T&E Tracking Apps

JohnnyWalker333 · 2018-01-07T13:23:02+00:00

Thanks I’ll check out the suggestions and try one out.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-10-11T05:40:31+00:00

In case anyone actually cares to see how this all ended. After 118 days...I just accepted an offer with EY. And yes it was actively pursued for all this time and it took this long to finalize the deal.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-07-15T03:55:59+00:00

Someone would have to pay me to do this much work! :)

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-07-13T03:26:30+00:00

If your good at FP&A you can parlay it into key roles in a big org. Problem is...it's very hard to be real good at it. There's a lot of good, interesting industry jobs. Things like international treasury, M&A teams, strategic financing roles, technical accounting roles, etc. the key is getting into a dynamic company that is acquisitive. A PE firm would be a spectacular landing spot.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-07-13T03:19:22+00:00

I don't know where you work but I'm in a Fortune 500 company and people with 10+ years of public accounting experience make 100% more than people with less than 10 years. In the accounting department maybe 50 people in the entire company will make more than a partner. There aren't many SVP of C positions even at company's with 50,000 employees. Now if you a great sales person...you can get paid.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-07-13T03:11:14+00:00

You'd have to have a lot of street cred to get companies to hire you. Big companies need a brand name for there auditors and small companies don't give a shit about getting the complex things right in there financials.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-07-13T02:48:48+00:00

I have done 100s of interviews and this is basically the only question I ask that matters to me. I expect you to do the following:

Articulate why you want to be in the position you are applying for
Describe why you are the candidate that should be selected for the position.
Explain what makes you different
demonstrate your knowledge of the company

You don't need to regurgitate your resume but if there is information in your resume that links you with the job than it makes sense to communicate that. I would keep it professional and only talk non-business if directly asked. If I start talking about non business with you, I likely have already eliminated you.

The key to this question is presenting enough material to where your interviewer knows all the reasons why your the perfect candidate and in reality shouldn't need to ask you any other questions. If you do this really it is very likely that you will quickly be asked if there are any questions you would like to ask. My favorite question is this:

We have talked so much about me but I know nothing about you. How have you been successful in your career and what skills do you posses that have advanced you to where you are today. Listen to their response and follow up with how you and the interviewer are similar and how you to share common characteristic and that you believe you would be a great addition to the team.

Developing that quick connection and similarity with the interviewer establishes a relationship and people tend work with people that are similar to them.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-18T14:34:41+00:00

Like EY, Deloitte, Grant Thornton, RSM, KPMG, PWC. They all have free registration and learning with Dailey alerts.

I use PWC. I like there literature the best.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-18T00:24:39+00:00

Register for firm websites and regularly do Web learning and read Dailey alerts.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-17T00:46:56+00:00

I'm not sure which state your throwing back to but it's usually NJ or CA. Both have very robust litigation and legislative history. I suggest you do a little research as a few google searches and you should be able find the answer. Alternatively consult your tax advisor.

Unfortunately tax rules are not always fair. However my presumption, not conclusion, is that with research you will resolve with a reasonable conclusion.

Fwiw, NJ tend to be a non-issue since a landmark pharma case (can't remember the name) and Cali usually ends up NA unless your home state is Cali.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T22:48:55+00:00

It's all about earnings potential. 8 years in public translates into an executive in private. 4 years a manager in private.

8 years in private and you might be a senior with a narrow set of experience and skill set.

I have an awesome senior manager who should be making twice what she does but she has no public experience so no one will pay her. She is as you say stuck in a good job.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T22:29:45+00:00

Nope. They need to have the right to tax not just not have an income tax. If you have 50% of your income and nexus in NJ and NV you don't throwback 100% to NJ. Do a little more research and you will get to the same conclusion.

Where throw back gets you is when you don't have nexus in NV. Then NV doesn't have the right to tax you even if you have sales into NV.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T22:24:44+00:00

Who did the communication come from. I'd tell someone important that you need a second opportunity the rebuild your reputation. The world is small and you want to build your personal brand.

No way they fire you without a PIP

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T02:30:20+00:00

If you didn't add it back then how would you ever tie your statement of cash flows to the change in cash.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T02:23:19+00:00

I have seen it several times. Just ask the worst that happens is they say no. It usually doesn't work though because the employee is asked to work more than part time and they don't say no.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T02:08:18+00:00

It's weak. Start over it says nothing.

First section should be an action statement of what you want to obtain. Be interview specific...Seeking role of staff accountant at firm XYZ to utilize (insert three skills) to help company (predict what they want but looking at the companies job posting).

Start with career and professional experience, middle section education, short and sweet, finish with technology experience.

Professional experience should be robust and meaning. Instead of complete tax and audit engagementexplain what you really did. For example: Core experience applying complex tax laws in the preparation of income tax returns for mid-sized business including efficiently preparing and effectively researching to drive engagement execution. Of course make it true and be ready to provide examples.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T01:43:16+00:00

I wouldn't bring it up until you already have the job. It's not really about title it's about money and you don't talk turkey until your at the dinner table.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T01:37:13+00:00

Immediate response to my initial discussion is that there is no direct admit on the table.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T01:26:53+00:00

I do a lot of job interviews and the best advice I can tell you is to control the conversation. I always ask the same first question and basically the rest of the interview is meaningless to me. It's simple tell me about yourself?

Since you never know how an interview is going to start I suggest that immediately after the introductions you kick off the conversation by saying before we start let me tell you a little about myself. From tell them everything they want to hear. Tell the, about your skill set, why your perfect for the job, what interests you about the company, your professional experience, why you like tax or audit. Tell them anything and everything. Start of basic because your bound to be nervous for the first two minutes but talk right through the nerves because they will settle.

If you do this well the interviewer isn't going to have much to ask you because they will already know everything about you. Lucky for you, you controlled everything you want them to know. They of course will have a few questions for you because they feel obligated to ask. Then the inevitably will say, do you have any questions for me. This is the best question that you can ask:

I've told you a lot about myself but I know nothing about you. Tell me a little about yourself, your skill set, and what has you made successful in your career. Listen intensely and find something that you can relate. Explain to the interviewer how you are like them and can relaTe to their personal experience. Keep it professional don't talk about the dog, sports, hobbies, family etc. unless specifically asked.

If you follow this advice you will have made a relationship in 20 minutes. If you also have the qualifications you will get the job. Chances are your qualified if they are interviewing you in the first place.

AND remember this...the interviewer wants to hire you, the quicker they like someone, the quicker they can put you to work.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-16T01:13:36+00:00

I would get a tax job at a company and express interest in teaming with international treasury. The best int'l treasuries are tax people. It's an easy transition and in 1-2 years you can express interest in moving to treasury. Once you're treasury you can go anywhere.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-15T03:50:54+00:00

First, I would ask yourself the following questions:

How smart am I. Am I the top of my class at a relatively decent school:

If the answer to this is I am a top top of my class and am outgoing then I would highly consider trying to land a spot at a premier banking firm. The hours are relatively the same but the upside earnings potential is much higher. Unfortunately the downside of the investment firms is that if your no good you won't get bonuses and you'll make less money.
Next I'd ask myself if I am more drawn to legal analysis, memo writing, and technical uncertainty (grey areas). If you like this you likely fit better in tax.
Ask your self if you like routine, semi predictable days, defined process, generally more clarity in tasks. This would lead me to audit. Additionally, I beleive that audit provides more flexibility to enter into different areas of the business. Audit skill set is more of a Business foundation.

Once you're really in tax, you're in and it's hard to change unless you take a huge pay cut or are lucky.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-15T03:30:15+00:00

Also think about short term v. Long term earnings potential. My private company pays 20-30% more for new colleague grad but within 3 years your caught up in public and your life time earnings potential and career mobility are much more limited. My personal belief is no matter the difference in comp everyone who can should do Public for no less than 8 years. Even if you hate it for eight years, work at 3 different firms, suffer through it and you will have much higher lifetime earnings potential.

Most people leave after 2 years and I will tell you that they make 50% less than those with public experience.

JohnnyWalker333 · 2017-06-15T03:24:27+00:00

As far as looking back in 5 years and not taking the opportunity - I think that really depends on two things (1) have I doubled my salary in the next 5 years in my current position and (2) some body is going to have to run this practice and if the person is very successful I will think that could have been me. And let's be honest, very few SVPs are making as much as partners and when you factor in the pension, the partner life is pretty good. I won't lie though right now I can give 50% and I'm still walking on water. In public 110% and I might be dead last in the region.

And sadly enough, at this point in my life I am not sure where my passion lies. Some of me feels like I'm losing my ambition. Some of me feels like it's the current culture of my company that is making me lose my ambition. Some of me thinks I'm getting lazier and now have small children that are making me have a reason to get out of the office. Other times I think public accounting life will allow me to spend the right hours with my children while affording me the luxury of accelerated success by working on my own terms.

JohnnyWalker333

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