Accounting CareersAccounting Careers

September 22, 2005

Indiana University

BKD, LLP

OverviewOverview

I. Public vs. Private Accounting

II. Regional vs. Big Four Accounting Firms

III. What Recruiters Look For In College Recruiting Candidates

IV. Typical First Year Responsibilities

Public vs. Private Accounting

• Public Accountants – Perform a broad range of accounting, audit, tax, and consulting activities for corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations, and individuals.

• Private Accountants – Record and analyze the financial information of the companies for which they work.

• First Job Statistics: (CPA Journal)

– 55.8% Public Accounting– 30.1% Private Industry– 8.2% Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting– 5.9% Other Accounting

Public vs. Private Accounting

• Public Accounting– Variety in:

• Type of work– Assurance– Tax– Consulting

• People you interact with– External– Internal

– Ease of moving from public accounting to private accounting– Occupational mobility

Public Accounting Career Track

 Partner

 

Staff ConsultantStaff

  

Senior ConsultantSenior

  

Supervising ConsultantSupervisor

  

Managing ConsultantManager

  

Senior Managing ConsultantSenior Manager

  

ConsultingAudit & Tax

  

  

Public vs. Private Accounting

• Private Accounting– Financial Reporting

• Corporate Finance– Treasurer– CFO– Controller

– Managerial Reporting• Cost Accounting

• Internal Audit

• Business Development

Regional vs. Big Four Accounting Firms

• Regional Accounting Firms– Client Base:

• 95% medium to small

• 5% large (most SEC)

– Many jobs that are shorter in duration– Wide variety in types of clients– Travel is limited, but available if desired – Making Partner

• Average length of time is 12 years

• Other criteria

Regional vs. Big Four Accounting Firms

• Big Four Accounting Firms– Client Base:

• 85% large corporations (most SEC)

• 15% medium to small

– Larger clients with longer engagement durations– Less variety in types of clients– Significant travel – Making Partner

• Average length of time is 13 years

• Upper level partner’s compensation (Equity and Non-Equity)

• Other criteria

Regional vs. Big Four Accounting Firms

Current Issues: Sarbanes-Oxley• Big Four:

– Focus centering on large SEC Clients– Divesting consulting services to middle market

• Regional Firms – Gaining client relationships in middle market– Providing resources to meet SOX 404 standards

Public Accounting Report’s Top 10 for 2005(Hudson Sawyer Marketing)

U.S.

Net Revenue Number Number Revenue Split

Firm (in millions)of

Partnersof

Offices A&A Tax MCS

1 Deloitte & Touche 6,876.0 2,618 107 36 21 34

2 Ernst & Young 5,511.3 2,118 95 59 38 0

3 PricewaterhouseCoopers 5,350.0 2,027 85 59 29 9

4 KPMG 3,808.0 1,622 95 63 37 0

5 RSM McGladrey 1,188.0 468 138 42 35 20

6 Grant Thornton 635.0 326 49 52 33 15

7 BDO Seidman 440.0 281 36 41 41 18

8 CBIZ / Mayer Hoffman McCann 372.5 111 127 29 19 35

9 Crowe Group 341.7 197 20 44 35 21

10 BKD 258.7 200 27 45 32 23

What Accounting Recruiters Look For In Candidates

• Communication skills– Verbal– Non-verbal

• Enthusiasm• Creativity• Problem solving ability• Teamwork skills • Highly motivated• Excited about the firm

Typical First Year Responsibilities

• Audit– Observe inventory test counts– Perform tests of internal controls– Draft financial statements and auditor’s reports– Develop recommendations for improving client productivity – In-charge some smaller engagements

• Tax– Prepare individual, corporate, partnership, estate, trust, and tax-

exempt entity returns– Draft responses to federal, state, and city notices from taxing

authorities– Research tax issues– Prepare tax projections under multiple income and deduction

scenarios

Any Questions?Any Questions?