Career Path of an Internal Auditor at Compass Diversified
Macartan's interest in accounting, sparked by a high school class, led to an accounting undergraduate degree and a crucial junior year internship at a public accounting firm. This internship provided valuable experience, progressing from "lower risk areas" to managing audit aspects, ultimately solidifying their career path towards obtaining a CPA license and a position in internal audit at Compass Diversified.
Accounting, Auditing, Public Accounting, Internships, CPA
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Macartan McElroy
Internal Audit
Compass Diversified
Villanove University
N/A
Accounting
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Video Highlights
1. Macartan's accounting class in high school sparked his interest in business and accounting, leading him to pursue an accounting major in college.
2. His internship at a public accounting firm provided valuable experience in auditing, teamwork, and risk assessment, gradually increasing his responsibilities.
3. Macartan highlights the importance of pursuing the CPA certification to enhance expertise in accounting, auditing, tax, and business law, showcasing its value in the field of accounting and auditing jobs
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I've always had an interest in business. In high school, I was fortunate to take an accounting class. I know that might sound boring, but I truly enjoyed it and thought it was a lot of fun.
The class gave us a good overview of how business works and what's really behind it. A lot of that is accounting, how transactions get recorded, and how financial statements are prepared.
I decided accounting would be my college major and went into college as an accounting undergraduate. I enjoyed all the classes, and fortunately, you also take many business classes. This gives you a broader review of how businesses operate, whether it's marketing or business law. I enjoyed it all.
My junior year, I was fortunate to get an internship with a public accounting firm. These firms can be international, national, regional, or even local. They perform audits of companies' books and records, which is exactly what interested me.
My internship was a very positive experience. Even though I was the lowest member on the team, they had a strong team approach, and I enjoyed being part of it. I was assigned to lower-risk areas, but gradually, I was given higher-risk tasks and even managed more aspects of the entire audit. I found it fascinating.
I was also focused on working in public accounting and obtaining my CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, designation. This is done on a state-by-state basis and usually involves a rigorous examination over a specific period. Back then, you had two years.
The exam ensures your accounting skills, audit knowledge, and tax and business law knowledge are solid enough to be an expert in the field when reviewing the accounting books and records of various companies.
Advizer Personal Links
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