Professor Elam

Friday July 13, 2012

I received this unsolicited job listing by e mail. I am including it as an example of just what is expected for entry to the six figure Accounting Salary Level. 

Notice the fist job requests Big Four Experience, that would be with one of the Big Four CPA firms, it used to be one of the big Eight CPA firms. It was then typical and apparently still is typical, that graduates would work for a multi national CPA firm. Our graduate would learn what is required to complete proper SEC filing requirements for annual and quarterly reports for a publicly held firm. And one would work on audits in a specific industry.After a few years, our graudate would then be qualified for a job in the controller department of a publicly held firm. 

Notice the Enterprise Resource Planning is a requirement, here at TAMUSA we have added specialties in SAP. And of course, extensive Excel and MSFT Office skills are required. 

So the check list is known.  And note that a certification is required….

#1: CONTROLLER (MFG/50% TRAVEL)-AUSTIN, TX: $125-$150K+ + EQUITY ET AL

-        CPA

-        Emerging/Start Up Company Experience

-        Big Four/National Firm Audit/Assurance Experience

-        Manufacturing/Cost Accounting Experience

-        Consolidations Experience – With multi-location/subsidiaries

-        Process Improvement/ERP Experience – Automating manual accounting processes et al

-        M&A Experience

-        QuickBooks Experience

-        MS Office Proficiency – Excel in particular

-        Ability to travel up to 50%, mostly in the US to work on acquisitions, and HOME OFFICE as needed if not residing in the Austin Area

 

#2: MGR-FIN REPORTING (IFRS)-HOUSTON (GALLERIA): $100-$110K+ + GREAT BENEFITS

-       CPA or Masters in Accounting

-       Big Four/National Firm Audit/Assurance Experience – Direct hire is fine

-       US GAAP Financial Reporting Experience – With 2+ years of supervisory experience

-       IFRS Experience

-       Financial Instruments/Derivatives – Base knowledge

-       ERP Knowledge – SAP, Oracle/Hyperion, Great Plains et al

-       MS Office Proficiency – Excel in particular