An experienced accountant willing to take the initiative
Accountant Andrew Goldberg is seeking his next job in the NJ/NY area.
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May 26, 2010
The Economic Response Initiative, sponsored by Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey, runs networking groups to help job-seekers. One group meets in Elizabeth on Monday mornings, and another gathers in Scotch Plains on Wednesdays.
The two-hour meetings, led by counselors Sheri Brown or Carol Einhorn, help participants with both the basics and the fine points of job hunting. Topics have included cover letters and resumes, interview preparation, and follow-up communications. Other sessions have served as tutorials for LinkedIn and such computer applications as Excel and PowerPoint.
Group member Libby Bruch, a journalist in search of a new full-time writing gig, interviewed fellow member Andrew Goldberg for the first in NJJN’s “Make Me an Offer” profile series.
For more information, contact Brown or Einhorn at 908-352-8375.
Andrew Goldberg, a skilled and experienced accountant, is searching for his next job opportunity.
Since receiving a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Kean University 10 years ago, he has performed a wide range of audits, working for Fortune 500 companies and state governments. But, Goldberg said, what makes him special is his willingness to take initiative.
During his tenure at one job, he said, he had to learn how to enter data into a proprietary system. “The person who showed me how to do it had nothing written down,” he explained. “I created my own guide on how to get the information into the system. Then I made copies and distributed them to my coworkers.”
Goldberg’s accounting experience runs the gamut — from tax and internal audits to operational reviews and compliance, making sure a company conducts its business according to the applicable regulations. He is knowledgeable about corporate income tax on the private industry side, and sales and use tax as well as payroll and gross income tax for state governments.
“I’ve worked with external auditors to complete annual audits and review financial statements, including income statements and balance sheets,” he said.
Goldberg said he places a professional and personal emphasis on accuracy and meeting deadlines. He also stressed the importance of being thorough, pointing out that he learned all relevant factors about the companies he reviewed as a state auditor. He said he enjoyed interacting with colleagues and clients and the variety he encountered working with a range of companies.
In addition to his degree, Goldberg’s credentials include active membership in the Institute of Internal Auditors. He plans to sit for the Certified Internal Auditing Exam.
With regard to location, Goldberg is flexible. He would like to stay as local as possible in the Union County area, but is open to any position in any part of the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area.
And, while he searches for a full-time job, he is thinking about creative, short-term options such as dog-walking, house- and pet-sitting, and other personal services.
Networking — and laughing — to get the job
If two heads are better than one, imagine how effective 10 or more can be. At the weekly networking meetings run by the Economic Response Initiative of Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey, job-seekers put their heads together to brainstorm ideas for job hunting in a depressed economy.
Representing a range of professions, from the usual suspects in accounting and technology to lawyers, business executives, and even some creative types such as writers, members of this “in transition” group share technical advice, interview tips, and psychological support.
Many of the participants haven’t job-hunted in years, and it’s a brave new world out there, especially when it comes to the Internet and navigating job-application sites run on algorithms, rather than meeting human resource reps with beating hearts.
And while robots haven’t replaced people at the actual interviews yet, the behavioral approach is all the rage now, and that requires special preparation. A group really helps with these challenges. By swapping stories and resumes, job-seekers bolster each other’s confidence by offering suggestions on how to improve their presentations and their chances.
Career experts point to networking as the main way to land a job (some say companies fill as many as 80 percent of their openings this way), so doing it right is important. One member of the group regularly scours sources to find “shmoozing” opportunities where you can meet new contacts. Others offer suggestions on how to make the most of “information” interviews.
Speakers with special expertise address the group about once a month. Members have learned about marketing themselves by creating their own brands, and about getting the most out of networking sites like LinkedIn.
The group works together not only to maximize the job search process but also to keep up one another’s spirits. Laughter is a key ingredient at every meeting. When it comes to dealing with an economy this tough, it really is the best medicine.
— LIBBY BRUCH
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