Laura Snyder - Director of Marketing

In a time when corporate scandals continue to make the headlines, it is so rewarding to work for an organization that is recognized, not for its unethical behaviour, but instead for doing the right thing. Today, Howard Wolosky, the Executive Editor of a leading accounting publication, Practical Accountant, commended PKM’s Managing Partner, Phil Moore, in his article entitled “Choices by a CEO, a CFO, and an Accounting Firm.” The article, which outlined the legal ramifications of two highly publicized corporate scandals, provided a glimmer of hope to readers at its conclusion. Hope came in the form of knowing that not all companies are unethical. He said, “in all three situations, conscious decisions were made and there was probably no expectation by the participants that that they would eventually receive public recognition at the same time, or that they would have the direct and indirect short- and long-term consequences that they will have.” Thanks, Howard, for seeing the connection and focuses on the positive and not just the negative.

Patrick Kim - Manager

Yesterday morning, I had the opportunity to attend an awards ceremony where PKM received the 2006 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award. This event was hosted by Ed Baker, publisher of the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Dr. Joni Prince of the Georgia Psychological Association. I am very proud of our organization and always have been, and to have an outside organization publicly recognize PKM for doing what we do was a great moment for me. I believe that we always try to make the office and the work environment a fun place, which creates a positive work environment. The 2006 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award recognizes our ability to acknowledge the link between organizational performance and employee health and well-being and the practices we are active with to not only recognize that link but also make that connection.

Phil Moore - Managing Partner

Today, I read a blog posting called “Dysfunctionality and the Winning Ad Agency Team” written by Bart Cleveland, partner and creative director at McKee Wallwork Cleveland, a small advertising agency in New Mexico. What could Bart and I possibly have in common? After all, Bart and his coworkers live in a right-brained world of words and visuals; I head an accounting firm that lives and breathes number and facts. Despite our stereotypical differences, if you look beyond the obvious, just a little bit deeper, many aspects of our firms seem quite similar.

Reading Bart’s blog about the “buzz” in his office gave me a feeling of warmth, similar to the feeling I often get in my own office, as PKM comes to life each morning. Since I’m an early riser, my hours of quiet transform, later in the morning, into a hubbub of activities as people get reacquainted and ready to begin their days. This activity, this coming to life, is palpable and so invigorating. Even after all these years, I’m amazed and proud of the PKM relationships, formed over hallway conversations and cups of coffee, through which our employees transition from coworkers into friends.

Bart also talks about winning teams, which I too feel we have at PKM. With dozens of unique personalities and skill sets blending into a single functional unit we are ready to tackle whatever the world has in store for us. Both firms have “a clear single-minded goal” to provide an exceptional service to clients through an atmosphere filled with the “sound of laughter of a winning team.”

Like Bart, PKM employees are “selected for more than their technical skill.” “Personality is as important as technical acumen.” In an earlier blog, posted on September 11, 2006, I talk about this as a key component of the PKM culture. I couldn’t have written it better myself! To me, Bart’s blog also describes PKM in a nutshell.

Debbie Sessions - Chief Operating Officer

If you are a graduating college senior or master’s degree student, you’ve likely participated in several job interviews in preparation for the launch of your new career in public accounting. You took the time to prepare. You looked and acted professionally during your interviews. But, now that the interviews are over, what one simple thing can you do to increase your chances that the job offers come rolling in? Follow-up!

In the article “The Art of Following up with Hiring Managers” on accountingnet.com, it says that 82% of employers surveyed expect job candidates to follow up. Following up with your prospective employer after the job interview will give you an edge over the competition and could make the difference in a tight race. This process, while quick and easy, speaks volumes. An email or phone message shows your excitement and enthusiasm and demonstrates to your future employer the fact that you know how to take initiative and can get the job done.

Terry Ammons - Partner

As an accounting graduate (or soon to be) considering employment with a public accounting firm, what type of work can you expect to perform throughout your career? While traditional accounting services (audit/assurance and tax compliance and consulting) still lead the way, the following outsourced services are quickly growing in response to today’s business environment:

Fraud/Forensic Accounting - with accounting scandals still making the headlines and fresh in the minds of business executives and corporate boards, the prevention, detection and investigation of financial fraud is in high demand.

International Business - as the trend toward a truly global economy continues with multinational organizations importing and exporting goods and services between the U.S. and countries around the world, there is an increased demand for knowledge and a melding of international accounting standards.

Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Consulting - corporate governance has opened up a new world of opportunity in the area of documentation and testing of internal controls over financial reporting.

Management Consulting - as executives get busier and busier and face increased pressure to differentiate their organizations, many look to external sources for assistance with financial planning, operational and strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions planning and due diligence.

Technology - accounting and technology make a great combination as organizations seek help from business consultants on their IT hardware and software solutions and keeping them secure.

Whatever you may face working in public accounting, I can assure you, it won’t be boring!

David Wood - Partner

After five years in college, you’ve likely fostered many good friendships. Just because you are graduating, these relationships don’t have to (and shouldn’t) end there. Like you, your friends from college will go on to exciting, successful careers and your paths are bound to cross. If you continue to nurture these relationships, they will payoff in many ways.

I’ve been fortunate to reconnect with and stay connected with several of my college friends over the years. Some of them have ended up as coworkers and others are now clients. Good ways to stay in touch include participating in your local alumni association and becomming active in professional associations such as the Georgia Society of CPAs. I have made it a point to stay in touch with many of my old friends. Our paths have taken us in many directions. It is very interesting to see where different people end up when we all started in the same place.

Laura Snyder - Director of Marketing

PKM’s very own, Debbie Sessions, is featured predominently throughout an article in the current issue of Accounting Today entitled, “Look Out Below! Taking a Hammer to the Glass Ceiling.” Debbie, in her role as Partner and Chief Operating Officer, helps the firm to develop internal programs that enable women (and men) to better manage work and personal responsiblities. Through flexible work schedules, teleworking and reduced schedules, PKM demonstrates its understanding of the importance of maintaining healty work/life balance.

Debbie is well versed in the field of work/life balance and has been involved on state and national levels with gender and work/life balance initiatives within the CPA community. Through a series of workshops, she consults with other firms on the issue of work/life balance and helps professionals:

• Understand and value gender differences
• Utilize gender-based strengths to embrace new challenges and opportunities
• Build a business case for alternative work patterns
• Achieve a healthier, long-term work/life balance

Jamie Hood - Audit Senior

After five long years of college, many hours of independent study and sitting through four grueling parts of the CPA exam, adding the CPA credentials to the end of my name was a very proud moment. I can still remember the first time I saw it in writing…Jamie A. Hood, CPA. It was in a proposal for a new public company client for which I am now serving as the in-charge auditor. While I sometimes complained about the study workload, the time and energy was well worth the investment. The CPA credentials demonstrate quality and value to clients and prospects, just another small way that I add value to my firm.

What advice do I have for accounting graduates preparing for the exam?

1. Take the exam as soon as possible, preferably before you start working full-time. Many of my friends took the summer between graduate school and their first day on the job to take a study course and sit for the exam. Getting it out of the way before the demands of a full-time job are added to your plate is a great idea. But, if you can’t, some firms like PKM offer fully paid study days prior to the exam, which are extremely helpful.

2. Study for one part at a time, take the exam for that part, then prepare for the next. By systematically tackling each of the four parts, you increase your ability to master and hopefully pass each section.

3. Be sure to sign up for a study course such as Becker. Statistics show that Becker students pass at twice the rate of all CPA Exam candidates who did not take a Becker Review course (according to Becker and AICPA published pass rates). That alone is worth the cost of the study course. Not to mention that firms like PKM often reimburse for course materials and reward bonuses after passing the exam.

Arvil Stanford - Audit Principal

Ethics play a major role in the accounting profession. They are the basic principles of good conduct that help people decide whether an action or decision is morally right or wrong. Ethical behavior in business not only defines an organization’s image, but also protects its financial “bottom line,” helps it avoid scandal, and prevents it from facing governmental intervention in the form of fines, penalties and, in extreme cases, imprisonment.

When thinking about ethics, it is important to remember that just because something is legal, it isn’t necessarily ethical. Laws outline minimum society standards, but do not address ethical behavior. Individuals need to be ethically responsible and think beyond the law and consider how the consequences of actions affect themselves as well as the well-being of others.

Within the CPA profession, practitioners agree to abide by rules that were established more than 100 years ago and that are governed by state regulatory bodies. There are three characteristics of ethical behavior:

1. Independence - Is the decision free from conflict of interest or control of others?

2. Objectivity - Is the decision based on verifiable facts and uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudice?

3. Integrity - Does the decision adhere to the profession’s code of conduct?

A CPA must be independent, objective and act with the highest degree of integrity. Violation of any of these three characteristics deems the action unethical. For more information about ethics visit the AICPA website.