Crude Oil and Commodity Prices
December, Wednesday 14 2016 – 08:08:15
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0.15 0.28% The Most Frustrating Thing Candidates Get Wrong When They Interview – By Ben Whit
I have always say it is (most often) not the one with the best skill set who gets the job, its the one who is most prepared!!!!
I have spent the majority of the last seven years of my life working in talent acquisition. I have worked for two fortune 500 companies in that time, once as a head hunter and once as a corporate recruiter. I have looked at thousands of resumes for many different roles. I have also interviewed thousands of candidates over the last 6+ years. Truthfully, I have been blown away by some candidates whilist others left quite a bit to be desired. Usually it doesn’t take long for a seasoned recruiter to tell whether a candidate is going to be a rock star or the opposite. Now some of that decision making process happens before you even pick up the phone. The recruiter looks at your resume and can tell if someone is going to have the necessary skills.
In all honesty there have been times where I looked at a resume and based on the conversation with my hiring manager, felt as if my conversation was all but a formality. There have been times where I literally thought to myself, I am going to have this conversation and as long as the person doesn’t say something appalling or offensive I will most likely be sharing them with the hiring manager as soon as I can type up a paragraph and hit send. Now to some of you that might be a little disheartening. You might be thinking, “well Ben, if your mind is already made up what is the point of me even showing up for this interview?”Fair question but I would counter that by saying that despite what opinions may be formed prior to the conversation taking place, you still have the power to change the recruiter’s opinion of you. But how?
The One Thing That Differentiates The Best Candidates
Well I am glad you asked, this brings me to the most frustrating thing candidates get wrong when they interview. The one thing that differentiates the best candidates from the candidates who don’t make it past the first round is preparation. There is a noticeable difference between those candidates who sound prepared and those who sound like they are really winging it. If you want to place yourself amongst those who excel during interviews then the key is to control what you can control, which is your level of preparation. Many times I have gotten into a conversation with someone only to find out very quickly they were woefully unprepared to speak with me. I can tell you for a recruiter that is a very frustrating thing to deal with. When someone comes into an interview unprepared like this, it tells the recruiter that not only do they not value your time but they also don’t value the opportunity.
Now if you care about an opportunity those are thing you obviously don’t want your recruiter thinking. So these are three basic things you need to know about the company when you’re going into an interview (Oh, by the way, check out this link and you can download my free interview prep guide so that you are full on ready for your interview):
- Have a solid foundation of knowledge around what they do, how they are doing as an organization and knowledge of their history.
Look, this is the easy stuff. If you are interviewing with a company, you owe it to yourself to have this information. Anyone with access to a computer can easily get all this information, commit a good deal of it to memory and go into an interview relatively prepared. What I like to do is write down the information I want to know on a piece of paper and once I find that information, I write it down on the piece of paper under the question. The fact of the matter is you remember things better when you write them down. Just reading it won’t always be enough.
- Know the job description and be able to speak to where your prior roles have overlapped.
Not being extremely familiar with a job description can also be a huge mistake. If I am on a phone interview I like to have a tab open with that information right on the screen in front of me. Pro-tip: copy and paste it into Word, leave a few lines of space between the must haves and then write how you meet those requirements in the blank space. That way if you talk about the role you will be well prepared to address this topic.
- Be prepared to answer the questions you know are coming.
The fact of the matter is you know several questions you are going to be asked already. They are going to ask you why you are looking. They are going to ask you what you like about the job you applied to. They are going to ask you how much money you make or how much you are looking for or both. Any recruiter worth their salt will in some way or other ask these questions. Since you know they are coming it would be crazy for you not to be prepared to answer them. On my website, I have posts on how you can answer each of these questions.
Final Remarks
Well there you have it. Don’t be one of those candidates who just assumes they will be able to win over their interviewer with their wit and charming personality. Control what you can control and come to that interview ready to kick butt and make a name for yourself. In today’s competitive job market you might find yourself going head to head with candidates who are just as qualified as you.
Ultimately, more than you know, it comes down to who did that little bit extra and was prepared. I have had people tell me that they don’t want to prepare because they want to like them for them and not just what they prepared and said during the interview. While I understand that sentiment; but I would counter with this – in my opinion, you always want to be the one making the decision. If they give you an offer and you don’t want to make the move you can always say no. But it’s much better to be in the position to make that decision, as opposed to the other way around. Thanks for reading and I hope this helps!
Purchasing Manager Index – November 2016
Still above 50!
The Houston Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a short-term leading indicator for regional production, registered 50.5 in November, signaling economic expansion in metro Houston for the second consecutive month, according to the latest report from the Institute for Supply Management-Houston (ISM-Houston). The November reading is down slightly from 51.1 in October, which broke a streak of 21 straight months in which the index signaled contraction.
Click to access Purchasing_Managers_Index.pdf
7 Questions To Ask At Your Next Job Interview By Ben Rosen
What is the most important goal that needs to be accomplished in the first 60 days in this role?
Asking this question shows that you focus on the most essential tasks when working, and care about meeting targets – it also tells you what to focus your efforts on if you get the job.
What are some of the challenges that will face the person filling this position?
This shows that you face challenges head on, you don’t avoid them. It also tells you what challenges you will face if you get the role, which will help you perform well and achieve KPIs.
What are your company’s values?
Their answer will tell you whether this is a company that matches your values, and therefore whether you would enjoy working there or not. It may also give you an idea of whether the company just talks about their values, or actually lives by them. And of course asking this shows that you care about company values.
How would you describe your management style and company culture?
If your interviewer will become your boss, knowing his/her management style is very helpful; it tells you how to communicate and work under them. The culture the company has will affect your enjoyment of the role as much as the role itself, so it’s important to get a feel for it in the interview. Good company culture makes work life engaging, with possibilities for collaboration and growth. But working in a disempowering environment will make you want to leave the job.
Can you tell me what the team I’d be working with is like?
Sometimes a company’s culture can be less than perfect, but your team’s culture could still rock. Asking about the culture of your team tells you more specifically what kind of work environment you would be in.
Do you have any feedback for me, or hesitations to hiring me that I can address at this stage?
This question is brilliant because it’s gutsy. It shows you’re confident enough in your skills and abilities to discuss your vulnerabilities openly. It also show that you like to be coached, which is a very attractive trait to employers.
What is the next step now?
Only ask this if, based on their answers to your previous questions, you want to work at this company. If you do want the job, asking what the next step is is essential. It shows that you’re keen to be hired and want to know what happens next.
Senior JIB Accountant – Houston – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com
Job Duties:
- Payout Accounting (Co. operated and Outside operated)
- Well Count I Allocations
- Overhead (Producing,Drilling, Major Construction, P&A)
- Land Interface of Rental payment & expense booking
- SWD Billing and/or Re-class of expenses
- Property Reverse & Re-book
- Use of Council of Petroleum Accountants Society (COPAS) guidelines to determine overhead eligibility (P&A,D&C, recompletions/workovers)
- Record monthly General Liability & Access Liability Insurance
- General ledger account reconciliations
- Journal vouchers
- DOI/JBS deck maintenance
- Support Monthly JIB Close
Qualifications:
- College degree and/or equivalent experience
- Five to ten years of joint interest accounting experience with onshore oil & gas properties
- Knowledge and understanding of COPAS documents
- Good communication and interpersonal skills to interface effectively with management, land and production departments
- Working knowledge of Joint Operating, Unit agreements, and Force Pooled wells
- Comprehension and understanding of daily drilling reports
- Working knowledge of the various departmental activities in an upstream E&P company and their interface/integration with the Accounting department
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Entry Level – Internal Audit – Woodlands
Job Description:
Review and appraise the soundness, adequacy and application of financial and other operation controls to ensure effective control at reasonable costs.
Ascertain the extent of compliance with established policies, procedures and business practices to ensure effective operations.
Partner with audit clients to identify constructive and value-added solutions to address issues identified.
Recommend operation improvements which ensure that proper controls are exercised over all aspects of the business and that company assets are conserved, protected and accurately reflected.
Assist in the preparation and presentation of audit results and strive to improve their communication to appropriate management levels to maximize the value of audit services.
Appraise the quality of performance of audited groups in carrying out their assigned responsibilities to ensure a proper balance of controls to risks, which removes unnecessary complexity, and adopts cost effective measures.
Consult with business clients to redesign/re-engineer…
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Friday Accounting Fun!
Entry Level – Internal Audit – Woodlands
Job Description:
Review and appraise the soundness, adequacy and application of financial and other operation controls to ensure effective control at reasonable costs.
Ascertain the extent of compliance with established policies, procedures and business practices to ensure effective operations.
Partner with audit clients to identify constructive and value-added solutions to address issues identified.
Recommend operation improvements which ensure that proper controls are exercised over all aspects of the business and that company assets are conserved, protected and accurately reflected.
Assist in the preparation and presentation of audit results and strive to improve their communication to appropriate management levels to maximize the value of audit services.
Appraise the quality of performance of audited groups in carrying out their assigned responsibilities to ensure a proper balance of controls to risks, which removes unnecessary complexity, and adopts cost effective measures.
Consult with business clients to redesign/re-engineer business processes. Identify opportunities for increasing operational efficiencies and strengthening management controls.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Accounting or Finance
6 months to 2 years public accounting and/or internal audit experience
Ability to travel up to 10% of the time
#wednesdaymotivation #goals #2017
Senior JIB Accountant – Houston – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com
Job Duties:
- Payout Accounting (Co. operated and Outside operated)
- Well Count I Allocations
- Overhead (Producing,Drilling, Major Construction, P&A)
- Land Interface of Rental payment & expense booking
- SWD Billing and/or Re-class of expenses
- Property Reverse & Re-book
- Use of Council of Petroleum Accountants Society (COPAS) guidelines to determine overhead eligibility (P&A,D&C, recompletions/workovers)
- Record monthly General Liability & Access Liability Insurance
- General ledger account reconciliations
- Journal vouchers
- DOI/JBS deck maintenance
- Support Monthly JIB Close
Qualifications:
- College degree and/or equivalent experience
- Five to ten years of joint interest accounting experience with onshore oil & gas properties
- Knowledge and understanding of COPAS documents
- Good communication and interpersonal skills to interface effectively with management, land and production departments
- Working knowledge of Joint Operating, Unit agreements, and Force Pooled wells
- Comprehension and understanding of daily drilling reports
- Working knowledge of the various departmental activities in an upstream E&P company and their interface/integration with the Accounting department
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel,Access and Outlook applications
December Newsletter for Accounting & Finance Professionals in Houston
Industry News and Updates
This will be my last newsletter of 2016! I recently attended a symposium sponsored by the Institute of Regional Forecasting – University of Houston, Bauer College of Business (Go Coogs!). I have shared the information I learned with you below. While I’ve inserted some of my opinions, I can’t take any credit for this. This information was presented by Robert Gilmer, Ph.D.
- Houston (more than likely) hit a mild recession the end of 2015 / beginning of 2016.
- Houston is not going to enjoy a V shaped recovery. This will be a very slow recovery for us.
- We lost about 80,000 oil related jobs (these jobs also impacted other industries as it trickles down).
- In the past 21 months we have added 26,300 jobs. In 2016, we added 5,600 (this could be revised downwards).
- Most of the jobs created in the past 21 months were related to the drop in natural gas prices and the petrochemical construction boom on the east side of Houston.
- The worst SHOULD be behind us.
- Oil has almost doubled in price since January!
- Overall demand for oil globally is still growing (slowly), but there is still too much supply.
- Oil needs to be at 60 dollars or above outside of the Permian Basin. The Permian Basin can make a profit at 45 dollars a barrel. This is where the rig count has grown by 150 rigs!
- Jobs come back 2 quarters after rig count goes up.
- There are 3 likely scenarios for 2017. Highly optimistic: Jobs come back Q1; Somewhat optimistic: Jobs come back Q2; Not very optimistic: Jobs come back the end of 2017. In my opinion we will see a steady pick up over the year.
- No matter what: 2018 and 2019 should be great years for Houston!
Please feel free to email me any questions about this data. I know it’s a lot to take in. I do believe that we are starting to make the turnaround. The key indicator to me is that positions with oil & gas companies are starting to be replaced when someone leaves. That also means that other companies are hiring them away. I am very optimistic about 2017 and definitely think we have put the worst behind us.
Have a great holiday! See you next year!
Local Statistics:
- National Unemployment Rate: 4.7 (last year 4.9)
- Houston Unemployment Rate: 5.1 (last year 4.7)
- Labor Participation Rate: 62.8% (last year 62.50%) – All time high January 2000: 67.30% / All-time low 1977: 62.4%
- Manufacturing Index: 51.5 (last year 48) – from what I have read 50 is the magic number! YES!!!!!
- Oil Rig Count: 580 (last year 760) – all time high around 1900 in 2012!
- Price of Oil: 51.06 (last year around 50.90)
- Industries hiring: Retail, Manufacturing, Limited Oil & Gas is coming back, Non Profit, Public Accounting Firms!!!!
- Positions in demand: Audit & Tax Public Accounting SUPER HOT!, Staff Accountant, Internal Audit, SEC or Big 4 backgrounds are in high demand
Interesting Articles:
- The follow-up email that works even better than “Just Checking In”: http://wp.me/puDjI-1yk
- Handling the impossible question: what are your weaknesses? http://wp.me/puDjI-1yD
- Why the color of your suit matters: http://wp.me/puDjI-1xQ
- Interview Preparation Checklist: https://dianedelgadolemaire.com/short-interview-preparation-checklist/
Current list of openings:
- Spanish Speaking Staff Accountant – SW
- Budget Analyst – SW
- Senior JIB Accountant – NW Houston
- Director of Compensation – Katy
- Senior Financial Analyst – Galleria
- Senior Property Accountant – Galleria
- Senior Financial Reporting Specialist – North
- Controller for small/midsize Company- CFO track – Humble
- Senior Accounting Analyst – Special Projects – 3 to 4 years of public accounting – Southwest
- Audit Manager – Public Accounting – Growing firm!!!!!
- Rotational Audit Role – International Travel – Big 4 Background – Galleria
- Senior Treasury Analyst – DT – Big 4 or Large Regional Firm background
- Operational Auditor – Westchase
- Senior Payroll Accountant – SW
- Senior and Staff Investment Analyst – Investment banking experience
- Senior Financial Analyst – North Houston
- Reduced work week hours: Tax Manager or Supervisor or Senior – small public accounting firm
- Consultant with professional services firm – Big 4 Auditors – Downtown
- Senior Internal Auditor – Northwest
- Financial Reporting Accountant – West & Downtown
- Staff Internal Auditor – Galleria
- Tax Staff Accountant – Galleria
- Tax Senior Accountant – High Net Wealth
- Staff Auditor – Public Accounting
- Senior Auditor – Public Accounting
- Senior Accountant – NW Houston
- Senior Insurance Accountant – NW Houston
- Staff Accountant – NW Houston
- Property Accountant Senior
- Audit Senior – 60% travel
- Associate Manager / Manager – Professional Services Firm – Consulting on high profile projects – full time role – need at least 2.5 year of public accounting and maybe a splash of industry to qualify
Diane Delgado LeMaire
Senior Managing Director, Executive Search & Branch Manager
www.linkedin.com/in/dianedelgadolemaire/
December Economic Update from the GHP
Unemployment Rate Falls
Interesting read for those just following the unemployment rate. You have to look at the Labor participation rate too.
I just wrote my last newsletter of the year yesterday and will blog it on Monday. Good news: Houston’s manufacturing index is finally above 50 again!
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/02/unemployment-rate-fell-but-a-more-realistic-rate-is-higher.html
It’s Friday & Month End Close!
Internal Auditor – Westchase – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com
Responsibilities:
- The Internal Auditor will review and evaluate the control environment and develop specific analyses of strengths and weaknesses, along with recommended improvements.
- Conduct audits covering strategic, financial, operational and compliance risks, including identifying issues, reviewing and analyzing findings, and documenting business processes and procedures.
- Responsible for all Inventory Management auditing.
- Responsible for Procedural Compliance audits.
- Will summarize and present audit findings to Executive level Leadership group.
- Identify audit issues, use root cause analyses and make recommendations using independent judgment and risk assessment.
- Consult with management on risks, controls and best practices.
- The objective is to find viable solutions for elimination/mitigation of losses through identification of weaknesses, recommendation of solutions and providing guidance to ensure success.
Primary Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Financial or similar field, required.
- Certifications: CPA, CFE, CIA or like designation, preferred.
- A minimum of two (2) years of audit experience, required.
- Proven success/experience in financial loss…
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Staff and Senior Investment Analyst
Description of Job Duties:
- Assist in the monitoring of existing managers of the public and private investments portfolios.
- Prepare reports for the routine review of asset class level performance.
- Assist in the screening and due diligence process for new managers.
- Document the manager due diligence process.
- Assist with the development of and maintenance of asset class models and databases.
- Participate in investment research projects from asset allocation to security level review.
- Assist in the preparation of materials for quarterly board meetings.
- Complete other duties as assigned.
Education Required: Bachelor’s Degree. MBA or CFA designation is a plus.
Experience Required: 2 plus years of experience preferably at an investment firm, investment bank, or consulting firm.
Small Company Controller – Humble, Texas
Our client is looking for a Controller to become the future leader of the Accounting & Finance team. We are looking for an experienced, small to mid size company Controller, with aspirations of being the CFO some day. The ideal candidate will be a natural leader, who truly cares about mentoring and training their staff. The company is located in Humble and has amazing tenure! There are approximately 10 people in Accounting, but this Controller will also be involved in Operations, IT, Credit and HR. A CPA is required for this role. The company is always looking towards the future and just launched their E commerce website.
Overview:
Month end and annual financial statements
Quarterly reporting
Review Journal Entries
General ledger account analysis and reconciliations
Company budget
Work property tax consultants, insurance companies and CPA firm.
Prepare monthly sales tax reports
Inventory Accounting
Required:
CPA
Manufacturing / Distribution background
Public…
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Junior Financial Analyst – Southwest Houston – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com
EXCEL knowledge important
Job Responsibilities:
- Sending out monthly budget vs. actual reports and detailing variance thresholds.
- Performing various internal audit functions.
- Assisting in the annual budget process (August thru May).
- Assisting 7-year plan model.
- Act as a backup for certain Treasury department functions.
- On boarding of new employees as it relates to procurement and other financial operations policies and procedures.
- Grant accounting / maintain banking relationships.
- Assist in other reporting duties and other duties.
Projects:
- Developing monthly reports to send to department administrators, deans, and directors.
- Creating an employee on boarding process.
- Implementing procurement policies and procedures.
Education:
Accounting, Finance or Economics Degree
Junior Financial Analyst – Pearland, Texas – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com
Division of a publicly traded company.
Job Functions:
- Assist in weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting
- Assist in the preparation of budgets/forecasts and variance analysis and consolidate total division wide budgets/forecasts
- Ensure accuracy and timeliness of reporting from the operations. Prepare specialized reports as needed by management
- Coordinate SOX testing and following improvement implementation
- Maintain SOX control environment and handle all SOX related issues
Background/Experience:
- S. degree in Finance or Accounting
- One to three years of financial experience in a high pace environment with multi-unit organizational structure
- Proficient in PC Applications, including expert skills in Excel
- Knowledge of Hyperion
- Good analytical skills, comprehension of user needs, logical thinking process and attention to detail
- Experience working with Sarbanes-Oxley and internal controls, previous consulting experience preferred
- Fast learner – can adapt well and quickly to a new situation, with a focus on solutions
Staff Internal Audit Role – NW Houston – dlemaire@cfstaffing.com
Let me know if you are interested in finding out more about this I.A. role. No public accounting experience required!!!
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct all phases of audit planning, fieldwork, and report drafting audit projects.
- Communicate with management during the audit planning, fieldwork, closing and reporting phase.
- Provide recommendations to improve financial and operational processes.
- Draft audit reports, providing a clear description of the issues and ensuring they are fully supported by the test work.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Management
- Working towards or possess a CPA or CIA
