Off the Ledger

Kristina Lischke- Audit Staff

As a first year staff, I have noticed one of the most helpful things at the beginning of your career at PKM is the buddy system. PKM provides all new staff and interns with a buddy. The buddy provides an additional resource to new staff/interns.

Through my experiences as an intern and new staff, the buddy activities have been very enjoyable and helpful at getting more acquainted with the firm. PKM provides for two “buddy” activities, such as spa treatments, dinners, plays, sporting events, etc. These activities are laid back, fun and provide a perfect opportunity for any questions a new staff/intern may have about PKM.

In addition to the “buddy” activities, the most beneficial aspect of the relationship is the open communication line that is established. Your buddy is always available to answer any questions—ranging from schedule requests, help with recording your time, job procedures to office supplies and expense reports. The buddy system is very beneficial for a first year staff/intern; however, the benefits proceed past the first year. A relationship is formed and an open communication line exists for the rest of your tenure at PKM!

Adam Polakov- Tax Manager

Back in my college days my friends would make fun of me for choosing the boring profession of accountancy as my career. Boring Accountants, eh? Yes, some of us can be seen with blue, red and black pens in our shirt pockets at any given time, but PKM isn’t made up of the stereotypical boring accountant! Nor is our Firm just about auditing and taxes. Life at PKM is also about football, 10-k’s, softball, basketball, and most importantly post-game celebratory drinks at Mellow Mushroom! When our workday is over you will regularly find the athletes at PKM exercising their athletic prowess throughout Atlanta.

Basketball - If you are tall and can dunk the ball then we definitely need you on the basketball team! Our CPA’s can shoot the lights out, but jumping high is not one of our strengths.

Football - We have a quarterback on the football team that can throw the ball 80 yards down the field, however, his accuracy on short passes has been regularly called into question. Unfortunately for our football team, our backup quarterback is better known for his interceptions rather than for his completions. With that said, the PKM flag football team has won 2 city championships in the last 3 years and are a force to be reckoned with!

10-k’s and Half Marathons - Many of the ladies at PKM are as swift on their feet as cheetahs hunting prey on the grassy plains of the Serengeti. I, on the other hand, discovered that Publix caters cookies and donuts after most 10-k’s. So, whether you are swift as a cheetah or you enjoy gorging on donuts from Publix, running 10-k’s and half-marathons with your PKM friends might be for you!

Softball - Who doesn’t enjoy kicking a little dirt on an umpire after a long day in the office?!

So, if you enjoy athletics and comraderie with your friends at work, PKM might be the place for you.

Nicole Knox- Tax Associate

Let’s be honest: I’m a Buffalo girl raised on a healthy diet of chicken wings fresh from the fryer and pizza that shows little resemblance to its Italian ancestors—doughy crust weighed down by a pool of sauce and thick, rubbery cheese. I’m a hockey fan. Football is less of a sport to me and more of a memory of my Grandpa in his recliner with a giant foam finger, cheering on a man named Jim Kelly. I still keep a bag of salt and an ice-scraper in my trunk, a habit deeply ingrained in my upbringing. I haven’t gotten used to the fact that I can get in my car and be in Florida in less than a day, yet Canada, for the first time in my life, is far enough away to feel foreign.

So, what could a Yankee like me have to learn about cuisine? What could a girl who grew up in a Polish-American family and can pronounce the names of most NHL stars without hesitating have to learn about sports? What could I possibly love about the South enough to change my whole way of life? Well, the answer is easy. What I have learned about each of these things equates to more than the sum of their parts. What I have learned is a contribution from each native Georgian, tied up in the larger whole of Southern culture. Almost as soon as I had shaken the snow off my boots, my coworkers were promising me the best barbecue I’ve ever eaten. I was welcomed immediately to the South, My northern reservations were overwhelmed by the hospitality and helpfulness of my new friends. My neighborhood, is not only hip and urban, but rich with local history, and lush with restaurants offering southern favorites from local, organic food sources. Grits and collards? Now a dietary staple. Chicken and waffles? Yeah, I’ve eaten them together - and I like it. I’m still not sure what exactly a linebacker does, but when Georgia scores, I cheer along with my friends anyway, proud to support their favorite team. Likewise, when we head to hockey games, I’m the main source of information on stats, gameplay, and rules. Most of it, I don’t even have to make up!

As much as a 900 mile move could have been a minor culture shock, my resolve to stay open-minded has definitely paid off in the form of new experiences. It’s definitely a two-way street though; I have embraced Atlanta, Georgia, and the south - and it has embraced me right back.

Janet Sammons- Director of Bank Tax Services

When I was a kid, multi-tasking meant trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time. Some of my friends could do it, but a lot of us ended up rubbing our heads on occasion. So, can you? Most of us can perform one routine task while we also do another. Can you read and watch TV? Can you talk on the phone and email? Can you text and drive? Sure, you say, and maybe that is true, but are you doing your best when you do? How many times do we see the driver in front of us begin to slow down and shift across the lane, and then we notice they have a phone at their ear? Or, who hasn’t been nearly knocked down by a passerby who is texting or reading messages while they walk down the street? When we multi-task, are we really saving time by doing two things at once - or do both tasks take longer because they lack focus?

I believe it is time to take a different approach to being connected. Let’s be connected to what we are doing - do it well - and then move on. If something is important, focus on the task that needs to be done. Give it proper attention and do your best. I believe it will ultimately take less time to get everything done. By trying to do several things at once we sometimes create confusion and fail to properly complete tasks. There is an old adage that there may not be enough time to do things right, but there is always time to do them over.

Technology has brought us many new conveniences and opportunities. However it has also brought the expectation that everyone is available all the time. If we try to be all things to all people, we are sure to leave someone unsatisfied with our support. Be sure that you manage your time so that there is a balance in what you do and when you do it. Take care of the big projects by focusing on them completely. Then, unplug, turn off the apps, give your brain a break and do something that allows you to rest. Allowing your brain and body some down time is a great way to better health and happiness. Instead of multi-tasking all the time, try “no-tasking” for a while.

Jim Rumph- Systems Senior

As I am a Systems Auditor, or IT Auditor, some people sometimes ask me various technical questions such as help with Excel or how to make a computer run faster. And, while I may know the answer to it, I try to explain that that is not exactly in my job description. One of my first points to make is that we are still auditors, in that we spend a lot of time examining processes, not looking at bits and bytes.

Since virtually all companies use a computer system for some purpose, a Systems Auditor examines what information systems companies are using to achieve their business objectives, such as producing financials or providing a service. Next, we assist them in determining if they are adequately maintaining the systems, since information systems are only as good and accurate as the people programming, configuring and using them. We then help management ensure that processes are in effect so that can have confidence in their systems.

This process is evident in many of our projects including SAS70 engagements (where we provide an opinion of control effectiveness for a service provider) and SOX 404 work (testing internal controls as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act). Also, a good thing about these types of engagements is that we can do it for all types of companies, since everybody has information systems, so we get a good opportunity to learn how different industries work!

In short, as technology advances, more and more companies have begun to rely on it and must make sure that they have proper controls in place—this is where we come into play. So, next time you get a virus, “No, I can’t necessarily fix your computer.”