This is a great article! Choose your Recruiter wisely!!!! Also, we get bombarded with emails, phone calls and texts. We really try to get back to everyone, but there is only so much you can do in a day.

8 Tips For Working With a Headhunter

by Jordan Greenberg on October 10, 2014, 3:00 am

Eight ways to strike gold through a recruiter:

1. Do a little research – most highly successful, 3rd party recruiters specialize in an industry niche or a particular set of roles that they fill. Some, go further, and only work in a specific geography. Before making any contact determine if you are a good fit or not.

2. Present a resume along with yourself – Like you, we’re all busy. If you’re a serious candidate hoping to find attractive interviews, let the executive recruiter know by expressing an interest in seeking a new/alternative employment opportunity and attach your updated resume.

3. If you’re not sure your resume is as presentable as you would like, ask for assistance. Search firms are good resources for resume writers. It’s okay to not have a perfect resume. Do your best, let the headhunter know that it’s a work in progress, and get your search started. Too many candidates wait and wander. Recruiters need specifically credentialed candidates every day. We can look at your LinkedIn profile and assess whether or not you are a fit for our searches through a review of your resume and a phone call; regardless of how your resume looks at the moment. (For IT sales candidates, see my article on IT sales resumes.)

4. Follow up your email with an effective phone call – Hirers want candidates who are focused and assertive. So do recruiters! Follow up with a concise voicemail or conversation. If you’re leaving a voicemail, remember that your message is the first “interactive” impression you are making upon someone. And repeat your phone number slowly and clearly at the end of your brief message.

5. If you have been referred to the recruiter by someone, mention his/her name right up front – Everyone loves context. Naming your referral provides you with immediate credibility and substance. And, if the recruiter has worked with that individual, you become identifiable over and above all the other candidates the recruiter may be screening.

6. Know what you’re looking for – Prepare yourself by spending time reflecting on your goals and matching those goals to specific job responsibilities and/or employment environments. Scrutinize prospective employers’ sites and have a list of firms you are hoping to get interviews with. Construct a written list of the aspects of a new opportunity that are the most appealing and important to you so that you can provide a recruiter with ideas to back up your goals.

7. Focus on the future – When you do meet with or talk to an executive recruiter, focus on being a forward-thinker. Search professionals will ask you about your current and previous roles in order to get relevant information to help place you best. We do not have time or energy for detailed analyses of your employers’ marketing woes or related “sob stories.” And, frankly, expressing sour grapes about any employer is a turn-off in any interview. More importantly, be prepared to talk about the personal achievements you are most proud of which make you hireable immediately.

8. Keep your expectations in check – Most recruiters will reply to your email in one of three ways. Hopefully they will inform you of receipt of your resume even if you are not a fit for their “system” or their practice. They may suggest an alternative strategy.

Secondly, if they are not currently working any searches for which you are a fit, but believe they can be of assistance in the future, they will notify you that they will keep your resume active and hope to have a conversation with you when time allows. If this happens, request a 15-30 minute phone appointment two to three weeks after you see that type of reply.

Third, if a headhunter needs you, he/she will request a phone (or in my case) a face-to-face screening interview. Be ready. And try to be flexible. If you are a fit for one of their searches you need to be available to spend time interviewing.

Finding a new, better career is a job. But, keep in mind that executive recruiters work on behalf of, and get paid by, their client employers. So, regardless of how valuable you may be to them, the best recruiters screen out 90% of all the resumes they get.

That’s why we’re called headhunters by some. At our best, we go into competitive companies and actively recruit candidates our clients pay us to identify. Then the dance begins.

So, if you want to compete with all of the talent in today’s competitive market follow the above steps and get ready to be challenged in a new role with a brilliant company.

Jordan A. Greenberg is the president of The Pinnacle Source, Inc., a search and placement firm specializing in, but not limited to, the recruiting of sales/sales management talent for IT companies. He has been servicing this community, based in Colorado, since 1981. Contact him at (303) 796-9900, jordan@pinnso.com, or http://www.pinnaclesource.com.

Finance Analyst overview
Initial 4-6 months of employment will be spent in support of new ERP implementation. The new hire will support the following activities under the direction of the Project Manager and Financial Reporting Manager, as well as other subject matter resources as appropriate.

After the project there will be 2 possible paths:

1. Finance/Accounting path
Once the need for full-time ERP support diminishes, one hire will roll to a finance/accounting role within Company’s Operational Accounting or Financial Reporting team. This is an entry-level accounting role.

2. Contract Support path
Once the need for full-time ERP support diminishes, one hire will roll to a contract/finance role within Company’s Contract Support and Administration team. This is an entry-level finance generalist role.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We have several openings for staff accountants in the Houston area. The staff accountants will perform a variety of bookkeeping/accounting activities in support of the Accounting department.

What we can offer you:

A positive, team-oriented working environment
High visibility to upper management
Opportunity for upward mobility as the company continues to grow
Flexible schedules
Free parking
Great salary & benefits

Staff Accountant responsibilities:

Assisting in the preparation and production of journal entries for monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in compliance with US GAAP.
Preparing reconciliations of receivables, general ledger accounts, and sub ledgers
Complex reporting & reconciliations with heavy use of Excel to manipulate data
Other Accounting duties and projects as assigned.
Ensure compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and other required audits.
JOB REQUIREMENTS

Staff Accountant requirements:

Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Accounting or related field required
Minimum two (2) years of relevant accounting experience including reconciliation/analysis experience required.
Consolidation, revenue recognition, fixed asset, and/or accounts payable experience, preferred.
Intermediate to Expert level in Microsoft Excel required; Proficient in Microsoft Word and Outlook
Must be proficient and accurate in operating a 10-Key calculator and in accurately and efficiently typing on a computer keyboard
Must be a self-starter and have the ability to multi-task to meet tight deadlines
Excellent analytical skills
Excellent communication skills, ambitious, enthusiastic, curious, assertive
CPA Eligible preferred

Click to access Economy_at_a_Glance.pdf

Description
Oversee SOX compliance efforts, ensuring effective operation of supported internal controls for financial reporting
Operate in a consultative capacity as a business partner and financial controls expert
Create, implement, and document financial controls and compliance program, ensuring alignment with SOX and Academy best practices and requirements
Perform broad analysis to identify business objectives and resource requirements and evaluate the associated business risks
Plan and scope financial department audit engagements, to assess operational weaknesses, perform process improvement analysis, and develop corrective action plans
Identify and document internal controls, including their design and operating effectiveness
Execute work programs to evaluate internal controls related to financial risks, operational activities, and compliance requirements utilizing various approaches including sampling, corroboration, observation, and performance
Coordinate the development and monitoring of remediation plans
Execute detailed test plans, develop results summaries, prepare reports, and present findings and recommendations to management
Evaluate control deficiencies and conclude on the potential impact to financial statements
Develop audit findings, recommendations, and reports that identify control weaknesses and the resulting residual risks
Employ a broad range of data analysis tools to maximize audit efficiency and effectiveness
Ensure adherence to requirements and deliverables, and complete assigned work activities and planned tasks within specified time frame
Manage departmental requests for assurance and controls review
Partner with Internal Audit regarding financial departments’ preparedness regarding compliance efforts
Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of departmental plans and strategies
Update process narratives annually through collaboration with business partners to ensure proper documentation of all significant processes
Assess new accounting standards and guidance to ensure enhancement of current accounting processes and controls
.

Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required; MBA preferred
CPA or CIA license required
5+ years’ experience in an accounting/financial audit role
Big 4 Accounting firm experience strongly preferred; or equivalent combination of industry and corporate experience
Proficiency with Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) 404 requirements and internal control concepts required
Experience evaluating SOX requirements, identifying controls, analyzing control gaps, and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of controls
Demonstrated application of internal controls standards, including control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring

Controller – West Houston – 140 to 165K
International Tax Manager – North – 120 to 150K
Senior Auditor – E&P – Very low travel
Commissions Specialist – 45 to 55K – central
Senior Accountant for pre IPO company – North Houston
Internal Controls Senior – West Houston
Internal Controls Manager – pre IPO company – west Houston
Internal Controls Manager – Bilingual – Central
HR Manager – Galleria
HR Generalist – NW
Tax Supervisor – Greenway Plaza
Senior Accountant – West Houston – 75K plus bonus
Controller – Odessa
Controller – Sugar Land – 150’s
Bookkeeper – West Houston – Spanish
SAP Functional Analyst – SW Houton
SAP Senior Accountant – Galleria
SAP Senior Accountant – SW Houston
FLSV Manager or Senior Manager – North Houston
Audit Staff and Senior – DT – Oil & Gas / Mfg / Healthcare clients
SAP Payroll Lead – Central
Senior Accounting Manager – Galleria – E&C
Accounting Manager – West Houston – 90 to 120K
Senior Cost Accountant – 80 to 90K – West
Fixed Asset Accountant – Sugar Land
Treasury Analyst – DT –
Financial Analyst – West Houston
Credit Manager – Northeast
Senior Accountant – NW Houston
AR / Billing Specialist – NW Houston
Project Accountant with Deltek – 50 to 55K
Senior Tax Accountant – Public Accounting – Galleria
Contract FR Analyst – DT
FR Analyst – DT

Please share with your friends.

email: dcd@fittsroberts.com

http://www.interviewexpertacademy.com/resumes-7-laws/?utm_content=buffer905c8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

I’ve been reviewing a lot of resumes this week. It’s not a task that I like doing. Why? Because once you’ve reviewed 2 or 3 the rest seem to look the same.

Bland and Boring

Yes they all look the same. Lots of black text on white. Black on white.

Most candidates use the same words or phrases, cramming lots of text onto a page often with information that makes them look bland and boring. Ah I hate it. I’m visual person and dislike how resumes have just not moved on.

As I sat at my desk with the resumes in front of me, I started to think how you could make your resume stand out.

Resumes – 7 Laws

There are, I believe 7 Laws of a great resume:

Law 1: Don’t use lots of meaningless words

I wrote an article about the ’28 Overused Meaningless Words’ that appear on resumes. Avoid them. They are too generic and don’t provide any detail about you.

Law 2: Long sentences and paragraphs

Why anyone thinks this is a way to stand out, I will never know.

Use short sentences and break up text either in paragraphs or use bullet points. James Patterson is one of the world’s best selling authors. His books engage the reader, because he keeps up the pace of the story. How? By using simple language with short sentences.

Long sentences do not portray intelligence.

Law 3: Fonts

Why use 1 font when 4 will do?

Fonts are a good way of breaking up what you’ve written. But too many looks as though they’ve been copy and pasted from another document. Keep your resume simple.

While I’m on the subject of fonts, get the size of them right too. Most candidates make them too small, to cram lots of information on to a page. It just makes them too difficult to read.

Law 4: Being specific

Too many times resumes are bland. Most look and read the same. They say nothing about you as the person.

If you’re generic, you’re bland. Show your personality in your resume by being specific. Remember this is a document that is meant to intrigue and highlight why a recruiter would want to interview you.

Law 5: Number of Pages

There used to be a rule when I first started work that you should get your resume onto no more than 2 pages. That’s evolved now.

I’ve had resumes that are just 1 page long and recently I had one that was 8 pages long. What length is right? Somewhere between 2 to 4 pages would be my recommendation.

Remember get the content right to showcase you and the length doesn’t matter that much. But don’t go for 8 pages I don’t need your life story.

Law 6: Spelling & Punctuation

A resume is one of the most important documents you will ever write. It’s a shame some candidates don’t take the time to check what they’ve written.

It is not unusual to see spelling mistakes and poor punctuation. For something so important, get someone else to check it. For important documents I always ask someone else to check my work and make comments. It’s a good practice to get into.

Law 7: Formatting

This is the big one. Most resumes look the same. As I mentioned earlier lots of black text on white.

In a day and age when we are use to seeing much more creativity, you can make your resume stand out by doing something different. Add colour to your resume. Recruiters read resumes on a computer screen first. Colour will help you stand out. And wherever possible include graphics to highlight key points.

There you are, the 7 Laws of Resumes. Follow the 7 and you’ll be on your way to standing out from the ‘black on white text’ crowd.

How to answer ‘behavioral’ questions in job interviews

http://www.danamanciagli.com/answer-behavioral-questions-job-interviews/

Summary:
This position is responsible for assisting the Sr. Manager of Accounting in overseeing the accounting operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Manage, develop and set goals for staff.
Oversee the monthly close process, including financial analysis and preparation of various month-end deliverables.
Ensure accuracy of financial statements through strict account reconciliation procedures and monthly Balance Sheet reviews.
Develop and maintain financial reporting packages for internal use, executive management and field organizations.
Account reconciliation and journal entry review and approval.
Improve quality of account reconciliations i.e. account description, process overview and documentation supporting them.
Establish relationship with locations with emphasis on creating environment where Shared Service is looked to as resource for accounting guidance and a business partner.
Assist with external audit process
Other projects as assigned

Competencies:
This supervisor must demonstrate ability in the following areas:
Accountability & Drive for Results – Strong customer focus and collaborative skills
Change Agent – Ability and readiness to embrace and successfully drive/implement change
Functional/technical skills- Strong knowledge of US GAAP
Process Optimization Focused
Developer of People / Team – Strong leadership / team motivator, succession planning
Team player; comfort in operating within a dynamic, complex organizational structure

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, finance or other business related field
CPA Certification Preferred
Experience:
8+years experience in accounting.
The candidate must demonstrate ability to identify and implement process improvements, be a self-starter, and effectively interact and communicate across multiple organizations/functions.
The candidate must be comfortable with complex accounting matters and demonstrate competency in US GAAP, current accounting regulations and internal controls.

Responsibilities:
Communication of the vision for the project  to the users in the functional area.
Communication regarding how the system will suit their role and / or meet their needs.
Owns business processes and data within the function required to effectively run business with a focus on implementation of ongoing process oversight, and process improvement.
Implementation at the site of the key KPIs and reporting within the functional area.
Maintain adherence to the global design principles
Responsible for maintaining and monitoring end-to-end process.
Participation in the review of process or application changes within the functional area. Utilize lean, PIMS, and standard work to create more efficient processes.
Active role in site Kick off , FIT GAP sessions and Implementation.
Works in a team environment with SAP IT Resources to ensure delivery of a cohesive system design and business process design.
Provide input for gap analysis, process standardization and optimization.
Accountable for ensuring alignment with data harmonization.
Maintenance of business process flows and documentation.
Participates in all system/process testing cycles.
Acts as a liaison for communication with the business and IT resources for their functional area.
Assists in business transition activities before and during Go Live by helping with the delivery of vital communications e.g. user analysis, training scheduling.
Assists in the identification of site key users.
Conducts key user and user training supported by SAP analysts as a Regional Business Expert and Regional “Super” User.
Go live and post go live on-site support.
Act as first step in user escalation of issues.
Identification of training issues for their area.
Liaison with Change Manager over training & change management issues.
Testing of future enhancements.
Ongoing coaching and support for site key users.

Required Skills:
Proficient operating as part of a team organizing and executing large scale projects from vision through implementation.
Strong verbal and written communications skills (Local languages TBD), with an ability to express complex business concepts in technical terms.
Strong analytical, problem solving, and conceptual skills.
Strong interpersonal skills; ability to work well on cross functional project teams and foster team commitment to tasks.
Conceptual knowledge of information technologies and methodologies.
Experience in the industry or in a production/service environment similar to that of the employer is preferred.
Knowledge of project management techniques and cross functional experience.
Willing to travel 40% or greater is required. Travel to foreign countries may be required.
Comfortable presenting to small and large audiences.
Effectively conveys strategic vision.
Experience working on transactional lean and business process improvement projects
Experience working effectively across multiple levels of the organization
Experience working across multiple cultures and time zones
Planning (workshops, meetings)

JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Participate in engagement planning; interview process owners and control performers throughout the organization
• Understand and document business processes, risks, and controls
• Lead engagements to test and evaluate controls over company operations
• Supervise staff assignments. Review work papers. Maintain and communicate audit status and results to Internal Audit management
• Monitor and perform audit engagement administration, execution, and wrap-up in accordance with established guidance
• Draft audit findings and recommendations and preliminary audit reports.
Requirements
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
• Motivated, self-starter with excellent communication and coaching skills and demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills
• Ideal candidate will possess a blend of operational, financial, and information technology audit experience
• Other pluses: CPA, CIA, CISA designation or pursuit; familiarity with TeamMate and SharePoint
• Travel to field locations estimated to be 10-20%.
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:
• Degree in (BA/BS) Accounting, Finance, and/or MIS; Internal Audit Certificate from a recognized University Internal Audit Program is a plus
• 4-7 years of industry and/or public accounting experience, preferably in Public Accounting or risk consulting firm’s internal audit practice

Main responsibilities:

Credit Analysis
Commercial collections – follow up
Manage aging and report to upper management
Correct exemption forms and maintain files
Will supervise 1 person

Requirements:
Must be degreed
Could be a senior ready to be a supervisor
4-5 years of credit experience

Responsibilities include:
• Oversees the general accounting functions, which includes month end accounting, journal entry and allocation rates maintenance, account reconciliations, financial reporting (Hyperion Financial Management), and balance sheet management;
• Meet all month end accounting deadlines to Corporate Group with proper review before submission particularly related to inter-company accounting;
• Accountable for ensuring that policies and procedures (internal controls) are in place to provide reasonable assurance that the company assets are protected;
• Coordinates and oversees relative to internal controls documentation and testing and segregation of duties;
• Provides technical accounting GAAP guidance and support to all company entities. At times, this may include involvement in due diligence and other activities surrounding acquisitions/dispositions;
• Ensures that company financial records, under responsibility, are maintained in compliance with company policies and US GAAP. Responsible for reviewing monthly/quarterly account reconciliations and other documents to ensure this compliance;
• Ensures that company financial reports are prepared in compliance with policies and directives, US GAAP and Australian reporting requirements;
• Supervises the completion of regulatory reporting requirements, insurance reports and other reports required by government regulation.
• Assists Corporate Tax, Treasury and Legal departments with dealing with tax related issues and meeting reporting requirements;
• Partners with business operations providing burden rates, supporting commercial proposals/bids and audits;
• Coordinates work relating to both internal and external audits in the periodic review of the company financial records. Is further responsible for the implementation of agreed upon recommendations, related to areas of responsibility, resulting from the audit findings;

• BA/BS degree in Accounting or Finance (if Finance, has solid understanding and application of Accounting principles);
• CPA or CMA designation; MBA preferred;
• 12+ years of experience including supervisory and/or management of financial teams, most recently in a financial management role in a project based or service based environment;
• Industry experience preferred;
• Experience with GL accounting functions including financial statement analysis including key trends analysis, project or OH costing techniques, and financial controls;
•