Greg Foster - Partner

At PKM, we believe that ideas and innovation should flow in all directions, not just from the top down. To encourage this thought, the firm developed a unique problem-solving program called INNOFIX - short for Innovation Fixation. This program recently earned PKM a Practice Innovation Award from Practical Accountant , one of only 30 firms throughout the nation recognized for its achievements.

INNOFIX allows the firm to unleash the problem-solving ability of its employees by giving all employees a chance to make a difference. Through periodic competitions, INNOFIX helps to identify “problems” within the firm and define “solutions” for improvement. INNOFIX affects all aspects of the firm (i.e., recruiting, retention, compensation, culture, services, scheduling, work/life balance, marketing, client relations, education, quality control, technology).

We believe that all employees have the power to innovate, to change the client experience, to give the firm a competitive advantage, to make the firm more productive and profitable, to reenergize the firm and set examples for the industry.

To that end, we also believe that you have the power to help us innovate. We want this blog to be helpful to you. So, please let us know what we can do to make it better.

Sonny MacArthur - Audit Principal

Fall is here and with it comes the anticipation of career fairs and job interviews. To help you prepare for these important events, I thought I’d pass along some obvious, yet often ignored, resume and interview advice.

The Resume Don’t just spell check your resume, audit it! Look at it, or better yet, have someone else look at it to prevent costly errors. There is nothing worse than reading the resume of a qualified candidate and finding a typo or grammatical error. Yes, everyone makes mistakes, but on a resume is not the time or place, particularly if you are applying for a job where a numerical typo can have a financial impact!

The Interview There are many ways to mess up an interview, but keeping a few things in mind can make a big difference. First, DO NOT BE LATE! Getting caught in traffic is not an excuse. Traffic accidents are a fact of life in big cities, so plan for them. Plan to arrive early and utilize any extra time to review company information, prepare questions you plan to ask and rehearse your interview responses.

Second, know a little bit about the company and the position you are seeking. Even if you know everything there is to know about the company, be prepared to ask questions. While you might think that knowing a lot about the company might appear to be a thorough knowledge, the prospective employer might perceive it as a lack of interest if you don’t ask a question or two.

Third, keep the attitude in check. While confidence is good, arrogance is not! There is a fine line between being knowledgeable and confident and being disrespectful and arrogant. Show your confidence with strong eye contact and a strong handshake.

Finally, it is often said that you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have. This is a very true statement. In the field of public accounting, it is important to wear a nice suit, conservative shirt, tie and shoes, even if your prospective employer’s office is dressed business casual.

For more information on how to prepare for a job interview visit The Wall Street Journal Executive Career Site and review its list of interview questions.

Anne Lane - Audit Intern

PKM is great about having evening activities for interns. This is a great way to get to know the people you are working with outside of the office. One night, we went to a Braves baseball game, had a fun dinner at the Chop House and watched the game at Turner Field. Another, we went to see the musical, Chicago and had a wonderful time.

The firm also hosts a special intern/partner dinner at the Managing Partner’s house at Lake Oconee in Cuscowilla. This was a great experience to actually meet and get to know each of the partners. It is rare that the partners of a firm take this much initiative to make sure that interns are having a successful internship. We were able to discuss the overall work environment of PKM while having stimulating conversations over dinner.

When traveling, PKM makes the most of nights away from friends and family. While in Birmingham, Alabama, we were invited to eat dinner at one of the lake house of a client. He took us out on a boat ride on Smith Lake. It was such a relaxing night. I have had many wonderful opportunities during my internship to enjoy new experiences and meet many fascinating people. During that trip, I had a birthday, which the firm and the client helped me celebrate. They made dinner reservations at Hot and Hot Fish in Birmingham. We had such a great time and I enjoyed talking with everyone outside of a work environment. They truly made me feel special on my birthday.

Laura Snyder — Director of Marketing

In the July issue of the Journal of Accountancy, James Metzler discusses “The Small Firm Advantage.” Having only worked for one firm — a small firm, I can’t personally speak to the differences between large and small firms, but I can say unequivocally that I will never work for any CPA firm other than PKM. Personally, I can’t imagine any other firm being able to live up to the expectations created by my experience at PKM.

How did PKM achieve such high expectations? The small firm advantage! According to Metzler, small firms have flexibility, creativity and culture on their side — all of which are not only present at PKM but also consciously and continuously monitored and improved. Firm management is fully aware of its advantages and works diligently to raise the bar.

To work at PKM, you truly need to be special. The firm focuses on recruiting only those individuals that blend into our unique culture. This is important because with only 65 employees, personalities play vital roles in our intimate team-based environment. Once individuals join the firm, they are recognized and rewarded for their contributions. With so few employees, it is much easier for management to be flexible and creative and individualize its reward program and thank employees in ways that have special meaning to each individual.

I’m not suggesting that small firms are better than big firms. Big firms have their own distinct advantages. You need to decide which set of advantages is right for you. Do you want to be one of many in a large organization, or a recognized individual in a small organization whose flexibility, creativity and culture are key ingredients to the firm’s success? The choice is yours and should be based on what you want to get out of your work experience.

Caroline McCormick - Audit Staff

Since PKM focuses its efforts on the banking industry, each year the firm hosts a tour of the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta. It is a great opportunity for accountants to gain perspective in their field. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone working in the financial arena. It was awe-inspiring to be able to peek into the processing and control rooms and observe first hand what we had learned about in my introductory bank training class.

We were also able to go into the board room and sit in the same seats that Board of Directors sit in when they discuss the local economy and the potential impacts of their policy decisions. One very significant issue has been Hurricane Katrina, which impacted the entire area that the Sixth Federal Reserve District covers, either directly or indirectly. It was a great example of the unique logistical issues the board faces in times of disaster.

The tour helped us appreciate the functions of the Fed, from monetary policy to regulation to payment system operations, and impact of their decisions all over the region and the country. The entire experience adds to a greater understanding of the environment that our clients function in and therefore helps us serve our clients better.

Candice Gaston - Audit Staff

WOW! Since starting back full time with PKM, I have truly enjoyed every minute of my experience! My internship was great and full-time looks to follow suit. My first few days, I conducted my training with Patrick Kim (coincidentally another Manager that began as an intern and later signed on full-time). We walked through a few of the procedures and tests that we conduct in the field and reacquainted myself with the firm’s technology systems. The exciting part was my BRAND NEW LAPTOP coming into my possession! This new computer is BEAUTIFUL and I have promised to take extra great care with it!

The rest of the week was spent at a client in Covington, Georgia. Covington is very close to my hometown, so I got to spend sometime with my parents one night and the commute was very easy. Everyone out here (the client and my fellow engagement peers, Rob and Anne) have been super friendly and very helpful! I look forward to coming back to this client later in the fall for the year-end audit. I worked on the following sections: Due From Banks, Community Reinvestment Act Testing, Premise and Equipment and Reg Y: Appraisals.

So far, I REALLY love my job and my company! Everyone helped me get back into the “swing of things.” Week 1 down and tons to go!

Rob Tysver - Audit Staff

What do you think about doing after work? You just put in nine hours on the job, and living in Atlanta you know that you have at least an hour drive home, no matter what direction you are heading. One of the great things about being a team member at PKM is the close relationship you form with your co-workers.

Take this for example: After a long day at a client site, the manager on the job invites the audit team to join him on his boat on Lake Lanier for some water skiing and tubing. We had three people in our group that were able to make the event. Knowing we had some extra seats on the boat, we began calling around to fellow co-workers to invite them for an evening on the lake. We had a few nibbles, but only caught one. This person happened to be an intern who had just joined the PKM team for the summer. We stopped by a local grocery store to pick up subs, drinks and chips. Next thing I know we are casting away for a great late afternoon. We couldn’t have asked for better weather or lake conditions! After about eight attempts and some coaching from the boat, I finally got the water skiing down (but not before a number of face plants into the water!!).

This was a great experience and a wonderful opportunity to kick back, relax and enjoy the company of my fellow co-workers. Who would have thought that instead of making the long drive home I would be able to enjoy an evening of fun on Lake Lanier

Stewart Pilsch- Audit Staff

In September, I start my first job — one that I’m already familiar with and anxious to get started. I’ll be an official member of the PKM team. How did I get here? Through an incredible internship experience and the realization that coworkers can become your best friends.

Who says work can’t be fun? My internship at PKM taught me a ton, but it was so much more than just work! Sure, I put in long hours and got a feel for what life would be like in the public accounting profession, but it is the social side of my internship that made the difference. The relationships I established at PKM started at the office, but they didn’t end there. Social activities and events such as Braves and Hawks game outings and dinner/social hour get-togethers, made my internship experience feel more like I was hanging out with my college buddies than with coworkers. Why should that matter? It made me realize that in a highly stressful profession like public accounting, it really matters who you work with.

During my internship, a group of about twenty PKM employees (interns included) met in Buckhead for dinner and to shoot pool and share survival stories after completing the first of our three-month busy season. It really helped me to see that others were experiencing the same stresses and that by being together and sharing our experiences my new best friends were there to support me, just as I was for them.

Everyone got along so well that it made me think that these work relationships were just like those you experience with your best friends from college. In fact, I began to feel like my PKM friends were my best friends from college. When my internship was over, I had to return to school to finish my degree and study for the CPA exam. During that time, I played the role of the guy who moves away for a few years only to realize he misses his friends and then comes back and it is as if nothing has changed. Now that I’m back and ready to officially start my job, I now join the guys at the gym and the pool and play with them on their sports teams. And, on the weekends…we hang out.

These social activities that I first experienced as an intern and that I am now enjoying more regularly as a soon-to-be full-time employee of the firm, gave me a different perspective on the job opportunity and where I fit culturally within the firm. I’m a firm believer that people should enjoy work. I think the people who are most successful and most self-satisfied in life love what they do. I’m also a firm believer that your coworkers and employers have a huge impact on how much enjoyment you get out of work. That’s why I think I made the right choice joining PKM. Every time I leave the office I feel like I have done something important. I’m a valuable member of the team and I couldn’t have done it without my new best friends.

Debbie Sessions- Partner

In a world where many college students find themselves wondering, “Will I be able to find a job when I graduate?” it is a good time to be an accounting major! A career in public accounting not only exposes you to the detailed inner workings of a variety of different organizations, but also pays better than most other professions.

It is no wonder that according to CNNmoney.com, accounting degrees are the fifth most lucrative of all professions. CPAs are among the most sought after professionals in the market, and, for good reason. As a CPA you have an impact on the businesses that drive our economy. Your observations, your ideas, and your affirmations make a difference.

And, because you work for a multitude of different clients throughout the year, every day brings something new. What better career than public accounting where the work is exciting and you get paid better than many of your classmates while performing rewarding, valuable work.