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Allek, Senior Analyst, SEC Reporting at Fortune 100 Technology Company: Advize Career Interview

From an affirming experience at Howard to a Senior Analyst role at a Fortune 100 tech company, Allek's career path offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of SEC Reporting.

This involves understanding complex regulations, collaborating across teams, and applying critical judgment to produce accurate financial statements.

Days are spent reading and assessing new accounting standards, highlighting the importance of communication and teamwork.

Crucial skills include reading comprehension, writing, public speaking, and the ability to see the big picture, connecting various accounting functions to the overall business.

One of the biggest challenges is acting as the last line of defense, ensuring accuracy across a wide scope of data, but the industry offers stimulating complexity, innovation, and unique colleagues.

Thriving in this field requires being a team player, adept at communication and finding solutions under pressure.

A significant lesson learned is the value of embracing critique for growth, building trust faster than simply seeking more responsibility.

Early career preparation included self-discovery, exploring diverse opportunities, and understanding the importance of giving back, shaped by unique perspectives as a Black first-generation college student and accountant.

Entry into the field is best achieved through an audit background. Allek's journey showcases a dynamic and rewarding career path.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Allek Surratt

Senior Analyst, SEC Reporting

Fortune 100 Technology Company

Howard University

Wake Forest - MS in Accountancy

Accounting

Technology

Finance

HBCU Grad, Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student

Watch all of this Advizer's videos below

Career Path of a Senior SEC Reporting Analyst at a Big Tech Company

Allek's career path began with an affirming experience at Howard University, followed by audit internships at Farm Credit Administration and EY, where they felt seen. After choosing EY, the start of their family led to various accounting roles before finding a niche in financial reporting at Inspire Brands in 2018, where "I haven't been in a reporting role ever since."

Responsibilities of a Senior Analyst SEC Reporting at a Fortune 100 Technology Company

Allek's main responsibility as a Senior Analyst, SEC Reporting involves understanding "industry and company specific requirements from different regulatory bodies" to produce financial statements for stakeholders. This requires a lot of collaboration, "judgmental assessment and technical expertise" to be applied consistently.

A Day In The Life Of A Senior Analyst SEC Reporting At A Fortune 100 Technology Company

A senior analyst in SEC reporting at a Fortune 100 tech company spends much of the day "reading" about and assessing new accounting standards, which then requires "a lot of collaboration" and self-education to prepare for implementation. The role involves many meetings, highlighting the importance of communication and teamwork in navigating the complexities of SEC reporting.

Most Important Skills for a Senior Analyst SEC Reporting at a Fortune 100 Tech Company

For a Senior Analyst in SEC Reporting at a Fortune 100 Technology Company, Allek identifies "reading comprehension, writing, public speaking, and collaboration" as crucial skills. Being able to comprehend business and industry-specific requirements allows one to "collaborate well and efficiently" and accurately convey information through both writing and speaking.

Favorite Parts Of Being A Senior Analyst SEC Reporting At A Fortune 100 Technology Company

Allek enjoys being in SEC Reporting at a Fortune 100 Technology Company because "financial reporting allows you to see the big picture", and to step back from the cyclical nature of specific accounting functions to understand how it all connects to the business.

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Analyst SEC Reporting At A Big Tech Company

As a Senior Analyst in SEC Reporting, Allek's biggest challenge is acting as the "last line of defense" by synthesizing internal information into accurate external reports, carrying the "assumed responsibility over a wider scope of data." Thus, a key challenge is ensuring all reported data is accurate.

Favorite Parts Of Working In Technology As A Senior Analyst SEC Reporting

Allek enjoys the people and innovation within the SEC reporting industry, believing that "complexity and innovation are the best ways to sharpen reporting skills" and distinguish one's career path. The opportunity to work with colleagues who bring "unique experiences, both personally and professionally" is also a major source of enjoyment.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Technology Industry According To A Senior SEC Reporting Analyst At A Fortune 100 Technology Company

To thrive as a Senior Analyst in SEC Reporting at a Fortune 100 tech company, one must be "the ultimate team player" with strong communication skills, adept at connecting with people to find solutions under strict deadlines without causing burnout. Also, being able to tailor communication, sometimes focusing on detail and other times being "more high level", is vital for efficiently conveying information.

What a Senior SEC Reporting Analyst at a Big Tech Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Accounting Industry

Allek, a first-generation college student and accountant, wishes they had a better understanding of how to leverage experience into different career aspirations and what those aspirations practically look like, feeling as if their career has been about "building a plane while flying one." Allek expresses a desire for advice or a way to connect different experiences to understand potential career paths in the SEC Reporting field.

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring SEC Reporting Analysts

Allek suggests that directly entering financial reporting as an intern or graduate is not ideal, and instead recommends starting with a background in audit as the most "efficient jumping point," given that it helps hone essential skills like navigating deadlines, documentation, and collaboration while also touching on a wide scope of business areas. They have not seen many people take the direct route into financial reporting.

Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Analyst, SEC Reporting At A Fortune 100 Tech Company

Allek, a Senior Analyst at a Fortune 100 company, highlights the importance of embracing critique for career growth; "being able to take feedback, make strides to improve, um, and minimize repeating certain mistakes" is more effective than simply seeking increased responsibility. This approach of learning from feedback has "built trust... much faster" in Allek's career.

College Experiences That Helped a Senior Analyst SEC Reporting at a Fortune 100 Tech Company Succeed

To prepare for a career, Allek emphasized the importance of self-discovery at a supportive institution, and "tried not to say no to different opportunities," such as participating in short films and studying Swahili in Kenya, which suggests a proactive approach to gaining diverse experiences. It seems the willingness to explore opportunities outside of accounting specifically was "really helpful" in setting Allek up for success.

How Identity Has Influenced A Senior Analyst SEC Reporting At A Fortune 100 Tech Company

Allek conveys that being Black encompasses various identities like being a first-generation college student and accountant, instilling "a sense of responsibility to give back" and an awareness of the economic impact on one's community; Allek feels that attending both an HBCU and a predominantly white institution provided a strong foundation, with the HBCU enabling "a larger percentage of myself walk through the door every day" while the other institution helped communicate their acumen.

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