823 Advizers

Zachary

Audit Associate

Big 4 Accounting Firm

Cal Poly
None

2 years, accounting, accounting
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Economics
Greek Life Member

Q1Career path

Prioritization

Career Exploration

Internships

2:02

"I think that I actually learned a lot there just because I learned how to like properly prioritize things and like get multiple things done at once."

Q2Main responsibilities

Teamwork

Financial Statement Analysis

Auditing

2:34

"Those are the cool decisions"

Q3Day in the life

Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking

Busy Seasons vs. Off Seasons

Client Communication and Interaction

1:57

"you have to talk, talk to the client a lot to understand how they're making their decisions and how they're getting to their numbers."

Q4Most important skills - role

Humility

Attention to Detail

Confidence

1:44

"Being able to pick out those small inconsistencies and identify them and not, and not just gloss over them"

Q5Favorite parts - role

Problem-Solving

Analytical Skills

Autonomy

2:57

"If I leave at two o'clock in the afternoon, no one's gonna bat an eye because they know that I'm gonna get my I'm, I'm gonna get my work done."

Q6Biggest challenge - role

Workplace Challenges

Overcoming Challenges

Attention to Detail

0:56

"I just kind of have a natural tendency to, um, get close to finishing something and then just saying, oh, it's done."

Q7Favorite parts - industry

Benefits

Exit Opportunities

Industry Realities

1:39

"There are really good exit opportunities."

Q8Who thrives in industry

Politeness

Assertiveness

Social Skills

2:01

"the people that truly excel here are social. There's a lot of antisocial accountants, so if you're social, you are going to rise to the top instantly"

Q9Wish known before - industry

Time Management

Industry Realities

Workplace Challenges

2:19

"I don't think that I fully valued how much free time I had before going into work, uh, before working here."

Q10Entry-level positions

Entry-Level Jobs

Job Search Strategies

Internship Process

1:22

"For the big four accounting firms, at least you have to apply your second year and then you don't start working until the summer of your third year."

Q11Significant lesson - career

Time Management

Work-Life Balance

Career Development

0:49

"Um, and whether that's getting more rest or being more active, making sure you're doing something instead of just nothing."

Q12College ideas for success

Thoroughness

Accounting Principles

Financial Management

1:42

"I was the treasurer of my fraternity. I think it taught me a lot about being thorough."