Our CEO is a "Regular Joe"

Written by Grace Moriarty, RSM Intern

Six interns recently had a chance to go “Behind the Cs” and sit down with RSM US LLPs top executives to talk about the accounting industry, RSM’s culture, career advice and much more. Read on to see what Kaleb Kier took away from spending an hour with CFO Doug Opheim.

Grace Moriarty (Left) and Joe Adams (Right)

My summer with RSM has been one to remember. The opportunity to meet with our Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner Joe Adams, was certainly the highlight.

Rather than a meeting, our hour together became a casual conversation in which Joe gave valuable insight as to what we can expect from a career with RSM in addition to how he sees the industry changing in the near future.

While Joe had the knowledge and expertise of a CEO, he seemed very down to earth and relatable. He advised us on the importance of listening to others and not being afraid to ask for help. I was excited to share with him that everyone I’ve asked for help this summer instantly dropped what they were doing to help and were genuinely happy to do so. Joe’s influence definitely plays a part in this. The firm clearly attracts people who will work together and help each other.

Throughout our discussion, Joe’s focus on people was evident. He shared his belief that being successful requires helping those behind you to succeed. In addition, he talked about the importance of building strong relationships in the workplace. As we chatted, he revealed much more about RSM’s culture through stories about company sporting events and holiday parties that proved the people here are more than coworkers, they are teammates and lifelong friends.

My favorite part of the discussion was on Joe’s desire to improve the firm’s international presence, particularly by increasing the number of expatriates. For me, this was exciting because I hope to have the opportunity to obtain international assignments throughout my career. RSM has already given me a great opportunity to explore my international interests through my work in their International Tax team this summer. Joe’s remarks further assured me that RSM can offer great opportunities to pursue the areas of accounting that excite me, with a team-oriented culture and small office feel.

RSM’s Behind the C’s program gave Joe the power to understand our concerns as we begin our careers, while giving us the power to understand our leader on a personal level. The unique opportunity to meet with a CEO and managing partner of more than 9,000 employees in a two-on-one setting as an intern is one I will never forget.