You only get one chance to make a first impression. Gone are the glory days of 2004-2008 when all you had to do was show up for an interview and you got hired.
In 2009, there were on average 9 applicants for each open position in Accounting and Finance. In the administrative world, there were 19 applicants for each open position.
In any given week, I will receive 400-500 resumes. I have about 3 seconds to look at a resume and decide if I will spend more time working with that candidate. Most hiring managers have about the same amount of time to spend per resume. You MUST make your resume stand out in that first 3 seconds.
The goal of a resume should be to get the reader's interest peaked. Get them want to meet with you in person. It does not need to be a life story, in fact, a well written one page resume is much more powerful than a tell all novel about your work history.
My 6 point list of the most important resume elements.
1. Start with a blank Word document, do not use the canned Word Resume Template
2. The resume should be 1 page in length and have uniform margins and a font size that is 10, 11 or 12 point font.
3. Use bullet points to highlight specific duties for each position, make sure tenses are consistent, if you are no longer at a position, use past tense
4. List months and years for each position, having gaps of time on a resume is ok, just be prepared to explain any gaps during an in person resume
5. Include a one line description of each company you have worked for
6. Do not lie on a resume! Assume that everything that you put on a resume can and will be verified.
We have put together a resume template which lists the basics for an effective one page resume.
Click here to download our customized resume template for FREE.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
New Position - Bookkeeper / Account Manager Beverly Hills Business Management Firm Beverly Hills salary 55-65
To read the full description of this position, click here.
To email me for more info or submit your resume, click here.
To email me for more info or submit your resume, click here.
New Position - Tax Manager - Encino salary 100-140 + bonus
Click here for the full job description or email me for more information.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Top 7 Growth Area's For CPA's
According to a report by Maryland CPA Association CEO Tom Hood, the following are the Top 7 Growth Area's For CPA's in 2010 and beyond.
At Premier Financial Search, we specialize in placing accountants into positions in these niche areas.
To learn more, email me or visit our website.
- Valuation
- Forensics and fraud
- Governmental
- International (IFRS and tax)
- Health care
- Green / sustainability
- XBRL
At Premier Financial Search, we specialize in placing accountants into positions in these niche areas.
To learn more, email me or visit our website.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
CPA Net Income Per Partner Up 16%
CPA Net Income Per Partner Up 16%
(What recession?)
(What recession?)
| 2010 | 2009 | |
| Leverage | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| Utilization | 1,164 | 1,108 |
| Billing Rate | $135 | $132 |
| Realization | 91.3% | 92.1% |
| Profit Margin | 36.5% | 34.8% |
| Net Income Per Partner | $330,723 | $283,364 |
- Leverage = Total personnel ÷ total number of equity owners.
- Utilization = Chargeable hours of the firm ÷ total personnel.
- Billing Rate = Standard fees ÷ firm chargeable hours.
- Realization = Net fees ÷ standard fees.
- Profit Margin = Net income ÷ net fees.
- Net Income Per Partner (NIPP) = Leverage x utilization x billing rate x realization x profit margin.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Salaries - Entry Level
One of the most common questions I am asked is "What are starting salaries". This question implies - What are salaries for Staff Accountants with a degree in Accounting and 0-1 year of work experience.
According to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers,
the average offer to finance majors rose by 1.6 percent to $50,546, and the average offer to accounting majors inched up by 0.4 percent to $48,575.
On the other hand, business administration/management grads saw their average offer fall 8 percent to $42,094. Marketing graduates’ average salary offer also fell, but not as far, to $42,710, down 2.1 percent from last year.
This is a change in the right direction from the tone set by PWC in March of 2009 when they indicated their belief that starting salaries for the coming year would be down 10-12%. A link to the PWC letter follows:
www.pwc.com/en_US/us/faculty-resource/assets/0309_continuing.pdf
At the Big 4 level, I am hearing that salaries for 2010 are flat with 2008 and 2009 at $50,000 inclusive of overtime. At the local firm level in Los Angeles, salaries in 2010 have been in the $43,000 to $45,000 a year level with overtime paid. This represents a small yet positive change.
For more information about salary trends, check back often.
Write to: Allan Fisher
According to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers,
the average offer to finance majors rose by 1.6 percent to $50,546, and the average offer to accounting majors inched up by 0.4 percent to $48,575.
On the other hand, business administration/management grads saw their average offer fall 8 percent to $42,094. Marketing graduates’ average salary offer also fell, but not as far, to $42,710, down 2.1 percent from last year.
This is a change in the right direction from the tone set by PWC in March of 2009 when they indicated their belief that starting salaries for the coming year would be down 10-12%. A link to the PWC letter follows:
www.pwc.com/en_US/us/faculty-resource/assets/0309_continuing.pdf
At the Big 4 level, I am hearing that salaries for 2010 are flat with 2008 and 2009 at $50,000 inclusive of overtime. At the local firm level in Los Angeles, salaries in 2010 have been in the $43,000 to $45,000 a year level with overtime paid. This represents a small yet positive change.
For more information about salary trends, check back often.
Write to: Allan Fisher
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Market Today
With tax season 2010 now behind us, its time for an update on where the employment market is and where it is headed.
2009 saw very little hiring at the local, regional and National Firm levels. Firms hunkered down and made the most possible with the barest of human resources. Early indications are that firm wide revenues for 2009 were flat relative to 2008. For many firms, 2008 was a record year for revenues. Still, employees worked more hours of overtime in 2009 than in years past. They did so with no increase in salary of bonus.
With firm revenues continuing to rise for the first 3 months of 2010, somethings got to give.
2010 should be a year of firms adding to staff as well as employees finally feeling comfortable enough to make the leap to new firms. This combination should make 2010 a year with lots of activity.
www.pfssearch.com
2009 saw very little hiring at the local, regional and National Firm levels. Firms hunkered down and made the most possible with the barest of human resources. Early indications are that firm wide revenues for 2009 were flat relative to 2008. For many firms, 2008 was a record year for revenues. Still, employees worked more hours of overtime in 2009 than in years past. They did so with no increase in salary of bonus.
With firm revenues continuing to rise for the first 3 months of 2010, somethings got to give.
2010 should be a year of firms adding to staff as well as employees finally feeling comfortable enough to make the leap to new firms. This combination should make 2010 a year with lots of activity.
www.pfssearch.com
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