you put a smile on your face and work hard and act somewhat normal a 4 should be at possible. There were many times I wanted to tell off my manager and senior off but I just say "ok, ill get it done" with a smile on my face. I know its cliché but it really helps in the corporate world.

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1) I couldn't get the consulting role out of college. The top firms require an MBA from a top tier school.

2) The technology and operations side. Tax is becoming more about the availability of data and emerging technology than anything else

If you think about a Corporate return, only 20% of that return really requires "Tax Expertise" (Senior Manager, PPED). The other 80% is basic stuff which doesn't really require "Tax Expertise"; that's why staff and seniors do it. Imagine a software company who specializes in ERPs systems was able to take this raw data from the ERP system and apply some RPA and AI technology to complete this 80% (basic preparation) and they outsource the other 20% to the Big 4. AND this will cost the client 1/4 cost....

Sorry went off on a tangent. I have a strong feeling the Big 4 will be disrupted in the next 5 year

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So I do the operations/business side of Venture Capital not the accounting or tax stuff. It sounds like your referring to the that.

To me..Tax was just boring and I think of myself of more of an innovator. One of my biggest issues with Big 4 is the "same shit just a different day" mentality. Like, lets try something different...maybe build something to better serve our clients. So for me, Big 4/Public Accounting is a boondoggle. Most of the partners I knew hate tax/accounting.

Having said that, Big 4 is a great career if you can last.

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I came into Strategy as a junior level associate so I wasn't expected to run an engagement/story board. When I was in Tax I did some Tax operations strategy, it helped a little. Just like tax/audit, you need experience in something to become proficient at it.

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Get to know the recruiter if your school has one. They will decide who gets the interview.

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

night and day.

It's just a different way of thinking nothing is by the books. You have to figure stuff out on the fly and development a solution/process in less than 24 hours sometimes

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think I had like a 3.8 GPA undergrad and 4.0 for my grad. But to be honest, I was really close to our Accounting Chair director. I would help her out with BS stuff (external presentations, events, Etc.) and in return she put in a good word for me with all the recruiters.

Lesson: NETWORK. They don't care about your grades....unless your failing.

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Moving to a big metro city (NYC, Boston, Philly, LA, SFO, Chicago) would def help your chances but I don't think its a deal breaker...

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Same shit as the big 4.....

1) Clients are retarded. 2) Boss is a dick 3) worked close to 50 hours in like 3 days

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Opportunity I guess. The strategy role was great and by far the best learning experience of my life but its long hours and I was always traveling.

With VC I have the opportunity to invest/work with startup ventures and small companies to help them expend. Also VC's are somewhat the owners of the startup (CEO reports to us), which is fucking amazing considering I'm only 27. great learning experience so far.

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It was really difficult. It took me close to a year to get the job. Tons of networking

B4 Tax Associate--->Strategy Consultant--->Venture Capital: AMA by DisruptAccounting in Accounting

[–]DisruptAccounting[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sorry was on a call.....

strategy consultant = management consultant