Angie Krtnick

Major:  Accounting       Minor: Management

Year of Graduation: 2004

Graduate School/Program: University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management (Part Time) MBA Program (currently in progress – will complete Spring 2011)

Current Job Title:  Audit Manager, Grant Thornton LLP

Please give a brief description of your current position and where you’re working.  Currently I work for Grant Thornton (“GT”) and I am a manager in the assurance (i.e. audit) department and a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.).  GT is an international public accounting firm that provides middle market public and non-public companies with assurance, tax, and specialist advisory services .  I assist in providing assurance to investors, owners, analysts, etc. that the financial statements of a company are free of material misstatement.  In simple terms, I am an auditor and make sure things are done right!  I am also attending the MBA Program (part time) at the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management. 

What path did you follow to arrive at your current job?  The career path in public accounting is very straightforward.  I started at GT in 2004 as an audit associate after I graduated from St. Ben’s.  Two years later, I was promoted to a senior associate and then three years later, I was promoted to manager.  The progression in public accounting is very natural and as you gain experience and technical accounting knowledge, you are given more responsibilities and constantly challenged. 

What advice/suggestions would you have for students who might be interested in your career?  Public accounting is a very demanding profession but it’s also very rewarding.  Busy season (i.e. January to April) requires you to work a lot of hours (typically 60-70 hours a week).  However, in the summer and fall, you are rewarded with a much less stressful and very flexible schedule which means you can take vacation!  As a young professional, I encourage you to work hard and even when times are stressful, remember that with determination and dedication, you will reap many rewards.  Employers notice people who are willing to give it 110% so you will become a “hot commodity” once this is noticed.  Public accounting is also a great place to start a career because of the vast amount of exposure to different companies.  Since I work on about 12-14 different clients throughout the year, I have learned so much about business strategy, operations, finance, etc. that I would not have been able to learn by working in private industry accounting at one single company.  The exposure to so many different companies allows you to build a solid base of knowledge that will benefit you throughout your career.  By getting my MBA, I will you also be expanding the breadth of my knowledge and experience.  Education and technical expertise will advance you far in any type of accounting/finance role.  This is something to focus on as you develop yourself as a professional.

What skills are important in your field?   As mentioned above, hard work and dedication are necessary in public accounting.  The ability to organize, prioritize and communicate are also key.  Since I am working on multiple clients with multiple partners, there are things constantly coming up and it always requires me to be quick on my feet.  Being able to prioritize and focus on the most demanding task allows me to be successful and responsive to my clients’ needs.  The ability to communicate with all types of people is also important.  Finally, teamwork is a most important piece of the puzzle.    Every person on an engagement team is critical.  The staff, the senior, the manager, and the partner all have different roles that allow the engagement to reach completion.  Without teamwork, our business could not succeed.

What activities/experiences were helpful at CSB/SJU (and elsewhere) in preparation for this career?  I was involved in the Accounting Club, CMA, St. Ben’s Senate, and AKS.  Being able to meet new people, prioritize my schedule with class and extracurricular activities, and contribute to the CSB/SJU community definitely helped propel me as a young professional.  Staying involved and networking is a very important part of my career. 

What is the most satisfying/rewarding part of your job?  Being able to meet new people every day and constantly learn new things about my clients is very rewarding.  This is because I know I am growing my core base of knowledge which will make me an even more valuable resource in the future.  The challenging opportunities I have gone through keep me on my toes and make me constantly grow professionally and personally.  Also, being able to work hard during the winter months and enjoy a more relaxed, flexible summer schedule is very nice (especially in MN!).