What Do Employers’ Expect from Business School Accounting Graduates?

Prepared by: Ishan Lalani 34599 US HWY 96 S Buna, TX 77612

Prepared for: Mary Swandollar Eger Adjunct Instructor Department of Management and Marketing Lamar University P.O. Box 10025 Beaumont, TX 77710

Table of Contents Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………….….….…..3
I. Introducing Career in Accounting…………………………………………………………………4
A. Identifying What Big Four Expect from College Graduates………………...………….4
B. Defining Career megatrend in Accounting……..…………………………………….…..4
C. Conducting the Research……………………………………………………………….….4
D. Preliminary Examination of Employer Expectations of New Accounting Graduates……………………………………………………………….……………….…4
II. Understanding Accounting Job Components…………….…………………………………….…5
III. Referrals and Networking…………………………………………………….………………..…...5
IV. Identifying Needed Skills For Accounting Graduates…………………………………………....6
Appendix: Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………….7

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The major investment for accounting firms is in human capital. Firms' future depends entirely on the personal attribute of the persons employed and the environment under which they work and the qualities they possess. Therefore employers' are become very selective when it comes to hiring somebody who would be representing their firm to their clients (Kalbers, Cenker, 2008). Some important facts and information were uncovered based upon the research. Specifically that college students manage to achieve good grades and somehow manage to boost up their GPAs but they lack basic skills and qualities that employers' seek from them to keep up in this highly innovative and competitive market. In summary, employers' look for the candidate who's qualities and professionalism stands out and who they believe can best represent the firm on their behalf. Many employers have a tendency to have a web search on candidate. According to them, Profile page on various social networking sites best represents job candidate's character and behavior. A candidate who possess following knowledge of the job has proved to be advantageous in securing employment
Establish working relations with people
Apply concepts of risk assessment
Leadership skills
Communication skills

In addition, internship experience, basic knowledge of the job, excellent communication skills and a sound, enthusiastic, friendly, and always follow-up with a thank-you note could be the ticket to a better job after graduation.

What Do Employers' Expect from Business School Accounting Graduates?
I. Introducing Career in Accounting
E. Identifying What Big Four Expect from College Graduates
The intention of this research is to identify qualities Big Four accounting firms expect to see in college graduates. The results of this study will be presented in the form of a written, formal report.
F. Defining Career megatrend in Accounting
This report probes only those recruitment and hiring expectations accounting graduates who wish to pursue their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Since there are many related careers and areas of specialization like taxation and Audit, the research only investigate patterns related to general, public accounting career. Furthermore, while there are many accounting firms that actively seeks new college graduates to fulfill their sustainable growth rate, this report will only identify and present only two that provide accounting services and advice.
G. Conducting the Research
The information and facts gathered and examined for this report was derived from secondary sources only. Those sources were gathered through John and Mary Gray Library at Lamar University, New York Times, Fortune Magazine, and money.usanews.com.
H. Preliminary Examination of Employer Expectations Of New Accounting Graduates
The major investment for accounting firms is in human capital. Firms' future depends entirely