Many have been asking for advice on which credential to pursue, CPA or CMA. Sometimes just understanding the basics about each can help you figure out which direction is right for you. I’ve pulled together some useful information in…
Celebrating Achievement and the Nobility of Business
Yesterday we celebrated Labor Day, a holiday created to honor the social and economic achievements of our country’s workforce. A tribute to the success we’ve enjoyed as a country, due to the hard work of those before us. What…
The Icarus Deception
I recently read Icarus Deception and really felt like it helped give me a different perspective on my work. In the book, Seth Godin makes the basic point that we are transitioning from a work-based industrial age into a…
Tips for Accountants Who Want to Get to Know the Business
In my last post I laid out a case for why accountants need to take the time to get to know their own businesses. When you get out from behind your desk and learn about other functions in your…
Why Accountants Need to Know the Business
If you look at what it takes to be CFO or a manager in your department, it likely involves developing skills that your current position will not automatically teach you. If you want to advance you must make a…
The Benefits of Volunteer Leadership
As young professionals, we’re always looking for new opportunities to grow our careers and further ourselves. Some of us can actively seek out opportunities in our company to take on more responsibility. Others struggle to find a role in…
Innovation and Idea Generation
Traditional understanding of innovation associates it with idea generation. Organizations find themselves creating think tanks or brain trusts that sit in a room and think about how to disrupt their business. The fundamental thought behind this approach is that…
How to Maintain Your Professional Reputation While Pursuing Initiatives Outside Work
The following post is a contribution from a colleague of mine named Sunil, who I met through a number of professional organizations and then connected with both due to our professional careers in accounting and finance and our aspirations in…
CPA vs CMA vs CFA
One of the best ways for accounting and finance professionals to boost their knowledge and get an increase in pay is to complete a certification. There are many out there, depending on the area of accounting or finance that…
Want to be a Financial Analyst?
In my last post I discussed the basic fundamentals a candidate must possess to qualify for a role in a corporate financial planning and analysis department. These positions are highly competitive as many in accounting and finance gravitate to…
Branding Yourself for FP&A
A lot of people ask me how to get into a company’s financial planning and analysis department. For many, these positions are highly sought after due to the fact they often involve working with various members of upper management…
The Importance of Taking Risk
You might not actually be jumping off a cliff, but sometimes the important things we’re called to do can feel the same way. Someone I mentor called me the other day to get some career advice. He’s been looking for…
5 Points to Work By
On my desk at work I have this paper pinned up that reminds me of five things I can do to help ensure I have a successful career. I call it 5 points to work by. They are all pretty…