Washington National Tax Rotation Program Provides Valuable Career Experience

McGladrey is implementing new rotation programs for its employees as blogged about in 2011. McGladrey’s Washington National Tax (WNT) office also recently launched a manager rotation program.  The program brings high performing tax professionals to Washington, DC for a 12 to 18 month assignment to work alongside our WNT partners and directors.  While on assignment, they work on complex tax planning issues, analyze tax policy and interact with policymakers, think tanks and other tax professionals.

Three tax managers, Anne Bushman, Leeah Fontaine and Theresa Urband, have participated in the WNT rotation program at McGladrey. Find out what Anne, Leeah and Theresa have to say about their time spent with the rotation program.

Why did you decide to apply to the WNT rotation program?

Anne: I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn a lot of technical knowledge from getting to see issues that I wouldn’t see in my local office since WNT, somewhat indirectly, serves all of the firm’s clients. I also thought it would be a great way to interact with peers in other offices and build an internal network through WNT’s interactions with the various offices.

Leeah: I decided to apply because I believed it would further enhance my knowledge and skill set.

Theresa: I have always been interested in corporate tax and transactions.  I thought the rotation would be a great opportunity to focus on developing my technical skills in this area at an accelerated pace, while serving the firm in a national capacity.

What has been the biggest benefit to your McGladrey career experience since taking part in this program?

Anne: Even though we’re only half-way through right now, I have seen a lot of benefits already. I think one of the biggest benefits is just the exposure to our tax services from a national perspective—being exposed to both processes and people that I otherwise wouldn’t have as a client server in a single, local office. Overall, the rotation has been a good way to experience the “big picture” of tax services that we can provide to clients and everything that goes into trying to provide the highest quality services through not only specific external services but also through internal trainings to make our professionals the best they can be.

Leeah: I have had opportunities to do speaking engagements and write articles on a variety of topics, which I believe are huge benefits to my career.

Theresa: I don’t know if I can single out the biggest benefit to my career; however, I definitely have a much better understanding of corporate tax and the issues that our clients face. In addition, I have had the opportunity to meet and build relationships with many professionals both within and outside of McGladrey.

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So . . . you’re a Management Information Systems major and you’re going to be an accountant?

Written by Cameron Rohn

Intern

Kansas City, MO





Cameron Rohn



Hello to all of my new readers! I am currently a senior at Kansas State University studying Management Information Systems. I was offered an internship with McGladrey in December, but it seems like yesterday as the summer quickly approaches. Now that school is out, the reality of starting a new chapter in my life is really starting to set in. I will start working in the Kansas City office one week from today as a Network Solutions Consultant, providing services to businesses in a variety of industries throughout the Midwest region.

Explaining my major to other people has always been a challenge. However, coming up with an elevator speech explaining why I would want to work for an accounting firm with a technology related degree has proven to be even more challenging. I honestly wasn’t very familiar with McGladrey prior to interviewing, but the more I learned and continue to learn about the company, the more excited I am about pursuing a career here. Initially, I was one of those people who didn’t fully understand what kind of business an accounting firm had implementing and maintaining computer networks for other businesses.

I eventually discovered that there are many opportunities and advantages to providing a variety of services rather than just tax and assurance. The McGladrey slogan “The power of being understood” is extremely fitting once you understand this dynamic. For a client, the greatest need when hiring consultants is that they have a true understanding of the business’ needs as well as a holistic view of how the company operates. By providing such a wide variety of services, McGladrey is able to create an innumerable amount of value for clients.

A core value at McGladrey is to provide global capabilities with a local touch. Hearing this was the nail in the coffin to other opportunities I was initially seeking. I expect to be challenged daily and cannot wait to feel the excitement of knowing that I drastically improved business operations for a client. I am fully confident that the opportunity ahead of me will be invaluable -- a house of opportunity with no glass ceiling. I have been focused on starting a career in network technology and security ever since I realized the exponential rate of technological advancements and the growing demand in these fields.

I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to share my experiences over the next couple of months with such an audience. Be sure to check back in the coming weeks for updates on my life as a Technology Consultant at one of the leading consulting firms in the world.

My success starts here!

A Glimpse of the Future

Written by Deevy Bhakta

Intern

Chicago, IL



Deevy Bhakta



Throughout college, I have been told that the knowledge I gain in the classroom is a fraction of what I will need to know to achieve success in the real world.  The most valuable knowledge comes from professional experience.  Thus, I made it my goal to land an internship by my junior year in college.

I reached my goal and received an opportunity to intern at McGladrey for this summer.  For many, making a jump from a small town to downtown Chicago seems intimidating.  However, I have been waiting for the opportunity to take my leap. I have no idea what this summer and my internship at McGladrey will have in store for me, but I intend to cherish the whole experience.

As my start date nears, I feel my excitement growing.  For the past three years, I have been in the same University of Illinois environment.  After taking a multitude of classes, I am ready to put my skills to test.  However, I am looking forward to building a relationship with other interns and actual employees the most.  I love talking and connecting with people, but for the past couple of years I have gotten to control who I interact with.  I know my internship will put my teamwork and people skills to the test.

I admit that I am a little intimidated.  However, I am confident that I once I get over the initial hurdle this summer will be one of the most memorable of my life.  I hope to return to UIUC with valuable experiences and new friends.

Pre-Internship Jitters

Written by Gianna Migliaccio

Intern

New York, NY

Gianna Migliaccio

Surreal- that's it. That is honestly the only way to describe this stage of my life. I don't know where the past four years went! It is wild to say that I am a Syracuse University graduate; I remember freshman year like it was yesterday. Saying that time flies is actually an understatement. However, what is even crazier is the fact that I’m about to commence my internship with McGladrey! I have been waiting for this for years, literally, and now it is only a week away.

Ever since my sophomore year at Syracuse University I have truly loved McGladrey. As an accounting major I have had the opportunity to network with many firms over the years, whether it be during Beta Alpha Psi presentations, career fairs, or info sessions.  However, there was always something different about McGladrey.  They were in a completely different category than the rest of the firms that I was getting to know.  I liked everything I was hearing, and in every situation I found myself relating and connecting to the people that I was speaking with.  McGladrey is truly invested in their people and that is what sold me. From then on out, I was convinced that McGladrey was the perfect fit for me. 

After attending Pathways in New York, these emotions and opinions were only intensified. I enjoyed all of the activities that we did over the course of the program, but more importantly, I enjoyed having the opportunity to meet and interact with the other Pathways participants.  That is why I have such high expectations for my internship with the firm. I can't wait to meet the rest of the interns and get to know them over the next ten weeks or so.  We have been chatting via LinkedIn and are talking in a big group-chat, but clearly that doesn’t equate to really getting to know these people.  I think it’s really important for us to get to know each other and I have no doubt that I will get along with all of them.  That is due to the fact that I have faith in McGladrey and their people.

New York Pathways Program

As a group, we all mutually understand each other without even having met! Going into something like this with people who are all going through the same thing is the foundation to friendships that can only grow in the weeks to come. We are all so eager to meet each other and to start this internship. However, saying eager is almost unfitting!  We all agreed that we don’t want to wait until orientation to get to know each other.  For that reason, we are getting dinner prior to our start date to break the ice.  Being comfortable with one another will only facilitate this experience and I know personally, it will help calm my nervous as I anxiously anticipate the start date.

I don’t know how to feel.  I am so excited, but I am also so nervous! I want to get the most out of this internship and learn as much as I possibly can.  I am incredibly optimistic because I know I am in great hands with such an extraordinary company.  However, with less than a week left to go I will enjoy my last few days of freedom and will write again soon once my experience begins!