Favorite Parts Of Working At A Big 4 Accounting Firm As An Audit Associate
Joel, an Audit Associate at a Big 4 firm, enjoys the breadth of "accounting as an industry," auditing diverse companies across sectors, from banking to technology. This experience allows for specialization and, in Joel's case, a transition into ESG, where they find meaning in using accounting skills to address "climate change and the reality of a warming planet," contributing to solutions for a critical global challenge.
Accounting, Auditing, ESG, Environmental Sustainability, Client Interaction
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Joel Bobe
Audit Associate
Big 4 Accounting Firm
The George Washington University
UNC - Chapel Hill
International Relations & Affairs, Philosophy
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Exposure to diverse industries: Working in audit allows exposure to various sectors (banking, telecommunications, tech, energy, etc.), offering opportunities to specialize in preferred fields.
2. Meaningful work through ESG: The role involves applying accounting and auditing skills to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues, contributing to addressing climate change and promoting corporate accountability.
3. Career growth in a growing field: ESG is a rapidly expanding field, promising career advancement opportunities for professionals with relevant skills and experience.
Transcript
Q7: Favorite parts - industry
What do you enjoy most about being in your industry? I'll talk about the audit side first and then ESG.
With audit, the best part is you get to experience a whole bunch of different clients and companies. Accounting is a really broad industry because it encompasses every single industry you can think of.
If you're interested in banking, you can audit a bank. If you're interested in telecommunications, you can audit a large telecom company. Every company you can think of, from Google and Facebook to ExxonMobil, gets audited.
So, depending on what industry you find interesting, you can focus on and specialize. That's always great.
Moving into ESG, I'm using the skills I acquired as a CPA and auditor. I'm applying them to something that I think will become increasingly more important. Your generation likely feels this way, too, with climate change and the reality of a warming planet putting a lot of strain on our resources.
Ultimately, if you don't have data on emissions and can't hold companies accountable for their role in climate change and the increasing use of non-renewable energy, you don't have a footing to solve what will be an existential threat.
What I like most about the ESG world is that I feel like I'm playing a vital role. It's one role among many that will only grow over the next few decades. It feels good, and I think finding meaning in your work is really important. For me, that is the meaning.