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Everything you said is on point.Originally Posted by kidplay
could you provide some more detailed information like what school you go to and where you'd like to relocate to?
I only ask because I think that the big 4 (Pricewaterhouse coopers, Ernst and Young, KPMG and Deloitte) usually look only at "target" schools. There are some good sized middle market firms though like McGladrey and Grant Thornton.
I haven't had too many accounting interviews but from what i hear, GPA is extremely important into getting your foot in the door ie getting the initial interview. Obviously having contacts would be the easiest way to go around this.
I believe "associate" is the title for entry level positions (i could be wrong as it could be analysts) and while there are many departments in an accounting firm, i believe Tax and Auditing are the two main departments.
Also i know you want to live in a warm climated area (who doesnt?) but i believe that auditors travel, sometimes for months at a time, a lot so you may not always be in a warm climate.... just food for thought.
I think those in the tax dept also travel too, as you may be required to be on site for your client. However, I believe that may be somewhat more localized.
the best place to look for jobs is usually through your college career center. obviously look on sites to supplement that, but usually your school's career center gives you the best chances of landing a job.
I'm not extremely familiar with the accounting industry but hope this info helps.
I'm also in a similar boat. I'm located in NYC, attend Syracuse University (senior now), have a 3.7 GPA, plan to get my MS of Accounting within May 2012, and have had several interviews with large public accounting firms through my career center, including two second round "office" interviews. I'm also involved in some campus activities and organizations designated for accounting/finance majors (Beta Alpha Psi and NABA). I interviewed with McGladrey & Pullen, KPMG, Grant Thornton, and Ernst & Young for first rounds, and made it to the finals rounds with GT and E&Y. I was generally relying on those opportunities since I knew I had a good chance of closing the deals, but unfortunately, I ended up with nothing.
I'm starting to get a little scared since I'm already a Senior in undergrad and still jobless after missing all of those opportunities so far. Hopefully things will start coming to me once I get into grad school, and obtain the MS and CPA. But things would've been a lot easier and my mind would've been more stress-free if I received an offer from those companies I interviewed with. On to the next one I guess..