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Volume
8, Issue 1
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March
2008
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%%First_Name_%%, The
Dunder-Mifflin Scranton accounting department is finally getting
an opportunity to shine. NBC's
"The
Office" Web site features a series of 10 webisodes called
"The Office: The Accountants," in which Angela, Kevin
and Oscar try to find a missing $3,000.
Be sure to consider all of your options, advises a recent article from AccountingWEB. Decide what you'd like to get out of the internship, and make sure the firm or company's internship position description meets your needs. Read the full article for sample internship position descriptions from real firms as well as tips on how to make a great impression. And don't forget to check out the VSCPA's internships directory, which is searchable by geographic region.
What employee benefits will be most important to you? Employers plan to use traditional employment benefits to help attract new college graduates, according to results of a study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Nearly all the employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2008 survey reported plans to offer medical, life and dental insurance, plus a 401(k) retirement plan. Nearly all also expect to provide for annual salary increases. Check out a comparison of student rankings with the percentage of employees offering various benefits at www.vscpa.com. While insurance and retirement plans may help retain new recruits, how do employers plan to get grads in the door? Signing bonuses, says NACE. Nearly 54 percent of the employers responding to the annual survey said they will use signing bonuses to sweeten the deal for potential hires. Learn more at www.vscpa.com.
Starting January 1, CPE Exam candidates' fingerprints were combined with traditional personal identification methods to increase security and candidate privacy and safeguard against potential fraud, according to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). The Biometric Identity Management Service (BIMS) logs fingerprint information with a small electronic device when a candidate takes the first part of the CPA Exam and then verifies that information during subsequent testing. Certain information is tagged to the fingerprint image, including name, address, age and the identification numbers from provided documents, such as a driver's license. In addition to added security, candidates are now able to move around the Prometric test site as needed without toting identification. Read through frequently asked questions from NASBA for more information on this new security measure.
The “perfect” candidate for the job is a top-notch communicator and a hard worker, according to employers responding to the Job Outlook 2008 survey, conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Employers rate communications skills as imperative, but other attributes are critical, too, including the ability to work as a team, interpersonal and problem-solving skills and initiative. Interestingly, when asked which key skill was most lacking in new college graduate candidates, employers also named communication skills. “Many employers pointed to a lack of writing skills on the part of candidates, and others reported that new college graduates lack the ability to communicate effectively in face-to-face situations — including the job interview,” says Mackes. Despite the extensive criteria by which employers judge candidates, NACE’s survey shows a positive job market for the class of 2008, with employers expecting to hire 16 percent more new college graduates in 2007–2008 than they did in 2006–2007.
The VSCPA Educational Foundation recently selected its college scholarship recipients for the 2008–2009 academic year. The VSCPA Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting business and accounting education, rewarding academic excellence and encouraging students to pursue promising careers. This year, the VSCPA Educational Foundation awarded $32,500 to 19 accounting college students across Virginia. Awards were given in several scholarship categories, including: Check out the full list of scholarship recipients at www.vscpa.com.
Missed the deadline for VSCPA Educational Foundation scholarships but could still use some tuition assistance? Good news: The deadline for most American
Institute of CPAs (AICPA) student scholarships is April
1. Learn
more about these opportunities, including how to apply,
at www.aicpa.org.
Recently, student members of state CPA societies like the VSCPA offered valuable feedback on their membership experiences, preferred membership benefits and specific needs as up-and-coming professionals. More than 450 students responded to the survey (30 from Virginia), providing insights on emerging technology use, employment trends, CPA Exam issues and much more. Thank you to those VSCPA student members who took the survey. Your input helps us to better tailor our offerings to student members and provide you with the best membership experience possible. And congratulations to Kenneth Moehring, who won the $100 Visa gift card prize for participating in the survey.
Who needs help handling their finances more than movie stars and
billboard musicians, whose net worth can soar into the billions?
If you plan to secure your CPA certification and can handle working
with big names, consider accounting for the stars. Read about CPAs
who've made a career in Hollywood on the Start
Here Go Places Web site.
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Minority Initiatives Committee has announced that the annual Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop will take place on May 29–31, 2008, in Peachtree City, Ga. In its 14th year, the AICPA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop is an annual, all-expense-paid, invitational program for minority accounting students planning to pursue the CPA designation. The program is aimed at enhancing participants’ leadership and communication skills while emphasizing the importance of the CPA designation. To apply, download and complete this data sheet (.PDF) and return it to the AICPA. Learn more on the AICPA Web site. | ||||||||||||||||||
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