Q&A with a First Year Associate

Eric Anzelone
Consulting Associate
Chicago, IL

Briefly describe your role within RSM.
I work in the Transaction Advisory Services group at RSM.  This line of work primarily focuses around performing buy-side/sell-side due diligence for potential mergers and acquisitions.  As a member of the due diligence team, my responsibilities include, but are not limited to, identifying potential earnings and working capital adjustments, client communications, building an excel-based workbook that features several financial statements and schedules, and preparing a report for the client.  In addition to this role, I am also a part of the Business Performance Analytics (“BPA”) team, which is a recently added service for our team.  BPA seeks to perform more extensive levels of analysis of a company’s operations overall, and can ultimately lead to providing our clients with better information for decision-making.

What have been the most exciting things you’ve experienced/learned since beginning your career within RSM?
In my 15 month career with RSM, my most exciting/valuable experiences have revolved around working with several great people within, and outside of the firm, and tremendously increasing my accounting and business knowledge.  In retrospect, it’s remarkable to see how far I’ve come in terms of skillsets and knowledge, and it’s exciting to know that I will continue to improve.  Every individual I have worked with along the way has willingly contributed to my growth.

How have you successfully balanced your career while studying for the CPA?
Since passing the CPA exam had been a goal of mine throughout college, I kept it atop my priority list after graduation and upon entry into RSM.  When I spoke with my Career Advisor at RSM, I made mention of that right away and he strongly encouraged it.  Before studying for any of the sections, I probably had a conversation about the CPA exam with 20-30 different colleagues.  I especially sought commonalities in each of their experiences to better grasp the nature of the exam and how studying for it impacted both their personal and professional lives.  Soon after I began studying, I realized how important it was to hold yourself accountable and to remove distractions throughout the entire process.  The key was communication.  I communicated with friends and family about the level of commitment the exams require, and they supported and respected it.  RSM supported it 100% and I maintained a balance by devoting work hours to client/internal work, and would switch gears to studying. In the early part of my career, I had a considerably more time to study during normal work hours and continue into the night.  Although studying was a priority, I prioritized any teamwork first at work. Achieving the balance is certainly not easy, nor is it the same for every individual.  I found my balance by learning what worked best for me and testing my own limits.  Each test was unique and there are many times where you might not be able to stick to your study regiment.  In addition to communication, confidence was the other key.  Maintaining confidence in what I was doing, even though it required making sacrifices along the way, really helped me strike the balance and ultimately pass the exams.

Any tips for new first year associates? 
Absolutely. Just a brief background - as a first year in the TAS group, I was made aware of being the first associate to be directly hired into the group. I was both excited and nervous.  In order to adjust to such circumstances, I focused on establishing professional relationships right away, gaining insight and knowledge from others, and equipping myself with helpful advice.  I knew I couldn’t learn everything about the line of work overnight, so I would read through some reports, resources, and articles I could find to help kick start my level of understanding.  I was also very eager to learn and contribute, which I’m sure is very common amongst accounting graduates.  My advice for first years is to possess and maintain enthusiasm and curiosity each and every day, and continue asking lots of questions.  Be patient at the same time.  Although this might seem contradictory, it’s important you are also aware skillsets and knowledge will take time to develop, despite how eager you are.  Also, do not beat yourselves up for mistakes you make.  You will find yourself making mistakes on multiple occasions which is completely normal because each project you are tasked with is unique and presents its own set of complications.  With all of this in mind, don’t forget to let yourself have some fun, too! Engage in work activities, and be social with friends [unless you’re studying for the CPA exams too…ha!].

RSM interns quench thirsts for a good cause

RSM takes pride in giving back to the communities where we live and work, and that we have a 90-year tradition of stewardship. But did you know that our interns have embraced the value of stewardship, as well?

In 2009, RSM interns started raising money for the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, an American pediatric cancer charitable organization that raises money to fight childhood cancer. In seven short years, our summer and winter interns have done a phenomenal job of engaging their local offices in support of this worthwhile cause, raising more than $92,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand.

"We're incredibly proud of the leadership and giving nature our interns have and continue to show each year," said Donna Osteraas – manager of corporate social responsibility. "Clearly, our interns view stewardship as a core value, one that they demonstrate so visibly through their enthusiastic support of Alex's Lemonade Stand. We thank them for their contributions to our firm, and to their communities."

We are truly proud and inspired by our intern classes over the last few years, and can't wait to see what our interns will be able to do for our communities in the coming classes!

Lighting Up the Night in Uganda

Dave Campbell - RSM's 90-90-9
Pursue Your Passion Winner

I knew my trip to Bwibere Primary School would be a special one. I was getting the opportunity to see first-hand the completion of the lighting system, where a month before, there had only been candlelight or darkness. But I never could have imagined the feeling I experienced when walking through the school’s entrance on a sunny Saturday morning in July, being greeted by many of Bwibere’s 1,400 students dancing and singing, forming a type of runway into the center courtyard. The energy and excitement were contagious, and I, along with a few of the innovation:Africa team members, danced our way through the crowd to settle in for a full day of speeches, performances, ribbon cutting and demonstrations.

The sub-Saharan region of Africa includes the majority of the continent, and many of the countries within it struggle with poverty, disease, and a lack of clean water and electricity, resources that the developed world often takes for granted. Located in East Africa is Uganda, one of the poorest countries in the world and where roughly 20-percent of inhabitants have access to electricity. Much of that access is concentrated in Uganda’s urban areas, so for those in more rural areas, including the students of Bwibere, the only light comes from daylight, candles and kerosene lamps, which are expensive, often unsafe to operate, and harmful to the environment. The flat-wick type most often used can easily start a fire if broken or spilled, and the inefficiency of such lamps results in an incredible amount of carbon dioxide emissions for what is relatively an inadequate source of light.

It was this issue that got my attention, and when I became aware of RSM US LLP (“RSM”)’s 90-90-9-Puruse Your Passion program, I saw it as a way to get involved and make a real difference on whatever scale I could. The solution was solar power, which through incredible advancements in the technology has become more and more affordable and effective. The benefits are not limited to the reduced carbon emissions; because the capital requirements are so much lower than traditional fossil fuels, solar power is a near-perfect alternative in the developing world where the resources do not exist to build costly coal or nuclear plants. Incredible engineering efforts by a number of for-profit and non-profit organizations have driven the cost down to a competitive range, and the task now is to bring this technology to people in need.

After some initial research, it became evident that I would not be able to do this alone, due to the technical expertise required to install and test the system, as well as the logistics of identifying a community in need and getting the equipment on site. More importantly, for development efforts such as the one I had in mind to be successful and sustainable, there is a degree of ongoing monitoring required which I would not be able to accomplish from across the world. My research led to me to a fairly small but very impactful organization, innovation:Africa, which I was fortunate to find. The issue of improving electricity access is just one that the team at innovation:Africa is focused on, and with 124 solar, water and agricultural projects completed in seven different countries, I could not have found a better partner for my initiative. By the time I got in touch, the team had already identified Bwibere as a great candidate for such a project, and with the funding I was able to provide courtesy of RSM, we were able to provide solar-powered electricity to each of the school’s classrooms and dorm buildings.

One occasionally overlooked aspect of projects in the region, however, is how and whether the local community will be able to sustain the fixtures and technology (i.e., replacing batteries, repairing panels, etc.).  To that end, we spent much of the time at Bwibere meeting with faculty and administrators to teach the mechanics of the system and some basic troubleshooting. One advantage of the system: a portion of the energy generated by the solar panels mounted on the school’s roof feeds a cell phone charging station, which community members are welcome to use for a very small fee, which is collected by the school. The funds are used to pay for any equipment repairs or replacements.

Clearly this was an important project to me, but after spending time with the students and faculty at Bwibere, it became clear their excitement exceeded even mine, as we were treated to hours of a genuine outpouring of appreciation and gratitude. These students, some of them as young as five years old, so prized their educational opportunities that they viewed the newfound light not only as a convenience, but as a way of extending the number of hours per day that they could spend learning, and from the looks of it there was no better gift in the world. We returned on the evening of the first day to see the lights “in action.” What I did not expect was that every seat in the classroom would still be full at 8 p.m., and that I would walk into a room of students no less eager and excited than they were 12 hours earlier, making the most of their new tool. What was intended to be a quick tour turned into an hour-long geography and politics lesson, as I fielded questions about America from the curious and enthusiastic group. This was not something they would be taking for granted, and I was humbled by their boundless acknowledgement and appreciation. Days before, I was a short-tempered traveler, half-sleeping my way through a six-hour Amsterdam layover and wondering if it would all be worth it. No moment could have more effectively put everything in perspective for me.

After spending some time at Bwibere, I traveled for a few days with Robbs and David, two members of the innovation:Africa’s team, to a number of other past and potential project sites to get a sense of both the group’s capabilities and the immense needs of the region. The quantity and reach of the team’s projects are inspiring and impactful; but the needs remain extraordinary. To see first-hand the dirty and often diseased swamp water that many local residents use for everything from drinking to washing, it is clear there is a long way to go. But it is the innovation, generosity and capabilities of organizations such as innovation:Africa and that helped make my dream, and that of 1,400 students at Bwibere Primary School, a reality. Let’s not stop here.

Experiences during London Secondment - Bharat Chandu

Bharat Chandu
Supervisor, Consulting
McLean, VA

Bharat Chandu, a Supervisor on the Netsuite team, calls McLean, VA, his home office. But earlier this year, Bharat had the opportunity to complete a secondment for RSM’s London office. I recently spoke with Bharat about his experience overseas and the unique opportunity that he was given.

Bharat spent about 6 months in London, and the work was a little different in comparison to a typical project he would complete with the Southeast Region Netsuite team. The team in London knew a lot about ERP implementations, but did not have a lot of Netsuite experience specifically. His time in London was more of a teaching/training role rather than just a typical consultant. Not only did he gain valuable experience teaching and training the team on Netsuite, he also learned a lot about European businesses.

Overall, Bharat said the trip was a success, and if given the opportunity would definitely do another secondment. But in his opinion, 6 months was not long enough and in the future would suggest taking on opportunities that are 1-2 years in length.

Not all of Bharat’s trip was about work – he was able to do some traveling, and had the opportunity to travel to India to see his parents. If he had more PTO, he would have traveled even more!

Bharat’s favorite part of the experience? “The happy hours. Our office was in central London with 20 pubs within a ten minute walk of our office. Other co-workers were always up for getting a pint or two after work. It was a great way to unwind, network, and casually talk about work.”

Favorite Part of My Day

I am holding MY book! It is in libraries, schools, homes and on Amazon.
And I'm referred to as "an author". Someone pinch me!

Editor’s Note: Nicole Knudtson was the fourth of nine RSM US LLP (RSM) employees given an opportunity “pursue their passions” as a result of the firm’s 90-90-9 program. Through 90-90-9, RSM is celebrating its 90th anniversary by providing nine employees with $90,000 ($10,000 each) and nine paid days off to fulfill their personal dreams. Read Nicole's story:

After my anonymous application was submitted, I waited – nearly long enough to have forgotten about RSM’s 90-90-9 contest. Until…the call came. I won! I was in complete shock. I wish I had recorded that call because it’s funny as I play it back in my head now. The RSM leader who called was so excited for me, even though I questioned if he called the right person.

After the shock, came pure excitement, then worry as I realized how much I had to do to make this dream a reality. How the heck do I do that – and in less than 12 months? I didn’t have an illustrator or a publisher… And what if it wasn’t any good?!?
 
An illustrator and the creative process I knew I couldn’t take the normal path, as publishers were signing authors for spring of 2017!  I’d have to self-publish. After some research, I selected CreateSpace through Amazon. It gave me full creative license and ownership, while allowing me to set my own price, order on demand and use their procurement process.

Finding an illustrator required less research and more convincing! Katherine and I met in the third grade. I’ve always been amazed by her artistic talent (doodles through math class and singing at my wedding), while I was more into numbers and process. (I was her bridal attendant, tracking things down to make it her wedding go smoothly for her.) Although we’ve been busy raising our own families, we’ve stayed connected and I’ve been watching and supporting her pursuit of her design and illustration career. What better way to pursue my passion than to also help her achieve one of her dreams!  (Check out her blog post from her perspective.)

I just had to convince her.

Katherine was excited but nervous to take on such an important project for me. We decided that we wouldn’t worry about the “right way” to publish a children’s book, but instead do it “our way,” collaboratively. The plan was to get the book ready to launch by the end of tax “busy season,” which aligned well with Katherine, as that was her available time before her husband and kids would be out of the classroom and back home for the summer!

Thus started the creative process! We were so aligned on our vision that it didn’t take long for our story board to take shape. We had so much fun working in meaningful pieces into the illustrations as shout-outs to our families.

And the book is launched!
It was an amazing moment when the books arrived. With our first order of 500, we were ready to hit the road to share the book and our message. And RSM sent a camera with us one day to create a fun video of our story.

Book Tour - 2016
When I wrote the application I had hoped to convince one or two RSM offices to have my family come share our story. Wow. The response was overwhelming! With the girls on summer break, we had just a few short weeks for our “book tour” before our rising freshman had to start high school volleyball.  Somehow we managed to visit 10 offices…between my normal business travels!

As we visited each office, we were given tours so we could learn about the history of the office and the community. Each book event was unique and casual, encouraging lots of interaction. We were able to tell about our family history, our creation of the book, the 90-90-9 program and have the girls read the book. The rooms were often packed with 30-50 employees. It was fun getting the girls comfortable talking to large audiences. Each event also allowed for individual conversations with attendees as our family signed and distributed our book. One of the most popular parts of the events were the Q&A sessions. We’ve never been short on questions, and many generated extreme laughter over something one of the girls said. They certainly are very honest and highly animated kids!

Our “favorite part” so far?
That’s easy. It’s the feedback, comments, and stories we hear. Since publishing, there haven’t been many days that have gone by where we haven’t gotten a note, letter, text, email, IM, voicemail or someone personally telling a story about how they relate to the book or how it’s impacted them. We even received an email the day after my winning application was announced from a gal who asked her husband his favorite part of his day, which resulted in a fantastic conversation over dinner. These stories are powerful, touching and so valuable to my family and me.

Our dream was to make an impact by encouraging others to better connect in a positive way. I have to say that our dream has not only been accomplished but continues to exceed our expectations.

What’s next?
I have a few more office book events this fall, including Boston, New York City and Phoenix. And, we are trying to fit in a Chicago trip, as well.  

With our firm’s focus on diversity and inclusion, I was excited to have my dream so closely aligned with our Family First and Women’s Leadership groups. To be able to make the impact reach a bit further, I decided to create a Spanish version of the book. I didn’t want a literal translation as they often aren’t as fun to read or don’t always make sense. I asked a few friends if they’d tackle this task to make a fun-to-read Spanish version with the same positive message. As soon as they received the book, they had so much fun they worked on it all night and created such a beautiful version that some of my Spanish-speaking proofreaders commended their “knack for Spanish poetic writing!” I’m excited about having that out on Amazon later this fall.

The Unforgettable 2016
I will be eternally grateful to RSM, our offices, our leadership team and the 90-90-9 selection committee who made this dream possible. Not only have I fulfilled my dream to publish my book and share the concept behind it, but I was able to have a once-in-a-lifetime summer with my family where we created memories that will last forever.

A Heart for Haiti

Editor’s Note: Julie Kaehler was the third of nine RSM US LLP (RSM) employees given an opportunity “pursue their passions” as a result of the firm’s 90-90-9 program. Through 90-90-9, RSM is celebrating its 90th anniversary by providing nine employees with $90,000 ($10,000 each) and nine paid days off to fulfill their personal dreams. Read Julie's story:

While I’ve been to Haiti a number of times and have been working with Vision Hope for Haiti (VHH) for a while, my recent 90-90-9 trip to Haiti through RSM’s 90-90-9 program was eye-opening. I now realize the issues and circumstances we often worry about here in the U.S. are minuscule, compared to those in Third World countries. The clean drinking water, regular meals, and ability to go the doctor if we’re ill or injured are things we tend to take for granted. But these aren’t readily available to many, including those in Haiti. Something very important to Third World citizens, including Haiti, though – just as it is to most of us here in the U.S. – is spending time with family and friends, and helping neighbors.

My “passion” through 90-90-9 was to use the $10,000 from RSM to purchase land to be used to build a school that will allow children to attend for free. (Public school isn’t free in Haiti and while most children would like to attend, many families can’t afford to send them.) Since it’s warm year-round in Haiti, schools can be built relatively inexpensively. Next steps will include building a structure and securing sponsorships to pay for children to attend.

Our long-term commitment with VHH is to empower Haitian people with the tools they need to make better lives for their children through education, nutrition and medical care. Haitians don’t necessarily want the lives we have here in the U.S. And we respect their lifestyle, and marvel at how happy they are with what we view as so little.

Before we even left for Haiti, we were blessed with generosity. Through the gracious efforts from Delta airlines and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, MN, we were able to get all our bags checked on the airline at no cost, allowing us to provide two wheelchairs, medical supplies, soccer balls, clothes, school supplies and more to Haitian children in need!

Upon our arrival, we were welcomed with open arms. Jonas and Dou Dou – the co-founders of ‘Vision Hope for Haiti,’ their volunteers and our Haitian “family” were at the airport to greet us. They loaded our bags, and we hopped in the back of the “tap tap” (a Haitian taxi, which is a small pickup with a welded canopy over the back and benches on both sides of the bed). I felt like I was home.

At the guest house, our hosts John David and Ann, along with their seven-year-old son Ralph, served us pumpkin soup, which is a special meal served usually reserved for Christmas and New Years in Haiti. It was delicious! (And this was just one of the many delicious meals we were served while there. Others included, Asian rice, beans, goat and beef bouillon.)

The next morning, Jonas and Dou Dou picked us up in the tap tap, after being stuck in traffic for an hour. (Five million people live in Port au Prince, and I’ve only seen one stop light in Haiti, which also explains why you rarely see a vehicle without dents.) Our first stop was the grocery store to pick up bottled water, bread, peanut butter, jelly and chips. This would be our lunch for the week. We then drove to the church where they have a community program for children. We filled out medical forms for the children, listened to them sing, and “showed them some love.” Our first full day in Haiti was good.

Throughout the remainder of the week, we returned to the church (which had been leveled by an earthquake in 2010, and is slowly being rebuilt) daily to spend time with the children – making crafts, and teaching English, computer and singing programs. We provided basic medical checks; distributed toothbrushes and toothpaste; served meals; and visited a local orphanage.

Louisiane, who manages the orphanage, doesn’t speak English but she was so grateful for everything we brought, including enough food to last the orphanage quite a while, and some much-needed clothing. My favorite part, however, was when we placed Moses and Cassandra in their wheelchairs.  Moses showed his excitement by making noises and clapping; Cassandra sat quietly in her wheelchair with a BIG smile on her face. She looked like a princess. I often wonder if Cassandra and Moses would be able to walk and talk if they lived in the U.S., where they would have access to medical care, and physical and speech therapy.

One afternoon, after the children were fed, families came in for a presentation about beginning an agricultural family assistance program. We brought seeds and Chaya and Moringa twigs to plant. I explained the importance of the Chaya and Moringa, as these plants have many nutrients that help prevent malnutrition, which is so common in Haiti.

Another highlight of the trip included watching a local football club play soccer. Before last year, these children had not played in an organized league. In the summer of 2015, we took soccer balls, ball pumps and soccer shoes to the children. This time, we took more balls and supplies, as they told us that was what they needed. (The soccer fields in Haiti are not groomed like the fields in the U.S. The balls get a lot of wear and tear from all the use.) They have since formed the Santos Football Club, and boys at all age levels play. (To be able to play, they first have to attend practices and learn about being good citizens and the importance of education.)

The week passed so quickly. Before we left, however, we visited a memorial built on a site where more than 25,000 people were buried following the 2010 earthquake. Locals told us about how, after the earthquake, they would pile up the bodies at the end of their blocks, and dump trucks would pick them up to bring them to this site for a mass burial. The memorial isn’t completely finished but when you go inside, there is a feeling of sadness.

Each time I visit Haiti, it gets harder to leave. There is so much I would like to accomplish for our “family” there, so they can live without wondering when they will eat again, when they will have a job, when they will educate all of their children and when the orphans will have a safe place to live.

The people of Haiti have big dreams, and they work tirelessly every day with limited resources to improve their country. My goal is to continue to help by getting the tools they need in their hands so they can make the changes they would like to see in their country.

Read Julie's 90-90-9 submission.

Q&A with a Secondee: Meet Vanita Kataria

Vanita Kataria is a Risk Advisory Services Senior Associate in McLean, VA. She had the opportunity to participate in a secondment and shared her experience with us. Read her story!

Q: What was your background prior to RSM, and what initially attracted you to the Risk Advisory Services (RAS) practice and how long have you been here?

A: I have been lucky to do a lot of different things. I started my career out of college with Watkins Meegan (now CohnReznick) and worked across many lines of business. Then, I worked in external audit with KPMG and realized while I was there that I wanted smaller clients. I wanted to serve clients who were looking for process improvements, and looking for a business partner more than an auditor. When RSM, then RSM McGladrey, came along, it seemed to be the perfect fit! I’ve been here since January 2012.

Q: What were your motivators to go apply for a secondment, and how did you decide with Australia? What were you emotions through the process and thoughts?

A: I was raised in India and went to college in the US. My life in the USA started as a study abroad experience, and I had never worked in any other country. In November of 2014, there was an office wide announcement for a secondment opportunity in London. I remember being in a hotel room in New Jersey wondering what it would be like to work in a different country, different economy, and moreover in a dream city! That opportunity was retracted, and I moved on. The Operations Manager for our National Consulting practice mentioned that she would be in touch should anything else come along and I heard from her in March of 2015 regarding Melbourne, Australia! This was a longer commitment, and on the other side of the world, not just across the pond! But, my excitement to explore another economy, another world class city and its culture, made me say yes to the interview immediately.

Q: What is the Melbourne office like?

A: The Melbourne office reflects the culture of the beautiful land of Australia: it is a country of generally happy, relaxed, environmentally conscious people. They work hard and value the people in their personal and professional environments. During my stay, everyone was very welcoming and helpful. I made some friendships that I know will last a long time!

The RAS practice with in RSM Australia is located in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra with over 50 employees. One of the partners moved from Melbourne to Sydney while I was on the secondment, to grow the practice there.

Q: How was the Australian economy different than the US?

A: As a developed, English speaking country, it was considerably easy to adjust to the environment. What took some time, however, was to understand how to be mindful of everything around me. As a smaller economy, about 24 million people as compared to 300 million in the United States, it functions a bit differently; It is not behind in any way, but people value their resources more.

Q: What were you exposed to in Australia that helped to broaden your skill set? How were the clients different? How was the work different? How did this exposure this help you professionally?

A: I mostly performed audits for state government and agencies, an industry that I had not been exposed to in the US yet.  Insights into how the legislative and regulatory bodies operate in a different developed country brought new perspectives and a deeper understanding.  I have since been able to apply that experience at one of our local county government internal audit engagements. I was also grateful for opportunities to be part of proposal presentations with some of the Partners in the Melbourne office. I watched them bring in conversation their vast experiences and skills while preparing and practicing for the presentations. I now better understand how RSM competencies are communicated to stakeholders.

Q: In your free time, what did you get to experience? (Ex: Did you travel anywhere or see any sights? Different Food? Did this help with any hobbies? Etc.)

A: In the beginning of the secondment, it was winter in Australia. So, I stayed local and explored almost every nook and cranny of the beautiful coffee capital of the world, Melbourne. The architecture, national parks, street graffiti, world renowned restaurants, beautiful skyline, all provided great content for my favorite hobby, photography. Some of the pictures can be seen here. I was able to travel to most of the cities and parks on the east coast as well as the Great Barrier Reef and New Zealand! I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to explore so wide if it wasn’t for this secondment.

Q: What would you say the overall experience made you feel about the firm and your career with RSM?

A: Overall, this experience has made me feel a part of this vast firm like never before. I connect to it across the borders, across cultures, and have witnessed others within the firm live up to our core values. It assimilated me in the firm in such a way that now it’s not just about my current projects at hand or my own career, but a balanced relationship of how I can add value to the firm and how it is helping me grow. I am motivated to always look for opportunities for the firm, for my coworkers, for current college students who reflect the RSM culture. It’s not just about Mondays to Fridays, or just completing engagements or assignments anymore. It’s a happy constant in my life.

Group of secondees at a local cricket event