Consulting Associate, Financial Reporting
The Financial Reporting Team within Equity Methods specializes in developing controlled processes to handle the
requisite accounting (including compensation expense, diluted EPS, and deferred tax computations) for large, complex
equity compensation plans of Fortune 1,000 clients. As a new associate at Equity Methods you will be provided with
extensive and thorough training that provide you with the foundational skills to be a successful team member. As a key
member of this rapidly growing practice area, you will have an immediate opportunity to begin applying your new skills
and academic background to project based assignments that culminate in joining on-going client teams. These teams
support the most complex equity plans in existence that deliver dynamic solutions to our clients. Associates add value
and support continued growth by helping clients migrate from spreadsheet-based procedures involving significant manual
intervention to well-designed, thoroughly documented algorithmic solutions that you help design and implement.
If you have a strong grounding in accounting theory, enjoy problem-solving, and have a collaborative, client-focused
mindset, then we would like to meet you and give you the opportunity to learn more about our practice. As a high-impact
consultancy that serves large, publicly traded clients, our professionals gain experience in a number of technical
accounting areas (ASC 718, ASC 805, ASC 740, ASC 260, and ASC 820), as well as critical skills in other areas such as client
management, design of processes and internal control systems, accounting information systems, automation, technology,
and even more general business topics such as marketing, thought leadership, and growth management. While not all our
professionals came to us with a background in our direct subject matter, all share our cultural values: solving complex
problems, an appetite for learning, and working with project stakeholders to create value for clients.
We will also consider you for different positions if we think there may be a better fit.
About the Equity Methods Consulting Practice
Equity Methods serves a diverse clientele primarily consisting of Fortune 1000 companies, including 27 of the Fortune
100. The company is strategically partnered with some of the largest financial institutions, works closely with Big 4 public
accounting firms, and has provided key guidance to the FASB and SEC as they formulated policy regarding equity
compensation accounting. Equity Methods’ practice groups include a Valuation Services Group, Plan Design and Analytics
Group, and the Financial Reporting Group, which this position will report into. Equity Methods provides senior-level
support both within the space of equity compensation and in related areas involving other complex financial instruments.
Equity Methods professionals have significant interaction with senior managers at large publicly traded companies. With
over 40 professionals and hundreds of clients, Equity Methods seeks to combine the best of a large professional services
firm with the best of a smaller, more entrepreneurial company. The culture encourages innovation, pursuit of excellence,
collaboration; teamwork and creativity in continually enhancing the way clients are served and solutions are originated.
Roles for the Financial Reporting Associate
Complete our new-hire training program. The training period culminates in your direct involvement in client work through
delegated assignments by more senior members of the team. Our goal is to transition Associates to assume responsibility
over broader aspects of client engagements. These aspects include:
1) Serving as critical support in financial reporting engagements, providing client-specific solutions that meet
specialized reporting needs and communicating complex ideas to clients and their external auditors orally and in
writing. Interacting with Equity Methods’ algorithms and generating reports which need to be carefully audited
and customized in preparation for client delivery. Coordinating delivery with the client and fielding questions
they or their external auditors present.
2) Designing, implementing, and documenting the underlying data handling processes of financial reporting
engagements, ensuring that solutions are consistent with the terms of the client’s compensation plans and
adhere to accounting regulations and standards.
3) Participating in client delivery meetings and external audit review sessions, ensuring that clients understand the
processes developed and can utilize them in their financial reporting processes, and their external auditors grasp
all essential features of the solution.
4) Support in various practice initiatives related to risk management, cross-selling, and research.
5) Implementing and enhancing control measures within the practice to ensure risk is being properly managed in
client engagements. Developing specific control tests, performing end-to-end analyses of processes to
understand where there is risk, and assisting in compilation of high-quality work papers for future reference and
re-performance.
Successful candidates will be trained to acquire skills in designing processes, developing and/or reviewing working papers,
and interacting with clients. There is both a focus on technical accounting areas (ASC 718, ASC 260, ASC 740, as well as
areas involving international tax) and the design of processes and systems of control. Consulting associates will be
supported by leaders of the practice in an effort to train and develop skills related to engagement management early in
their careers.
A few background qualities we often look for include:
1) Bachelors or Masters in accounting, finance, economics, or related discipline. Please be sure your GPA is listed
on your resume.
2) Expertise and experience in theoretical accounting subjects: capability to interpret complex accounting theory
and translate into a process-based understanding of how data should flow and be manipulated
3) Ability and willingness to think critically and solve “out-of-the-box” problems independently
4) Creativity in engineering processes from both a controls and efficiency perspective
5) Maturity in internal/external communication and time management
6) 0 – 4 years experience in a financial reporting, finance, or audit role. Candidates at a more senior level may be
considered for a different position within the practice
7) Desirable: Exposure to database design principles
8) Desirable: Exposure to SAS or another programming language for high-volume data handling
9) Desirable: CPA license or CPA candidacy
To learn more about Equity Methods, please visit us at: www.equitymethods.com.
Equity Methods Careers
http://www.equitymethods.com/about-us/careers/
Interested candidates must submit their application at the following website to be considered:
http://equitymethods.applicantstack.com/x/openings