CAREERS IN PUBLIC

1

• CAREERS IN PUBLIC
• ACCOUNTING
• Mike Favazza and Nicole Thousand

1034 S. Brentwood Blvd, Ste. 1700 St. Louis, MO
63117 [phone] [phone]-fax www.mppw.c
om
2500 Old Highway 94, Ste 303 St. Charles, MO
63303 [phone] [phone]-fax www.mppw.c
om
2
Mike Favazza

• Graduated from Truman State University with a
  Bachelor's in Accounting in May of 2002.
• Interned with MPPW from May 2001 August 2001
• Started full time with MPPW in August 2002
• Passed the CPA exam in May 2005
• Audit with Industry Specialization in
  Manufacturing and Distribution.

3
Nicole Thousand

• Graduated from Mizzou with a Masters in
  Accounting in May 2003
• Interned with PwC
• Started full time with PwC in July 2003.
• Moved to MPPW in October of 2004.
• Specialization in Tax

4

• OVERVIEW
• About MPPW
• Comparing firm sizes
• What to expect at MPPW
• Questions and Comments

5
ABOUT MPPW, P.C.

• Founded in 1983
• Entrepreneur Driven
• PKF Affiliation
• Client Service Oriented
• Balanced / Life
• Top 10 in St. Louis

6

• COMPARING FIRM SIZES
• Salary
• Opportunities
• Clientele
• Travel
• Resources

7

• SALARY
• A mid size firm meets or beats most national
  firms compensation
• Mid size and national firms offer employees full
  benefits and travel reimbursement
• Small local firms may try to hire part-time
  employees to limit employee benefits

8

• OPPORTUNITIES
• Mid size firm employees experience both tax and
  audit and see the full scope of engagements
• National firms offer more international
  experience
• Mid size and small firms allow for extensive
  client interaction from the start
• Mid size firms offer internships in tax AND
  audit, while national firms offer tax OR audit

9

• CLIENTELE
• National firms work with
• Large businesses -- public and private
• High net worth individuals
• Employees mainly work on one client at a time
• Mid size firms work with
• Large and small businesses mainly private
• High net worth to large income individuals
• Employees work on several clients at one time
• Small firms work with
• Small businesses
• Various individuals

10

• TRAVEL
• National firm clientele demands travel
• Expect employees to travel when needed
• Mid size firms clientele demand limited travel
• Most firms will not require travel
• Small firms require minimal travel or none at all

11

• RESOURCES
• National firms have locations internationally
• Mid size firms are involved with affiliations
• Mid size and local firm employees work more
  directly with
• The partners
• Other staff
• National firms and mid size firms offer the
  latest technological tools
• National firms offer nation-wide IT assistance

12

• WHAT TO EXPECT
• 1st Month
• Training on all the software used by the firm
• Becoming familiar with firm policies and
  procedures
• Preparing small tax returns or taking part in an
  
• audit engagement with guidance from seniors
• Starting to receive some review notes

13

• WHAT TO EXPECT
• 6 Months
• Substantial amount of on-the-job training
• Preparing complex tax returns
• Completing more complex substantive areas in an
  audit engagement
• Preparing financial statements
• Receiving even more review notes

14

• WHAT TO EXPECT
• 1 Year
• More contact with clients
• Experience completing most sections of an audit
  engagement
• Becoming more involved with the clients
  day-to-day activities
• Attending training on general audit and tax areas
• Still receiving review notes

15

• WHAT TO EXPECT
• 2 Years
• Becoming the primary contact with a client
• Taking on the in-charge role in both tax and
  audits
• Training new staff members
• Gaining more technical knowledge in the area you
  choose to concentrate in
• Still getting review notes, but also start giving
  them!

16
OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

• 85 of MPPW full time hires are hired from the
  internship program
• Winter Internships begin early January
• Interview process starts September 2006
• For more information contact
• - Mike Favazza, mfavazza_at_mppw.com
• - Nicole Thousand, nthousand_at_mppw.com

17

• ANY QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?

Thank you for attending and good luck!
2500 Old Highway 94, Ste 303 St. Charles, MO
63303 [phone] [phone]-fax www.mppw.c
om
1034 S. Brentwood Blvd, Ste. 1700 St. Louis, MO
63117 [phone] [phone]-fax www.mppw.c
om