Innovision Fall 2019

SPRING 2019 | 21 What are some of your daily responsibilities? In my current position, I do deal-based mergers and acquisitions due diligence. This means that when a company is interested in buying another company, selling itself (or a part of itself), or merging with another company, they bring us in as consultants to examine and verify their financial statements and other relevant information, and create models that we believe best represent the value of that particular entity. In simpler terms, you could think of it as a home inspector that you’d hire to ensure there are no issues before putting a final offer on a new home purchase. What qualities do you think are the most important to succeed at your position? I think attention to detail, time and people management, curiosity, and integrity are some of the most important aspects to succeed at my position. In any consulting job, you’re on your clients’ timeline, so preparing accurate presentations and consistently meeting deadlines are crucial. Additionally, since I cater to different clients as a part of different teams in my position, being a little outgoing and friendly and appreciating differences also goes a long way. What have you learned on the job that you necessarily wouldn’t in the classroom? I think people and situation management are skills that often get overlooked in the classroom and are two of the most important to have on the job. The focus of the classroom tends to be on critical thinking, logical reasoning, and sometimes collaboration and teamwork (while on group projects), which are also necessary. While the latter two do help prepare you to work with teams in the workplace, there are certain situations, like dealing with a difficult boss or difficult client, and managing multiple expectations at the same time, that I wish one could learn more in the classroom, or at school in general. I believe these are also skills that one develops with experience, but in my opinion, starting to build a foundation on these skills while you’re still in school would give students a leg up when preparing for those interviews. What led you into your field? What about it motivates and inspires you? Going into senior year, I had already done an internship in tax accounting, and concluded that wasn’t for me. I decided to give auditing a try, because it combined some of the aspects I most valued in a job – experience with companies in multiple industries and solving problems, thereby creating value for clients. When I attended the Accounting Club’s annual Meet the Firms night and was ultimately offered a position in EY’s assurance practice (the same way I earned my internship), it was an easy choice to make. This is also where my inspiration comes from – helping solve clients’ problems and creating value for them. The motivation part of it really is not knowing what you’re going to learn or get to do each day you walk in the office. There is something about being able to overcome higher-pressure situations and meeting hard deadlines that also excites and motivates me – I’m usually at my best in those types of situations. What advice would you offer an undergraduate getting ready to enter the workforce? Aside from doing your best in class, there are a few. Be curious and experience as much as you can. It doesn’t have to be inside the classroom. Get a part-time job. Join a club. Study abroad. There is so much to do on campus – get involved, get to know people, and make friends and connections, including with your professors. Not only will it help fill your resume and set you apart, it’ll also teach you a lot about yourself, which is one of the more important aspects for someone entering the workforce to know and have. One thing that I found really helpful was taking advantage of the career development center, specifically their mock interviews. Also make sure to find time for what you’re passionate about – doing that is sometimes the only thing that’ll keep you sane. Finally, these will be some of your best and most enjoyable years in life, so don’t forget to have a lot of fun! RUSHI AMIN ‘15 Rushi Amin was an Accounting and Finance major with a minor in Economics. Currently, he is a Senior Associate in the Transaction Advisory Services at EY.