CPA2b Magazine - Fall 2018

FALL 2018 | VOL. 14, NO. 1

Dream

Big Kely Rodriguez

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Plus...

ROADS LESS TRAVELED

SOFT SKILLS: THE DIFFERENTIATOR

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DATA ANALYTICS AND ACCOUNTING CAREERS CPA2b Fall page 2018 | 30 wicpa.org

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YOUR FINAL STEP TOWARD EARNING YOUR CPA. A MASTER’S DEGREE IN PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING FROM UWM’S LUBAR SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Your CPA designation is more than three letters behind your name. It shows that you’ve earned the ultimate credential to advance your accounting career.

The MS in Management-Professional Accounting program at UWM’s Lubar School of Business is a one-year, full-time program that integrates CPA exam-related content directly into the curriculum. With the option to focus on either Assurance Services (audit) or Taxation, we develop highly professional and employable specialists in accounting.

Learn more at lubar.uwm.edu/mspa.

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CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

Fall 2018 | Vol. 14, No. 1 A publication of the WICPA Educational Foundation, Inc. | wicpa.org

Contents features 12 b aware | career options

Roads less traveled Accounting careers can take many forms. Read what some CPAs have to say about their jobs in fields other than public accounting and industry.

By Donna Pinsoneault

16 b versatile | soft skills

Soft skills: They’re THE differentiator A CPA and recruiter explains what soft skills are, how they differ from technical skills and why they’re important.

By Carver Smith, CPA

18 b hired | internships

Smooth transitions: How to turn your internship into a job offer Compare the experiences of four young professionals who successfully transformed their student internships into careers.

By Carol Rybak

22 b prepared | job search tips

4 b recognized | member profile

Dream Big International student Kely Rodriguez has overcome major obstacles in pursuit of her dream to become a successful CPA. Find out about her journey, what it’s like in her home country of Honduras and how she’s helping people there.

By Marcia Tillett-Zinzow

departments 3 b in the know | words of wisdom 10 b affiliated | welcome new members 36 b strategic | career planning

Help! I don’t have experience to put on my résumé.

Even if you don’t have a lot of work experience, you can still make a good impression. Follow these tips from the experts.

By Marcia Tillett-Zinzow

26 b organized | time management

Juggling like a pro Having trouble fitting everything into your schedule?

A young professional reveals her secrets about how to manage your time and keep your sanity.

By Jaclyn Bell, CPA

30 b educated | technology

Data analytics and accounting careers Learn from an accounting educator the skills you should acquire while still in school so you can successfully lead in the age of big data.

By Kevin Rich, PhD

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2018-2019 WICPA Educational Foundation Board of Directors: President Michael E. Friedman, CPA, JD Secretary/Treasurer Roberta A. Ward, CPA Directors Christopher M. Cholka, CPA, CGMA Kenesha A. Coleman, CPA, MPA Jessica B. Gatzke, CPA, MST Elizabeth Hazi, CPA John R. Heindel, CPA Diana L. Henke, CPA Jessica M. Horning, CPA Wendy K. Potratz, CPA, MBA, CMA, CGFM Wendi M. Unger, CPA Boula Xiong WICPA Board Liaison Katherine L. Hauser, CPA, CGMA WICPA President & CEO Dennis F. Tomorsky, CPA, JD, CGMA WICPA Chief Financial & Operating Officer Tammy J. Hofstede

Publication Team:

ACCOUNTING SCHOLARSHIPS

Receive $2,500

in scholarship money!

Editor Marcia Tillett-Zinzow Design & Layout Brett Stallman Advertising Terry Felker Printing Special Editions

Apply online at wicpa.org/scholarships through Feb. 28, 2019.

Applications will be accepted through Feb. 28, 2019. Scholarships are awarded from the WICPA Educational Foundation to qualified accounting students in their last year to meet the 150-hour requirement to apply for a Wisconsin CPA license.

CPA2b is a biannual publication of the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Change of address should be sent to: Membership, W233N2080 Ridgeview Parkway, Suite 201, Waukesha, WI 53188; Phone: 262-785-0445; Fax: 262-785-0838; email: jessica@wicpa.org. Statements or opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the WICPA. Publication of an advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of a product or service by CPA2b or the WICPA. Articles may be reproduced with permission. © Copyright 2018 CPA2b.

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in the know | YP insights

WORDS of WISDOM Young professionals share their career insights and advice.

W

hen the WICPA met with its Young Professionals Committee, the group discussed what they wish someone would have told them while in school. Read their insights and words of wisdom to find out what a CPA career might look like for you.

Thinking back to your first accounting position, what was most surprising or challenging?

• The level of responsibility you have and how quickly you jump right into performing your job responsibilities.

• The learning curve is fast, and you will be amazed at how quickly you catch on. Accounting can be a learn-as-you-go profession.

• You’ll work independently and realize you don’t know as much as you thought. This is when it’s important to ask questions. You’ll be surprised at how helpful and smart people are.

• Much of your time is spent not doing accounting.

A lot of your day consists of communicating with co-workers and clients.

• Being able to manage time is important. You’ll need to make time to record client billable hours, understand expectations on your deadlines and be able to prioritize responsibilities.

Why was getting your CPA credential worth the extra effort, money and time?

• Clients and fellow accounting peers perceive you differently if you have your CPA credential. You are more trusted and respected. The return on investment is high compared to the upfront costs of taking the CPA Exam.

• Your knowledge was certified, and you have proof of your expertise.

• People come to you with problems; your opinion has more weight and you’re considered a subject matter expert.

• In public accounting, you cannot become a manager if you don’t have the CPA credential.

• In industry or private accounting, job descriptions typically indicate that the CPA credential is preferred because companies want someone with that experience and knowledge.

• The CPA credential allows for opportunities outside of financial work because it lends credibility.

• A lot of companies will pay or reimburse you for study materials, as well as provide a bonus for passing the CPA Exam.

Why would you advise a college student to join and maintain WICPA membership?

• The networking events allow you to meet people and ask questions through natural conversation.

This allows you to get a feel for the area of accounting you want to go into. And after you’re credentialed, these events provide opportunities to stay connected to your profession and your CPA peers.

• To prospective employers, including the WICPA on your résumé gives you marketability and shows you are involved in more than your typical school or job responsibilities.

• You can get connections for potential internships since companies prefer that you are a member of accounting groups.

• The WICPA enables you to get to know people in your field outside of school or work. This provides exposure to different career paths with people your age.

• The discount on CPA Exam study materials makes it worthwhile to maintain membership.

• After you’re credentialed, it pays to be involved so you can stay current on the accounting news you need to know through the WICPA website and publications.

• Maintaining your membership provides you with many opportunities to gain and strengthen leadership skills and become a well-rounded professional.

Want access to valuable member benefits?

Visit wicpa.org/join.

CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

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recognized | member profile

Photos by Mark Hines

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Dream Big Kely Rodriguez is a future CPA who is making dreams come true.

By Marcia Tillett-Zinzow

K

ely Rodriguez is a student with a plan—one she’s had since she was 9 years old. That’s when she decided she would someday be an accountant.

In December, she’ll graduate from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point with dual degrees in accounting and business administration and the 150 credit hours needed to take the CPA Exam and eventually become a licensed CPA. Of course, obstacles come with every long-term plan, and Kely has encountered some major ones.

Nevertheless, she persists because it’s not just her future at stake; it could also be the future of others in her home country of Honduras.

Why accounting?

“It sounds silly, but I always liked to dress up,” Kely laughed. “When I was 8 or 9 years old, I would see the accountants going to and from the bank dressed in their business suits, and I said, ‘Oh, I want to be an accountant so I can look like them!’”

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recognized | member profile

Then her older brother enrolled at a private university and majored in accounting. Kely saw the homework projects he was working on and took an interest. Inspired by her brother, when she got to high school and had to choose an area of concentration, she chose accounting. Had she not come to the United States to attend college, Kely’s accounting education would have been completed in high school. She describes what her career path would have looked like:

Photo courtesy of Kely Rodriguez

“Once you graduate from high school, you take a long exam—nothing like the CPA exam, but long—to make sure you have the skills needed to become an accountant. Then you go to the Institute of Accountants and get your certification, which is your license and your seal; and every time you do a job, you stamp it with your seal to certify it.”

Coming to the United States Kely first came to the U.S. in 2010 as a participant in the Scholarships for Education and Economic Development (SEED) program, sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development and designed and administered by Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.* The program required participants to complete two years of college courses and then return home, where they would use what they learned to make a positive difference in their home countries.

When she left Honduras to come here, Kely came into a family she didn’t know in a country she’d never been to and a state she’d never heard of—and she didn’t speak any English. In addition, coming from a family-oriented culture made it a tough goodbye.

“My family was freaking out,” Kely said. “They didn’t know where I was going, what it would be like there or who I would be with. There were two other students from Honduras, but I didn’t know them. And I didn’t know anything about my host family, even though they knew all about me.”

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Kelly’s American family came to visit her in Honduras a few months after she went home in 2012. (L to R) Host father Joel Wissmueller; Kely’s mother, Gloria Enamorado; Kely; host mom Meg Wissmueller.

When she arrived in the states, the sea of families waiting for their students at Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee was intimidating. “But then I saw my family,” Kely said. “I knew them because they were holding this huge sign with my name and my country’s flag on it, and I just blocked out everything else.”

Her host family, the Wissmuellers, live in Wausau, so Kely was enrolled at Northcentral Technical College (NTC) for her two years of study in the SEED program. Because there was no accounting degree program, she majored in small business management. And when she wasn’t studying, she was performing community service—300 hours, in fact, over the two years.

In 2012, Kely went back home to Honduras.

Readjusting to Honduras

Going back to Honduras also brought another period of adjustment, as Kely went from having everything she needed here to having essentially nothing back home. While she was happy to be with her family again, she had to leave them after a couple of months to find a job in the city—because that’s where the jobs are. She and her friend Rubidia (also a SEED student) moved to San Pedro Sula, considered the industrial capitol of Honduras, found jobs at a manufacturing company and rented an apartment. They were making $300 a month and paying $85 for rent.

“We didn’t even have a stove for the first two months, and when we did get one, it was a little twoburner stove,” Kely said. “We were using our suitcases as a table, and our bed was a mattress on the floor that we both slept on. But we were just thankful to have a job because so many people don’t.”

Other expenses included $100-plus for taxi fares to and from work and a monthly tax of $25.

Called a “war tax,” the $25 is a fee residents have to pay the gangs just to live there. Law enforcement corruption is a contributing factor. “The police can’t do anything,” Kely said.

Taking a taxi to and from work was expensive.

There were some days they would skip a meal just so they could pay the taxi. But it was the safest way for Kely and her friend to get to and from work.

“San Pedro Sula is one of the most violent places in the world,” Kely said, and the company they worked for was in one of the least safe, gangcontrolled neighborhoods. One taxi driver eventually refused to pick them up. The next driver they found would pray over them every day for their safety.

Photo courtesy of Kely Rodriguez

Returning home to San Nicolas was almost as difficult as leaving it. “It was really hard to leave my family here,” Kely said. “They are so amazing, and I didn’t know if I would ever see them again.”

Kely visits children in one of the villages.

Kely stayed at the manufacturing company for seven months and then went home to San Nicolas again, where she found work at Child Fund International, a nonprofit agency she had volunteered for as a teen.

Back to the states In 2015, Kely returned to the U.S. to visit her American family in Wausau. During her visit, they suggested she apply to UW-Stevens Point because it had a lot to offer and was close enough for her to come home on weekends. Because she would be able to transfer many of her NTC credits, she majored in business administration.

One day, one of her accounting professors— Dr. Ruixue Du—took her aside and, because she was doing so well in her class, asked if she was an accounting major. Kely said no, and that’s when she discovered she could have a dual major.

She had not wanted to take on a second degree because of the cost to her host family, who are paying her tuition. But Dr. Du told her it would not be any additional cost.

“You mean I can do that?” Kely asked. And she could, so she did.

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Photo by Mark Hines

recognized | member profile

Kely’s experience at UW-Stevens Point has been life-changing.

She also started the campus’s first accounting club with the help of another accounting instructor, Bo DeDeker, and two other students. In addition, last year Kely was treasurer of the Internacional Club; a leader in a program called Tea & Talk, sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship; a WICPA Ambassador; a Becker Ambassador and recipient of the WICPA’s 2018 Student Excellence Award.

While she was scheduled to graduate in 2019, Kely took heavy loads each semester and will graduate ahead of schedule this December. She plans to take a CPA Exam study course in the spring, and the Institute of Management Accountants recently gave her a Certified Management Accountant scholarship. “I will need to decide which certification to get first,” she said.

Kely’s ultimate goal is to be employed by a public accounting firm (hopefully, one of the Big Four), work hard and be successful so she can help the people of her country. Considering the strength, courage and drive that has carried her this far, it’s very likely she’ll succeed.

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“Kely’s ultimate goal is to be employed by a public accounting firm, work hard and be successful so she can help the people of her country.”

Marcia Tillett-Zinzow is a Wisconsin freelance writer and editor.

Contact her at mtzinzow@icloud.com.

*The SEED program officially ended in 2015 after 28 years of supporting economic development by empowering youth leaders from underserved areas throughout Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The experience was an epiphany for Kely. “My childhood was pretty hard,” she said, “and I didn’t have everything. But I saw that there are even worse situations and that you can make an impact.” So she and her friend Wendy—who started volunteering with her at age 12—put their heads together and started a charitable program called Give With Joy. “We are both big dreamers,” Kely said, “and we just knew that we could do this.”

They began collecting used clothing and toys for children in need in the outlying villages. They even set aside a percentage of their salaries to buy new clothes and shoes for them. At Christmastime 2013, the two took what they had gathered to the villages, where poverty is so severe that many children have never received a gift or a new set of clothes.

Photos courtesy of Kely Rodriguez

K

ely is passionate about helping the people in her country. She’s been serving her community since she was 12 years old, when she started volunteering for Child Fund International, a local nonprofit in her hometown of San Nicolas, Honduras. After she left her job at the manufacturing company, she went to work for the nonprofit.

Because she had experience and was fluent in English, they soon gave her a promotion. “It was a big responsibility,” she said, “but I loved it because I could see the difference we were making in the families’ lives.”

“In our culture, there is a tradition of wearing new clothes and shoes on Christmas and New Year’s,” Kely said. “We were grateful for the used things people donated, but we wanted the children to have new clothes and shoes to wear.”

While she felt good about giving clothing and toys to the children, last year Kely decided she wanted to do something more sustainable.

So she started soliciting donations to go toward buying bicycles for the children.

“It’s like the proverb about giving a man a fish or teaching him to fish,” she said. “Many children have to walk between one and three hours to get to the nearest school. If they have a bike, it will be easier for them, and they’ll get home early enough to help the family and go to work.”

Kely said most children from the villages work on the coffee plantations picking coffee beans.

The two founders of Give With Joy will continue setting aside a percentage of their incomes for their charity, and they hope that soon, in addition to bikes for the kids, they’ll also be buying school supplies and uniforms. No doubt, their generosity will continue putting smiles on the faces and hope in the hearts of children in the villages.

“There is so much need there,” Kely said. “Everywhere you look, there is need. So any tiny, little thing you do can make a difference.”

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affiliated | WICPA membership

NEW WELCOME STUDENT MEMBERS Gideon T. Apaflo, Illinois State University Heather Autrey, Blackhawk Technical College Gaby Barcenas, University of Wisconsin–Fox Valley Joseph Barretto, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Cody Beyersdorf, Waukesha County Technical College Chady Bitre, Carthage College Theresa Bolog, Carthage College Richard Borremans, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Kiara L. Brogan, Concordia University Claire Butters, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Alexandria Cady, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Maria Chereji, Marquette University Hannah Ciesielczyk, St. Norbert College Kathleen Conforti, Marquette University Donovan Conklin, Carthage College Kara Cragg, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Storm Darrow, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College James C. Dean, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Caitlin DeBruin, Marquette University Olivia Dietrich, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Qinrui Ding, University of Wisconsin–Madison Yvonne Duckhorn, Waukesha County Technical College Kayla Ellis, Waukesha County Technical College Jared Enevold, Wisconsin Lutheran College Nathaniel J. Essman, St. Norbert College Dale H. Gamez, Lakeland University Rachel Gierach, Concordia University Lydia Glatzel, Wisconsin Lutheran College Nicholas Goehring, Marquette University Robin Grabinski, Marian University Britley Grulke, Wisconsin Lutheran College Jazmyn Haack, Carroll University Holly Halfman, Moraine Park Technical College Justin Harrington, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Siobhan Heiss, Wisconsin Lutheran College Tommy Hess, University of Wisconsin–Washington County Hunter Hochmuth, University of Wisconsin–Madison Branninghan Hutchison, University of Wisconsin–Platteville Ian Johnson, Carthage College Christina Jorgenson, Blackhawk Technical College Maksym Kalynyuk, Carthage College Shari Kassube, Lakeland University Abigail Klockow, Marquette University Erich B. Kuss, KPMG LLP Philip LeClaire, Carroll University Andrew L'Empereur, Lakeland University Abby Majercik, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Kimberly Maly, Blackhawk Technical College Haley Marks, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay 10

CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

Mary Martens, University of Wisconsin–Waukesha Ashley Mathis, Edgewood College Claire Meier, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Rita Melssen, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Jonathan Mendez Ornelas, Carthage College Hadley Meyer, University of Wisconsin–Waukesha Rebecca Mikelonis, University of Wisconsin–Waukesha David Murphy, Marquette University Zach Newsome, University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Sandy Nies, Waukesha County Technical College Megan Novak, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Colleen E. O’Neill, Marquette University Ashley Ortloff, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Max Paul, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Michelle Peterman, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Ashley Pierce, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Joseph Plaszkiewicz, University of Wisconsin–Parkside Preston R. Podolske, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Noelle Poppe, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Malory Puser, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Emily Reinhard, Carthage College Stephanie Reuter, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Taylor Ries, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Dyana D. Rodriguez, University of Wisconsin–Waukesha Danielle Ross, University of Wisconsin–Madison David Rzewnicki, Carthage College Nereida Santiago, Waukesha County Technical College Abigail Schmidt, University of Wisconsin–Washington County Paige Schultz, University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Laura L. Sierra, Alverno College Cari Singer, Blackhawk Technical College Haylee Sippel, Carthage College Tatiana Sirbu, BDO USA, LLP Kristen Skellwies, University of Cincinnati Laila Sohail Khan, University of Wisconsin–Fox Valley Joseph Sowa, Carthage College Doris Stevenson, Moraine Park Technical College Matthew Stick, University of Wisconsin–Waukesha Sarah Taylor, Blackhawk Technical College Kaelin Thibodeau, University of Wisconsin–Fox Valley Shiina Thor, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Travis Tinder, Blackhawk Technical College Haruki Toben, University of Wisconsin–Waukesha Becka Valdez, HT Enterprises, Inc. Megan Walters, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Rose M. Warren, University of Wisconsin–Platteville Tyler Wheeler, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Laura Wiltsey, Waukesha County Technical College Jonathan Wittmann, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

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aware | career options

ROADS

LESS

TRAVELED

BY DONNA PINSONEAULT

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L

isten to the whispers. Public and corporate accounting are fulfilling, rewarding careers; but if inner voices are urging you to venture off the beaten path, you might want to listen. Jon Gaines, JoAnn Marson and Carolyn Stittleburg are three CPAs who did just that. And they never looked back.

JON C. GAINES, CPA, CGMA, MBA, became intrigued with accounting as “the language of business” in high school. College opportunities included public accounting experiences and a corporate accounting internship through the INROADS program. After graduation, Gaines took a secure position with a bank—a stable environment where he describes his career path as “well laid out.”

That inner voice, though, kept urging him to apply what he’d learned to make a difference in other arenas. “I had opportunities to work with social and fraternal organizations during my college days, and serving others has been part of my DNA for a long time,” he said. “So I took the risk. I left a stable, secure position to help build start-ups. That really stretched me professionally.”

Gaines now serves as vice president of business services and finance for the Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, a nonprofit corporation that helps organizations make the best decisions possible to fulfill their missions. Gaines remains enthusiastic about his decision.

“Working in a nonprofit adds more ummphh to the work,” he said. “Resource allocation, bringing in funding, managing competing contributor needs, technology improvement and the complexities of

Jon C. Gaines, CPA, CGMA, MBA, uses his accounting skills to assist new entrepreneurs in various sectors, including retail, manufacturing and hospitality.

reporting are just some of the challenges we deal with each day. You need a resilient, ‘can do’ attitude to help make things happen.”

For Gaines, working in the nonprofit arena offers comparable if not better benefits than working in a corporate setting. “Each day we see how an investment is helping to build a business or a home or improving a person’s education,” he said. “Where else can you bring your heart, mind and soul to work and see someone’s quality of life improve every day?”

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aware | career options

After hours, Marson completed a Master of Business Administration with an accounting emphasis, and then she applied for a position at a small college in Minnesota. “I didn’t think I had a chance,” she said. “I just threw my hat into the ring.”

Marson was hired, and six years later she took a position at Viterbo where, to date, she has taught for 30 years. Along the way, she passed the CPA Exam on her first try—and works to promote the certification.

“We have a real shortage of doctoral candidates, but teaching at the college level is a most rewarding career,” she said. “When you teach college students, you get to see them grow so much. You see those light bulbs go on. It’s awesome!”

Marson also enjoys keeping up to date with and helping students understand ongoing changes in accounting. “I love that it doesn’t stay the same,” she said. “Every two or three years we work with new texts, and we learn about and discuss reasons for the changes.”

JO ANN MARSON, CPA, CMA, MBA, assistant professor of accounting at Viterbo University, says she entered the accounting profession “through the back door.”

“I’d always assumed I would be a teacher,” said Marson, who was a math major in college. “I never intended to be a CPA. I took an accounting course just to see where it would go.”

After graduating, Marson enjoyed teaching middle school students but found herself second-guessing her career choice. “Actually, I had been questioning early on whether I wanted to teach children, but financial considerations and long-time planning kept moving me solidly in that direction.”

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Though many of her students are getting internships and plan to complete the CPA Exam, Marson’s own experience helps her understand why students often feel unsure about making career choices. “I encourage them to find a career they like, one that challenges them,” she said. “Down the road, if you want to make a career change, don’t be afraid.”

CAROLYN STITTLEBURG, CPA, MBA, is a financial audit director with the state of Wisconsin’s Legislative Audit Bureau, a nonpartisan legislative service agency that conducts audits and evaluations of state agency operations. As a marketing major, Stittleburg was required to take two accounting classes at UW–Oshkosh. Surprised to find that she enjoyed them, she registered for intermediate accounting. By semester’s end, an insightful professor convinced her to switch her major to accounting.

“You think you know what you want,” Stittleburg said.

“Then you find you really want something different.”

That “something” appeared for Stittleburg while interviewing for multiple public and corporate accounting positions. “I also had an intriguing interview with the Legislative Audit Bureau,” she said. “When it was over, I said to myself, ‘Wow! This is where I want to work!’”

Twenty-five years later, Stittleburg hasn’t changed her mind. “School provides a good framework, but the culture at the bureau provided a different motivation. I learned about state government, how to communicate effectively and how to manage a wide variety of projects,” she said.

Challenges keep on coming, “but in a good way,” Stittleburg said. “There are always new systems, new standards, new opportunities for growth.“ Stittleburg explained that a career at the Legislative Audit Bureau provides opportunities to work on different types of audits, including financial and compliance audits, and to serve the public and the Legislature. “It’s gratifying to serve the Legislature and seek to improve state government through our audit work,” she said.

THEIR ADVICE? Consider all options. “CPAs have many options,” Stittleburg said. “Public accounting and corporate roles are what you learn most about in school, but there are similar roles in other areas, including government, that also provide a rewarding career.”

Find your passion. “Get involved—volunteer, serve with committees and boards that align with your passion, learn something new, meet people,” Gaines said. “Take risks, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.”

Don’t walk alone. Stittleburg benefited from listening to informal mentors. After her second year on the job, for example, a superior suggested she volunteer to do some division-wide training. “I didn’t think I was ready to go before the division in a role like that, but I followed his advice,” she said. “He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.”

Gaines agreed. “Working with a whole new industry stretched me professionally,” he said. “I’ve gotten amazing help from a great group of advisors and mentors who push, prod, challenge and congratulate me along the way. It was truly the ‘it takes a village’ concept working with me to ensure I was adding my talents to the ‘pie.’”

Stittleburg appreciates the learning culture of the audit bureau and the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects. “One day you might be auditing an investmentrelated program, and your next project might be auditing the state’s Medicaid program,” she said. “In addition, we have a collaborative environment where we can draw on each other’s strengths to complete the work more effectively and to grow and develop our skills.”

Love what you do. “If you see a job you are interested in, give it a try,” said Marson. “Teaching is a rewarding career. You have to be on your toes always, but if I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t do it.”

Donna Pinsoneault is a freelance writer based in Brookfield.

Contact her at dpinsoneault@gmail.com.

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versatile | soft skills

Soft Skills: They’re THE Differentiator

A

fter years of study, you just earned your accounting degree, and now it’s time to begin the job search. But plenty of people graduate with accounting degrees each year, so what will differentiate you from the

By Carver Smith rest of your graduating class?

Grades? Extracurriculars?

Fancy résumé paper? Sure, those may grab a recruiter’s attention, but in the end, they may not always make the difference. What will set you apart, however, are “soft skills.”

As a professional recruiter who specializes in helping companies find top accounting talent, I

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frequently see candidates list the “hard skills” on their applications and resumes. These include work experience, education, academic credentials, software skills or industry knowledge. In a highly technical field like accounting, all of this matters.

However, all things being equal (and they rarely are), the soft skills—the inherent, intangible characteristics of you as a person that provide significant professional benefits—stand out more.

While you can learn or develop some soft skills over time—like public speaking, etiquette and listening skills—others are innate, such as drive, ambition and ability to handle difficult situations well. Personality and emotional intelligence, which includes attributes like relating to others, reading a room and being self-aware, are also soft skills.

While these skills evolve and may be influenced by circumstance, they are often core to who you are.

The importance of soft skills goes beyond the interview process Soft skills not only differentiate you in your résumé and during the interview, they also differentiate you in the workplace and enhance your ability to progress within an organization. Years ago, many public accounting firms were drawn to a candidate’s 4.0 GPA because they thought they had to hire the best and brightest. But good grades don’t necessarily mean a person is an effective communicator. Many technically competent accountants cannot articulate concepts to people who don’t have financial backgrounds, don’t know how to motivate their staff or lack the entrepreneurial instincts needed to sell professional services. These soft skills are critical for anyone wanting to succeed in the accounting field, whether your goal is to make partner at a major firm or climb the career ladder in industry.

Soft skills alone are not enough Previously in my career, I led campus recruiting at a major public accounting firm. While there, we studied our most successful people. From this study, we learned that for the first few years employees can survive on their attitude (soft skills), but eventually aptitude (hard skills) became a critical factor required for advancement. Individuals with a solid blend of both soft and hard skills had virtually unlimited advancement opportunities within our firm.

So, although soft skills are a big differentiator, it’s important to remember they aren’t everything.

You’ve probably heard people say that someone was “all show and no go.” Eventually, if you lack the technical expertise to back up your soft skills, it will catch up with you. That’s why continuing education and staying technically sharp is just as critical as developing your soft skills.

Showcasing your soft skills Your résumé, and the stories it tells, is a great place to start highlighting your soft skills. When writing your résumé, be sure to include specific examples of accomplishments, both concrete achievements

Public speaking is a soft skill you can develop over time.

like GPA and degree as well as activities or projects that highlight your soft skills. The recruiter or hiring manager should be enticed to meet you and learn more about these accomplishments. When you have the opportunity to tell your story in person, make sure to bring your examples to life. Anyone can write a great cover letter, but if you back up those statements with memorable examples, you will likely impress the interviewer and increase your odds of moving forward in the process. Once you land that great opportunity, the development of both your hard and soft skills has only just begun.

Carver Smith is a partner at Baker Tilly Search & Staffing LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP. Contact him at 414-777-5322 or carver.smith@bakertilly.com.

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hired | internships

How to turn your internship into a job offer

By Carol Rybak

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I

nternships can be more than just valuable experience to put on your résumé. They’re often the first step on a path to a full-time position after graduation. Many companies design internships with an eye toward recruitment and often make job offers to students who work hard and successfully complete their programs. If you haven’t thought about it yet, be sure to give serious consideration to engaging in at least one internship before you graduate.

accounting software that’s used on the job and realize how inputs will affect the end result.

Read on to explore the experiences and insights of four accounting professionals who turned their internships into job offers.

with BDO USA LLP, took a nontraditional career path to her current position. She had taught elementary school for nine years when she started helping her husband do minimal tax work for his business. She realized she liked the accounting work and decided to return to school at the University of Wisconsin– Whitewater to pursue a master’s degree in accounting.

Kevin Buchholz, CPA, staff accountant with Sitzberger & Co., learned about his internship opportunity from a weekly job email his professor at Carroll University sent to accounting students. He had worked an internship with a private company in his junior year, so he was excited to get public accounting experience during his last semester of school.

Buchholz prepared almost 200 personal tax returns during his part-time internship. He also helped with administrative tasks like filing extensions. The owner of the company was impressed with Buchholz’s quality and output of work and offered him a full-time position to start after graduation.

“In my private company internship, I worked solely on inventory. However, in public accounting, I was exposed to more areas, such as audit, tax and monthly bookkeeping. Now I focus more on business returns for corporations and partnerships, working with a lot of Wisconsin manufacturing clients. When it’s not busy season, I’ll work on audits and bookkeeping,” he said.

Buchholz believes it’s important for students and interns to speak effectively and efficiently so they can have meaningful discussions. He also recommends that students have a strong understanding of

“I would advise students to be open to opportunities and find an internship that works for them,” Buchholz said. “Looking back, I’m glad I started with a smaller company because the hours are manageable, and I still have time to do things I enjoy outside of work.”

Heather Hanson, CPA, senior accountant

While in school, Hanson took advantage of as many networking opportunities as possible. It was through the school’s Beta Alpha Psi golf event that she was paired with CPAs from her current employer. She asked about available positions, and they mentioned the goal of their firm’s internship program was to hire interns after graduation. Soon after the golf event, Hanson was hired for a part-time busy-season internship while finishing her last semester of school. During her internship exit interview, she received a job offer to start after graduation.

“You put your best foot forward and hope to receive a job offer,” Hanson said. “I think it’s important for interns to have strong communication skills as well as investigative or problem-solving skills to be able to figure out something without being given a lot of background information. Interns should also be strong in Excel and be able to quickly pick up technical skills that others are teaching them.”

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hired | internships

Hanson advises college students to network as much as possible during an internship to get to know the people they might be working with.

“The work itself will be the same, but it’s the people around you that will help get you through busy season,” she said. “Try to land an internship at a firm where you can see yourself working. People in the firm want you to grow and succeed, so make sure to learn as much as possible during the experience.”

Ben Liebmann, staff accountant with KerberRose SC, learned about his internship opportunity by attending a fall career fair at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. About a month later, he was hired for a busy-season tax internship, which he worked part time while going to school full time and finishing his last semester.

“When interviewing for internships, I inquired about the possibilities of a fulltime position after graduation. That was a determining factor on deciding which firm was right for me,” Liebmann said.

Midway through his internship, Liebmann accepted a job offer from KerberRose and started working full time a week after graduation.

“Internships are the ultimate ‘try before you buy’ for students,” Liebmann said. “There’s no better way to get to know a company than to work with them firsthand.”

Nicole Theriault, CPA, senior accountant with Sikich LLP, had three internships with Sikich before being hired as a full-time employee. She first talked to the firm’s campus recruiters while attending a fall career fair at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater during her sophomore year.

Theriault performed her first internship with Sikich the following summer, working in audit, where she learned about employee benefit plans and met with clients. She then had an internship during busy season, during which she asked her supervisor if she could get experience doing individual tax returns.

Theriault’s third internship was a month later in the summer. During this time, she helped with employee benefit plans and accounting services.

“I strongly believe you should take advantage of all opportunities to develop yourself, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. I gained valuable experience during my three internships at Sikich and was able to find my niche in accounting services. In this role, I’m able to communicate with smaller clients who may not fully understand accounting and guide them to be successful,” she said.

“As an intern, I was able to develop soft skills by interacting with clients and learning about the etiquette for doing so. Even though you are a tax preparer, it’s important to remember you are working in a service industry to help clients,” he said.

During her internships, Theriault also had monthly discussions with her supervisor to discuss future plans. She made it a point to express interest in working at the firm full time after graduation.

Liebmann experienced a seamless transition from intern to full-time staff. He enjoys being at the firm as a permanent employee because he now has recurring jobs, monthly responsibilities and his own clients. This level of responsibility allows him to take pride and ownership in the work he performs.

“I was offered a full-time job after my second internship, about a year before graduating from college,” Theriault said. “My advice for interns is to have strong communication skills, critical-thinking abilities and knowledge in Excel. Also, know that it takes time to develop your knowledge and grow as an individual, but it’s well worth it.”

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Ne Network

45

75

Le

Im

Implement

Learn

79

Su Succeed

CPAs in Industry Fall CPAs in Industry Fall Thursday, Sept. 20 Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Milwaukee

Not-for-Profit Accounting Wednesday, Sept. 26 Sheraton Hotel, Brookfield

Thursday, Oct. 18 Glacier Canyon Lodge, Wisconsin Dells

Tax Thursday–Friday, Nov. 1–2 Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Milwaukee

Accounting & Auditing Thursday, Nov. 15 Sheraton Hotel, Brookfield

Technology Thursday–Friday, Dec. 6–7 Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Milwaukee

As a student, you can attend these WICPA conferences for only $30!

Registration will open approximately eight weeks prior to each conference.

To learn more and register, visit wicpa.org/conferences. CPA2b Fall 2018

| wicpa.org

21

prepared | job search tips

“Help!

I don’t have

experience

to put on my

résumé!”

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Don’t panic. There are still things you can do to create a good impression.

By Marcia Tillett-Zinzow

Y

ou’re thinking about the future. Maybe you’re even studying for the CPA Exam already. If you aren’t doing an internship (and sometimes even if you are), after graduation you’ll be looking for a job to start your career. But how do you build an impressive résumé if you don’t have much to put on it? And if you’re called for an interview, how do you make sure you’re ready?

We asked the experts at Accounting Principals, a national financial and accounting staffing firm, and executive search firm Parker+Lynch, and they offered some guidance.

Get some experience if you can If you haven’t done an internship, be willing to work temporary or contract positions before you graduate. Accounting Principals says almost 33 percent of contract positions for new grads turn into direct-hire positions, often converting to direct-hire immediately after graduation.

“Contract positions are often better referrals than internships for future employers because their references come from direct reports about quantifiable results,” said Linda Graebner-Smith, managing director of the Wauwatosa location. “Your recruiter will be able to give you proficiency tests. This is time well spent if you don’t have a solid internship or previous contract or temporary experience. You will then have solid test scores to put on your résumé.”

Include academic information When you’re ready to write your résumé, look online at samples of straightforward résumés and choose a format you like. Don’t use an artsy or creative, colorful format. Leave those to the job-

hunting graphic designers and visual artists. You may want to consider consulting a professional résumé service to help you put your first résumé together. But if you want to do it yourself, here are some helpful tips: • Put the education section of your résumé at the top, and list relevant accounting classes in a subsection.

• If you have a B+ or better in your intermediate accounting class, include your grade.

• List any software experience gained through education under another subsection. For example, a subsection could include Excel as part of Microsoft Office Suite, various levels of SQL and Crystal Reports.

• Be sure to include extracurricular participation while in school, such as sports and athletics, clubs, student activities and any committee or board memberships.

• If you’ve received scholarships or other awards, include them as well.

• If you put yourself through school by working a part-time job, indicate the number of hours per week that you worked while going to school.

• List your GPA if it is 3.5 or higher.

• Include scores and levels of proficiency exams for SQL, Excel, Crystal Reports, Data Entry and so on.

Finally—and this is important—make certain your résumé jives with what’s in your LinkedIn profile. The details need to be exactly the same, or your integrity could be called into question.

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prepared | job search tips

A LinkedIn profile is a must Many employers will automatically exclude candidates who don’t have a presence on LinkedIn. They’re most definitely excluding candidates who have questionable content on other forms of social media. So make those other social media profiles private before applying for jobs!

The experts suggest this for your LinkedIn profile: • As mentioned above, this profile must match your résumé exactly.

• Pay to have a professional picture taken. Informal “creative” shots won’t cut it. Don’t post a picture of yourself in the car or a selfie with or without others (including your dog on your lap), and no sunglasses on top of your head or cropped pictures from weddings. A professional headshot is what you need.

• Prospective employers look at LinkedIn recommendations. Obtain two: one from a college professor or advisor and one from a current or past employer. If you don’t have a past employer, obtain recommendations from both a professor and an advisor.

Dazzle them in the interview “When the résumé is weak, the interview is where the candidate can shine,” said Graebner-Smith.

Companies are looking for a match on personality, drive, competitiveness, soft skills and emotional intelligence.

Prepare yourself by doing practice interviews with 24

CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

friends or family. This will help you to become more comfortable about facing a prospective employer.

If you think you’ve screwed up in an interview, keep in mind that how you overcome this adversity can differentiate you in a good way. Calmly correct yourself or move on to the next question. “Keep calm and carry on!” as the Brits say.

Here are some tips that can help you feel more confident going in: • Bring a copy of your résumé with you to the interview, and have a copy of the company’s website information on hand, too. Look through these right before the interview if you can.

• Have five excellent questions (ones that cannot be answered by the firm’s website) ready to ask the interviewer. But leave salary range out of it until at least your second interview.

• Bring an attitude of humble confidence; arrogance is a complete turn-off. But don’t be too serious. Be willing to show your unique personality and a light sense of humor if the opportunity arises.

• Have a 30-second “elevator pitch” ready to share.

This will consist of what you think you’ll contribute to the company if hired.

• Be prepared for behavioral interview questions.

Think about examples of projects where you came

in completely blind but produced a solid solution from your own ingenuity and resources.

• The STAR and CAR formats can be immensely helpful in preparing for behavioral questions. o STAR—situation, task, action taken, result

What about

cover letters?

o CAR—circumstance, action taken, result Make five or six note cards using these formats, and practice until your delivery is smooth. Be detailed but concise. Then you’ll be ready when the interviewer asks, “Tell me about a time when you …”

A final piece of advice Take advantage of career advisors in your senior year. They have great resources. And best of luck on your job search!

Marcia Tillett-Zinzow is a Wisconsin freelance writer and editor.

Contact her at mtzinzow@icloud.com.

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The experts’ consensus is that cover letters don’t have much of an impact these days, unless you’re snail-mailing your résumé to companies or applying to nameless, faceless portals. Generally speaking, the cover letter will end up on HR’s desk with hundreds of others.

But if a cover letter is required to apply for a position, then it’s mandatory that it be well written, compelling and absent of spelling and grammar errors.

Otherwise, it will hurt more than it will help. Most CFOs, CEOs, human resource VPs and presidents of companies are eloquent communicators.

Have someone you know who has great language skills proofread your cover letter before you send it. In fact, two sets of eyes besides yours are even better!

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organized | time management

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JUGGLING LIKE A

PRO

How to make TIME for everything—and keep your sanity

Y

By Jaclyn Bell, CPA

ou’re juggling school, work, CPA exams, social life and your mental wellbeing, not to mention all the big life changes that are likely piling on: graduating college, starting full-time work and maybe even moving. It can easily feel like there’s no way to fit it all in without losing your wits.

If you feel like there are never enough hours in the day, consider working on your time management skills.

Managing time efficiently and productively has helped me keep my focus, avoid huge final deadline crunches and minimize overly stressed nights. It can be difficult to master, but once you find the time management system that works for you, you can accomplish much more than you ever thought possible!

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organized | time management

Here are some tools to help you develop and maintain your time management system. I’ve found them incredibly useful for managing a busy professional life and working toward my personal and professional goals.

AFFIRM YOUR GOALS Your personal and professional goals are what get you out of bed in the morning and motivate you throughout long days. They are also a foundation for the tools that follow. Be sure you have firm, longterm goals that get you excited to move forward.

GAIN MORE SELF-AWARENESS A primary step to learning how to manage your time is knowing how you spend it right now.

Activity logging is eye-opening! Most people think they have a pretty good idea about what they do throughout the day, but they typically focus on the big stuff and don’t notice how much time is spent on low-priority tasks.

To get an accurate picture of what you do on a regular day, log each time you start a new task with the time, a description and a value ranking of the task—high, medium or low. Be sure your ranking ties to how the task contributes to achieving your goals.

Also try to value self-care and relaxation accurately, as these are essential components to keeping you sane while achieving your hefty goals.

GET LOW-VALUE TASKS OUT OF THE WAY After a day—or even better—a week of analyzing how you spend your time, pinpoint and evaluate your low-value tasks. Which ones can you eliminate?

Which tasks can you delegate?

This is where a strong support system is helpful.

If you find yourself overwhelmed with tasks that others can take on, ask your roommate, significant other, family member or friend to help out. They want you to succeed, and if doing the dishes or

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CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

grocery shopping will allow you the time you need to achieve your goals, they are likely to step up and help out.

SET YOUR PRIORITIES Make your to-do list. The idea here is to get all your tasks documented in one spot to start your planning process. I like to tackle this in two steps: brain dump and prioritization.

1. To brain dump, start with a clean sheet of paper and write down every single task that comes to your mind, being sure to reference your activity log. Order does not matter. Presentation does not matter. All that matters is that you have every thought down on that sheet.

2. Prioritization starts with another clean sheet of paper. Rewrite the brain-dump items in order of most valuable to least valuable in terms of achieving your goals, crossing each item off the brain dump as you go.

SCHEDULE YOUR PRIORITIES Now it’s time to sit with your calendar and turn your plans into actions. I found the following steps work best: 1. Schedule required and nonnegotiable items, like class or work.

2. Identify your available time, and schedule each task on your to-do list in order of priority.

3. Now, stop! Take a step back. What do your days look like? When accomplishing so many goals in a short amount of time, you will likely have many long days, but is the schedule you see realistic? If you have five 12-hour days planned, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

4. Evaluate everything in your schedule. Where can you eliminate, delegate or shift the deadlines of tasks?

STAY MOTIVATED Being determined and staying passionate can make the difference between achieving your goals and feeling like you’re spinning in circles chasing them. On long days, don’t think short term. Your goals should help you focus on the long-term benefits of completing your tasks as you intended.

When you stumble, forgive yourself and start fresh with your next task. When you feel lackluster, find inspiration like positive and motivating YouTube videos and TED talks. When you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, imagine how empowered you will feel as you complete each task and continue taking steps

toward your goals, knowing you’ve eliminated all the distractions that once stood in your way.

If you can stay focused on what is truly important to you, managing your time will become second nature. You’ll be able to conquer your goals and open the door to realizing greater personal and professional growth than you ever imagined. Good luck on your journey to success!

Jaclyn Bell, CPA, is an associate in the Racine office of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. Contact her at 262-898-6558 or jaclyn.bell@claconnect.com.

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educated | technology

DATA ANALYTICS AND

ACCOUNTING CAREERS

By Kevin Rich, PhD

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CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

Accountants can lead in the age of big data, but they need the right skill sets. Start positioning yourself for success while you’re still in school.

D

ata is an asset, and those who know how to make use of it are at a significant advantage in the modern economy. This is why data analytics, which involves using data (often significant amounts of data) to identify patterns useful in Kevin Rich, PhD decision making, is such a hot topic in accounting and beyond. The good news is that accountants are well positioned to lead in the age of big data, but they need to make sure they have the right skill sets to take advantage of the opportunity.

There are four types of data analytics; descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive. Descriptive and diagnostic analytics focus on what is currently happening and why and are the basis of “traditional” data analytics in accounting. They often involve using historical data to calculate metrics, such as financial ratios or unit cost statistics, which can be done using familiar tools such as Microsoft Excel.

More recently, data visualization software packages

such as Tableau and Microsoft Power BI allow for targeted analysis of large data sets and presentation of findings in a way that is easy to understand. Given that these activities often follow a set structure, they could be targets for robotic process automation in the relatively near future.

Predictive and prescriptive analytics are more focused on what will happen and what the response should look like. They often make use of historical data to predict the likelihood of particular outcomes using regression-based models and then developing a probability-based action plan. While these analyses require an understanding of more sophisticated statistical techniques, they allow accountants to play an advisory role that adds value to organizations.

Furthermore, they rely on creativity and problem solving, which are more difficult to automate.

A February 2015 publication by PwC outlines the skills students need to succeed in a “data-driven” world. Noteworthy is that they reference each of their primary product lines (audit, tax, risk management and consulting), suggesting that the emergence of “big data” will impact virtually all aspects of accounting. While data analytics are

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31

educated | technology

"YOUR VALUE AS AN ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONAL INCREASINGLY COMES FROM AN ABILITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS" leading to rapid changes in our profession, they provide opportunities to deliver value to clients and more flexible and interesting experiences for accounting professionals.

Here are five ways that you as an accounting student can position yourself for success in the datadriven landscape:

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CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

FOCUS ON CRITICAL THINKING Your value as an accounting professional increasingly comes from an ability to solve problems rather than inputting keystrokes into a software package. Tools change, but the need to approach problems in a systematic way is ever present. As you complete projects in your accounting courses, make

sure to focus on process and question how (and why) a particular activity adds value.

LEARN TO CODE IN A PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE Accountants need to be ready to use data to offer tailored solutions to problems, some of which may not be feasible via existing software packages.

Writing code in R or Python allows you to produce customized analyses limited only by your own creativity. It makes them repeatable, which can be invaluable if you want to do the same thing millions of times. A great side benefit of learning to code is that it forces you to practice your critical-thinking skills as you systematically outline the instructions you want your program to perform.

REFINE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS While much of data analytics involves using sophisticated tools, do not lose sight of the importance of effective communication. Data analysts must work with process owners to get an understanding of business activities so they can determine what data are available and produce analytics that have value. Furthermore, data analytics can influence decision makers only if they are communicated in a clear, concise and persuasive manner. In addition to getting as much practice in both oral and written communication as possible, try to seek out opportunities to develop your interviewing skills.

EMPHASIZE GENERAL BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE A major benefit of having accountants perform data analytics is that they understand business— accounting is, after all, the “language of business.”

Make sure to complement your accounting skills with an array of courses that make you a well-rounded

business professional, and use your electives wisely to fill gaps in your knowledge.

STAY CURRENT ON THOUGHT LEADERSHIP Public accounting firms are at the forefront of the data movement, and they regularly post white papers, surveys and how-to guides online. Staying aware of industry trends will provide you with important insight and should yield benefits during the interview process. Other excellent sources for information are practitioner-oriented publications such as the CPA Journal, Journal of Accountancy, and Strategic Finance (among many others).

Kevin Rich, PhD, is chair and associate professor of accounting and holds the Donald F. Flynn & Beverly L. Flynn Chair at Marquette University. He also is associate editor of the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management. Contact Dr. Rich at 414-288-7708 or kevin.rich@marquette.edu.

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Don’t miss this chance to connect with your colleagues and other business professionals! Networking Nights offer the opportunity to build your network with a group of peers in a relaxed setting.

atures e f t h g i king N r o ou to w y t r e o f N y h rtunit e, eac t o a p t p s o e as an out th s h e g v r u e o s hr y and t i Held t v i t c rent a way. a diffe w e n a ize in l a i c o s

This is also a great venue for strengthening relationships with clients, co-workers, and business associates...

UPCOMING NETWORKING NIGHTS: Oct. 16 Sprecher Brewery, Milwaukee

Nov. 7 Capital Brewery, Middleton

Oct. 24 Lambeau Field, Green Bay

Nov. 13 Great Dane Pub, Wausau

So invite them to join you!

Networking Nights are held 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

For more information and to register, visit wicpa.org/NetworkingNights.

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CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

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35

strategic | career planning

Destination CPA Destination CPA is a feature profiling how young professionals got their start in the profession, the resources that helped them along the way and misconceptions they had about being a CPA.

NICHES

• Industry • Public • Nonprofit accounting • Government

RESOURCES • Job board • People • Resume • WICPA workshop

LAW

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CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

BLOGS

Kevin C. Block, CPA Job title: Manager l Employer: MBE CPAs LLP, Sun Prairie How did you find your first job?

I found my first job by doing research online through websites such as WICPA, Indeed, Monster and LinkedIn, as well as attending job fairs on campus at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay to see what firms I would like to work with.

Which resource was the most helpful in your job search efforts?

Attending job fairs was the most helpful resource for me because it gave me the opportunity to meet with people from various companies to ask them questions about job openings and what it is like to work for their organizations.

Which resource turned out to be less helpful than you thought?

LinkedIn was initially not as helpful as I thought it would be, as I did not have that many connections when I first started my online professional account.

However, that is very different today, as I constantly get emails and phone calls from recruiters who found me from my LinkedIn profile.

What’s one thing you know now that you wish you had known before starting your first job?

One thing I know is that you should be ready to apply a lot of what you learned in all of your college courses if you are in the public accounting industry.

There are so many clients in various industries; you don’t realize when you’re in college that a lot of what you learn is relevant to the real world and can truly help your clients succeed.

What’s the best career advice you’ve received?

Learn something new every day, and keep persevering.

What’s the worst career advice you’ve received?

Fake it until you make it. That just isn’t going to work in accounting.

What’s one thing they didn’t tell you about the profession in college?

I didn’t know that clients will not provide all of the information to us like they did in our college homework. We have to be able to look over the information that is provided to us and ask the appropriate questions to determine if we need more information to properly take care of the client.

What are some dead-wrong assumptions people make about CPAs? It’s totally inaccurate that CPAs are boring and only prepare tax returns. In actuality, we are very fun and intelligent people who know how to have a good time. Tax preparation is only one service out of many services that we provide for our clients. For example, we also provide business and individual consulting, assurance and accounting services.

What myths about CPAs are actually true?

It is true that CPAs are very detail oriented and numbers people. This myth isn’t true for all CPAs, but a lot of us are detail oriented and want to look at the numbers to understand our clients’ businesses and how we can help.

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from a mentor in the profession?

I’ve learned that it’s OK to not know everything or have all of the answers. It’s more important that you do your due diligence to research and get the answers so you can properly provide guidance that will add value for your clients.

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strategic | career planning

Heather Kraeuter, CPA Job title: Director of Budgets and Grants l Employer: Racine Unified School District

How did you find your first job?

I got my very first accounting job at 15 when my dad needed a bookkeeper for his countertop fabrication company. But I found the first job in my career through the Career Services Center at the UW–Milwaukee Lubar School of Business, where I was enrolled at the time.

Which resource was the most helpful in your job search efforts?

Professional organizations like the WICPA have enabled me to meet others in my field in order to share ideas, network and maybe get an introduction or referral that leads to something else.

Which resource turned out to be less helpful than you thought?

Independent recruiters. The personal connections I’ve made have been more effective than working with a third-party recruiting firm.

What’s one thing you know now that you wish you had known before starting your first job?

Pay attention to EVERYTHING right from the beginning. When you’re new, you can get caught up in wanting immediate successes and movement.

Just get the job done. Being aware of the many diverse situations, scenarios, problems, projects, tax forms and areas of accounting in which you’re working will save time and prepare you to seize opportunities when they arise.

What’s the best career advice you’ve received?

The advice I got from my parents long ago: Work hard, treat people with respect, do everything you do with integrity and make something you’re proud of, no matter what you’re doing.

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CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

What’s the worst career advice you’ve received?

That I should be happy and fulfilled every day, like I’m living out my dreams; and if not, then it’s time to move on. Some of my best work experiences have come when I’ve pushed through what seemed like an impossible situation and stayed the course.

What’s one thing they didn’t tell you about the profession in college?

How diverse this profession is. Once I started working, I realized how effective a CPA can be for any organization—not just for number crunching or compliance, but also for problem solving, efficiency, systems integration, project management and much more.

What are some dead-wrong assumptions people make about CPAs? That we’re all the same, that we love tax law, dress only in grey and cannot communicate with non-CPAs. But we’re not one-dimensional, and we can provide practical and creative solutions for any business model.

What myths about CPAs are actually true?

CPAs are sticklers for accuracy. They’re proud of their credential and uphold a high standard of quality and ethics. Those three letters take effort to obtain and really mean something.

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from a mentor in the profession?

My first manager helped me to elevate my professionalism. I learned how incredibly important it is in our field that decision makers can trust our financial judgment and work product.

Trust comes from being a consistent and reliable resource and upholding a standard of professionalism in all situations.

Tom Ockwood, CPA Job title: Vice president of finance l Employer: Velvac Inc., New Berlin

How did you find your first job?

I learned of my first career opportunity at PwC through the Career Services Center at UW–Milwaukee.

Which resource was the most helpful in your job search efforts?

My network. A close friend at UW–M, who had interned at PwC before I interviewed there, was able to provide insight into the overall interviewing process. Then, as I went through the recruiting process, I met an associate at the firm who was the roommate of another close friend. This common connection was also helpful.

Which resource turned out to be less helpful than you thought?

The generic online job-listing sites. I do see value in looking at these sites to see what companies are looking for, but I didn’t see many public accounting jobs or entry-level positions there.

What’s one thing you know now that you wish you had known before starting your first job?

The importance of global business. As I’ve progressed in my career, I’ve gone to other countries for work. Previously, I had never left the U.S. I think travel outside the country would have given me a greater appreciation for the global economy.

What’s the best career advice you’ve received?

Your career is what you make of it. You will make mistakes, but as long as you learn from your mistakes and grow yourself professionally, they should not be viewed in a negative light.

What’s the worst career advice you’ve received?

That in order to get to X, you have to do Y. However, the beauty of business (and accounting) is that there are many different paths that can lead you where you want to go.

What’s one thing they didn’t tell you about the profession in college?

That accounting is not all numbers and spreadsheets. Large blocks of my day are spent collaborating with other departments and providing a financial perspective for various business operations.

What are some dead-wrong assumptions people make about CPAs? One, that they all do tax work, and two, that they’re all boring and antisocial.

What myths about CPAs are actually true?

They’re everywhere. CPAs can be found in many different areas of business, including nonfinancial.

Getting an accounting degree and a CPA license shows your commitment to financial literacy. The ability to read and interpret financial statements will help you in all areas of a business as you progress in your career.

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from a mentor in the profession?

To commit to continuing education—both formally and informally. In business, you always have to be willing to adapt, learn and grow if you want to succeed. Another point of advice is to believe in yourself. There will be times when you’re faced with stressful situations, but the more you believe in your capabilities and past experiences, the more likely you are to succeed during those times.

CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

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CAREER START YOUR JOB SEARCH HERE! FEATURED FIRMS

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Tara Tomter, Manager, Campus, 608-240-2445

Toni Stangohr, Campus Liaison, Toni.stangohr@CLAconnect.com

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP is nationally recognized as a top 15 full-service accounting and advisory firm. Our specialized professionals connect with clients and their businesses through refreshing candor and clear industry insight to deliver a wide range of accounting, assurance and consulting services. Baker Tilly is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 147 territories, with 33,000 professionals.

At CLA, we strive to provide a variety of work experiences that develop skills, knowledge, and expertise. Our industry-driven approach, seamless delivery of services, and focus on not just private businesses and community organizations but also the people who own and lead them, all give our team the chance to grow as professionals and create personalized career paths.

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Brenen Boarman, 608-784-7737

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Jump-start your career at Hawkins Ash CPAs. Our interns and recent graduates get the experiences and training they need to set the direction of their careers and excel. They work alongside our senior staff, ensuring they get the most exposure. We have offices in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Learn more: HawkinsAshCPAs.com.

KerberRose is a Wisconsin certified public accounting firm dedicated to serving the people and businesses of Northeast Wisconsin. With over 160 professional staff members and offices in Shawano, Green Bay, Fox Cities, Clintonville, Sister Bay, Rhinelander, Oshkosh, Stevens Point, Antigo and Wausau, we combine the expertise of a leading regional firm with the convenience, familiarity and passion of a local provider.

Reilly Penner & Benton LLP

www.rpb.biz Laurie Olson, HR Manager, 414-271-7800 Reilly, Penner & Benton, LLP is Wisconsin’s first chartered CPA firm with over 100 years of experience. We are a mid-sized CPA firm in the Milwaukee and Madison markets with a diverse client base including non-profit & for-profit organizations, unions, government entities, employee benefit plans, school districts, charter & school choice programs as well as tax preparation and counseling for businesses, partnerships and individuals. At RPB everyone is part of the team, with a focus on growth and development both as an individual and as an accounting professional.

RPB offers employees a positive culture with work-life balance.

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www.schencksc.com Jill Dequaine, PHR, Talent Acquisition Manager, jill.dequaine@schencksc.com At Schenck, we are enhancing lives and making a difference. Since 1930, Schenck has evolved—earning recognition as one of the nation’s top 25 CPA firms to work for. In this growth-oriented environment, our nearly 700 team members (welcome WKMR!) are dedicated to our profession and respected by others. We give team members the tools to thrive in their careers and support them as they positively impact our clients and communities.

| wicpa.org IFCPA2b YOUR Fall FIRM2018 WOULD LIKE TO BE LISTED IN THE FIRM SPOTLIGHT, PLEASE CONTACT TERRY FELKER AT 800-772-6939 EXT. 4516 OR TERRY@WICPA.ORG.

SPOTLIGHT START YOUR JOB SEARCH HERE! FEATURED FIRMS

www.sikich.com

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Nicola McGarry, Director of Talent Acquisition nicola.mcgarry@sikich.com

Sara Shoys, Talent Acquisition & Development Director careers@sva.com | 608-826-2781

Sikich LLP, founded in 1982 with roots as a CPA firm, now specializes in accounting, advisory, technology and managed services. Sikich ranks as the country’s 28th largest certified public accounting firm and is among the top 1% of all enterprise resource planning solution partners in the world. From auditing to technology solutions that help put a business on the map, Sikich offers professional services and entrepreneurial insights to strengthen every aspect of a business.

Since 1974, SVA Certified Public Accountants, a certified Great Place to Work®, has been providing professional accounting services for individuals and businesses. Services include: all accounting services, small business accounting software, audits, tax planning and reporting, strategy sessions, and business consulting. With offices in Madison and Brookfield, our goal is to be a trusted advisor to our clients and deliver

www.wegnercpas.com Kari Nichols, Human Resource Manager 608-274-4020, kari.nichols@wegnercpas.com At Wegner CPAs, our people make the difference. Recently named by Accounting Today as a 2017 Regional Leader, we give staff the opportunity to work with a diverse client base. With six offices throughout Wisconsin, D.C., and New York, we offer the ability to make connections beyond our borders. The professional growth and development of our employees, along with a strong focus on work-life balance, is a top priority.

WICPA Career Center Post Your Résumé Apply for Jobs Get Job Alerts Begin your career search today at

www.wipfli.com Breann M. Woodruff, Talent Acquisition Specialist bwoodruff@wipfli.com Wipfli ranks in the top 20 accounting and business consulting firms and was recently recognized as a Top Internship Program by Vault.com. With 52 offices across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, Utah, California and two offices in India, 2,000 Wipfli professionals provide industry-focused assurance, accounting, tax and consulting services. We set ourselves apart by making significant investments in our associates to develop their knowledge in specific industry expertise to better serve clients and become a Trusted Business Advisor!

FIRM LISTING RitzHolman CPAS

Strohm Ballweg, LLP

www.ritzholman.com Contact: Brian Wilson, CPA, Senior Manager, brianw@ritzholman.com

www.strohmballweg.com Contacts: Gary Strohm, CPA, Managing Partner and Heather Hafeman, CPA, Partner, 608-821-0600

wicpa.org/CareerCenter

IF YOUR FIRM WOULD LIKE TO BE LISTED IN THE FIRM SPOTLIGHT, PLEASE CONTACT TERRY FELKER AT 800-772-6939 EXT. 4516 OR TERRY@WICPA.ORG. CPA2b Fall 2018 | wicpa.org

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NOMINATE AN EDUCATOR OR STUDENT FOR AN EXCELLENCE AWARD! Show your support for an accounting educator or accounting student by submitting a nomination at wicpa.org/awards by Nov. 9, 2018.

Recipients will be announced in January and honored at the Member Recognition Banquet & Annual Business Meeting on May 9, 2019.

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