Associate, Financial Reporting Group
The Financial Reporting Groupwithin Equity Methods specializes in developing controlled processes to handle the requisite accounting (including compensation expense, diluted EPS, and deferred tax computations) for large, complex equity compensation plans of Fortune 1,000clients. As a key member of this rapidly growing practice area, you will have an immediate opportunity to begin adding value and supporting growth by helping clients migrate from spreadsheet-based procedures involving significant manual intervention to well-designed, thoroughly documented algorithmic solutions that you help design and implement.
If you have a strong grounding in accounting theory, enjoy problem-solving, and have a collaborative, client-focused mindset, then we would like to meet you and give you the opportunity to learn more about our practice. As a high-impact consultancy that serves large, publicly traded clients, our professionals gain experience in a number of technical accounting areas (ASC 718, ASC 805, ASC 740, ASC 260, and ASC 820), as well as numerous other areas such as client management, design of processes and internal control systems, accounting information systems, technology, and even more general business topics such as marketing, thought leadership, and growth management. While not all our professionals came to us with a background in our direct subject matter, all share our cultural values: solving complex problems thoughtfully and working with project stakeholders to create value for clients.
We will also consider you for different positions if we think there may be a better fit.
About the Equity Methods Consulting Practice
Equity Methods serves a diverse clientele primarily consisting of Fortune 1000 companies, including 26 of the Fortune 100. The company is strategically partnered with some of the largest financial institutions, works closely with Big 4 public accounting firms, and has provided key guidance to the FASB and SEC as they formulated policy regarding equity compensation accounting. Equity Methods’ practice groups include a Valuation Services Group, Plan Design and Analytics Group, and Financial Reporting Group, which this position will report into. Equity Methods provides senior-level support both within the space of equity compensation and in related areas involving other complex financial instruments.
Equity Methods professionals have significant interaction with senior managers at large publicly traded companies. With approximately 35 professionals and hundreds of clients, Equity Methods seeks to combine the best of a large professional services firm with the best of a smaller, more entrepreneurial company. The culture encourages innovation, pursuit of excellence, collaboration, and creativity in continually enhancing the way clients are served and solutions are originated.
Roles for the Financial Reporting Associate/Consultant
1)Proceed through our new-hire training program, which includes:
- Formal training process
- Engagement shadowing
- Systems and programming exposure
- Report review and audit training
- Assistance to Senior Consultants in performing client assignments and tasks
The trainingperiod culminates in your direct involvement in client work through delegated assignments by more senior members of the team. Our goal is to transition Associates to assume responsibility over broader aspects of client engagements. These aspects include:
2)Serving as critical support in financial reporting engagements, providing client-specific solutions that meet specialized reporting needs and communicating complex ideasto clients and their external auditors orally and in writing. Interacting with Equity Methods’ algorithms and generating reports which need to be carefully audited and customized in preparation for client delivery. Coordinating delivery with the client and fielding questions they or their external auditors present.
3)Designing, implementing, and documentingthe underlying data handling processes of financial reporting engagements, ensuring that solutions are consistent with the terms of the client’s compensation plans and adhere to accounting regulations and standards.
4)Participatingin client delivery meetings and external audit review sessions, ensuring that clients understand the processes developed and can utilize them in their financial reporting processes, and their external auditors grasp all essential features of the solution.
5)Support in various practice initiatives related to risk management, cross-selling, and research.
6)Implementing and enhancing control measures within the practice to ensure risk is being properly managed in client engagements. Developing specific control tests, performing end-to-end analyses of processes to understand where there is risk, and assisting in compilation of high-quality work papers for future reference and re-performance.
Successful candidates will be trained to acquire skills in designing processes, developing and/or reviewing working papers, and interacting with clients. There is both a focus on technical accounting areas (ASC 718, ASC 260, ASC 740, as well as areas involving international tax) and the design of processes and systems of control. Consulting associates will be supported by leaders of the practice in an effort to train and develop skills related to engagement management early in their careers.
A few background qualities we often look for include:
1)Bachelors or Masters in accounting, finance, economics, or CIS. Please be sure your GPA is listed on your resume.
2)Expertise and experience in theoretical accounting subjects: capability to interpret complex accounting theory and translate into a process-based understanding of how data should flow and be manipulated
3)Ability and willingness to think criticallyand solve “out-of-the-box” problems independently
4)Creativity in engineering processes from both a controls and efficiency perspective
5)Maturity in internal/external communication and time management
6)0 – 4 years experience in a financial reporting, finance, or audit role. Candidates at a more senior level may be considered for a different position within the practice
7)Desirable: Exposure to database design principles
8)Desirable: Exposure to SAS or another programming languagefor high-volume data handling
9)Desirable: CPA license or CPA candidacy
Please visit us at:
Equity Methods Careers
Interested candidates should submit their resumes to: