The Big 4 Accounting Firms - How to Get That Perfect Job With One of the Big Ones

Industry professionals, recruiters and college professors are unanimous in their belief in one thing: there is no better way to start a career in accounting than experience with a Big 4 public accounting firm. If you are reading this you no doubt are well aware of who these guys are:

PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and Touché, KPMG and Ernst & Young.

While each of these companies has various strengths and weaknesses, they are all alike in the fact that they provide the recent accounting grad with a world class experience. First year associates at these firms are given a level of responsibility that is truly remarkable. When I was a first year I remember thinking on an almost daily basis "I can't believe they're letting me do this." As I strolled into the CEO's office of the firm we were auditing, as I tallied up a multi-million dollar mistake I'd found in another company's books and as I traveled the country with my very own American Express Corporate Card, I kept repeating this thought:

"I can't believe they're letting me do this"

Truly the world of accounting is at your fingertips when you are employed with one of the Big 4. There is an air of respect in those names: PwC, E&Y, KPMG and D&T. There is camaraderie and there is pride. These are the truly elite in the accounting field, and the top of the business world.

Starting your professional career at one of these companies is a ticket to a career in the fast lane. The experience you receive at a Big 4 is, literally, priceless. Many beginners at these firms admit that they would be willing to work for nothing: the experience is that valuable. Land a job and you will guarantee yourself the following:

- For the rest of your career your resume will automatically move to the top of the pile
- For the rest of your career you will have access to a network of professionals that is staggering in its depth
- You will earn an industry busting salary, putting your friends at regional and local firms to shame
- Your resume will contain experience that is recognized and respected globally
- An opportunity to travel the world

At a speaking engagement in 2004, Martin J. Whitman, billionaire and namesake of the Syracuse University Whitman School of Management, was asked the single best piece of advice he could offer college graduates. His reply? "Begin your career with a Big 4 Public Accounting Firm. Period."

Of course.

Think this all sounds good? Of course you do. You're probably thinking to yourself - there must be a catch? Unfortunately, there is. The benefits of working for a Big 4 are widely known and the demand for these positions is higher than ever. These positions are EXTREMELY competitive and often IMPOSSIBLE to obtain without an edge. A great GPA and resume are no longer enough.

If you are serious about your career and want to maximize your earnings potential, you need an edge. How do you land an interview with a Big 4 when there are thousands of others just like you? Once you get the interview, how will you be prepared for the barrage of questioning you will face?

When I graduated from college I had one interview and one interview only: I landed a job with PricewaterhouseCoopers on the first shot. How did I do it? Good grades? Charming personality? Incredible experience? No! I had an insider at PwC who knew the ropes and coached me through the process, from the application to the signing bonus! When I learned these secrets I just watched as my peers struggled and I jumped easily through all the hoops. Unfair? Sure, but life in a world class industry is not fair. While working at PwC I also experienced the recruiting process from the side of the recruiter.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/accounting-articles/the-big-4-accounting-firms-how-to-get-that-perfect-job-with-one-of-the-big-ones-402186.html

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New Residential Scheme In Greater Noida

Noida Real Estate: Luck of the Draw


A new residential scheme for lower and middle income groups has been introduced by the Greater Noida Authority providing 2,256 constructed houses in four different categories, and covering an area of 70, 90, 120 and 250-sq. m. that will be priced at Rs. 12.33-lakh to Rs. 36.48-lakh.


Launched through a lucky draw by the Greater Noida Authority, the allottees lucky enough to win the draw, will be permitted to make additions according to the approved building plan, copies of which are available with Greater Noida's Planning Department, while constructions that do not conform to it, will need to be approved.


While, a 70-sq. m. house in this housing complex will cost Rs. 12.33-lakh, houses measuring 90, 120 and 250-sq. m. are priced at Rs. 14.96, 20.14 and 36.48-lakh respectively. The 250 and 120-sq. m. houses will come with two bedrooms, a drawing, dining, kitchen and bathroom, whereas, those measuring 90 and 70-sq. m. will consist of one bedroom, a drawing room, kitchen and a bathroom.




Housed in Greater Noida's new sector, Omicron near the village Mathurapur and Ghori Bachhera, the housing complex will have a swimming pool, park, community centre, post office, hospital, shopping complex and a parking space.


This time round, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority has followed a different initiative from its earlier practice of inviting tenders on a two bid system for Group 
Housing Societies in 300-acres for different sectors.


This scheme of the Greater Noida authority provided the developers with an opportunity to participate in the development of a smartly slick city, where at all stages of development, supply precedes demand.


Holding many attractions for buyers and end-users in the form of a constant supply of drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, green areas, proposed metro, airport and world's fourth night safari, this Greater Noida residential scheme saw many participating in the draw.


Further, the permissible area for plots, commercial and commercial facilities is said to be 65% of the total area as per population norms permitted in the master plan of 2021, with the rest to be according to building regulations.


There will also be provision in this housing complex for other facilities, such as, nursery school, senior secondary school, nursing home, convenience shopping, commercial sector, milk booth, auto-taxi stand, secondary shopping and community centre, provided by the developers, while the green belt will be developed according to the authority's zonal plan.


Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/new-residential-scheme-in-greater-noida-45603.html

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Online Stock Broker - How To Find The Best Online Stock Broker

Online brokers have an important role to play when you open an online trading account. Each broker can offer different services and features. You must research all the online brokers to find the best broker to meet your needs. I have listed a large number of online brokers and placed their information for you to read in one easy-to-read webpage. This is a free, "no-cost to you" service for our valued readers and can be found on this link: Best Online Stock Brokers


What to look for in an online broker.


Brokerage rates – this is the rate at which you are charged for buying or selling through your online account. These rates are usually charged based on a sliding scale. The more units you purchase in a single transaction, the less the "cost per unit" you will pay. The exact sliding scale can vary and may sometimes be negotiable for larger purchases. Compare each broker and read the fine print within contracts. Pick the one that best meets your buying and selling style.




Account fees – Look for hidden fees in account contracts within the terms and conditions. I know of one broker who requires an extra $10 to transfer money out of an account "quickly" as against withdrawing money normally. Hardly a fair fee, I’d say. All fees should be listed in the terms and conditions listed in opening an account.


Phone access – Online services can go down during hours of service. Interruptions to broadband services, power outages and computer problems can stop you from accessing information you need at critical points. This is why you must have phone access to your online broker. Do not even consider using an online broker if they do not provide phone access.


Access to your money – I prefer having instant access to my money even though it is held in a cash account by the broker. Most brokers will have a cash account facility that is linked to your trading account. My account is linked to a MasterCard account, which means I can access that money anytime through any ATM or make purchases as I would normally using a MasterCard. Don’t be misled into thinking you must only have a separate cash holding account with the online broker. There are lots of options open to you as a client and good online brokers will provide several options for your cash holding account.


Extra benefits – seek out those brokers that give you extra incentives to open an account with them. Some offer a limited free brokerage period. Others will offer free reports on the markets you are interested in. These bonus offers can help you getting you account established and setup a profitable trading account. For more information on finding the best online stock broker feel free to visit our website.


Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/online-stock-broker-how-to-find-the-best-online-stock-broker-482343.html

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The Big 4 Accounting Firms - How to Get That Perfect Job With One of the Big Ones

Industry professionals, recruiters and college professors are unanimous in their belief in one thing: there is no better way to start a career in accounting than experience with a Big 4 public accounting firm. If you are reading this you no doubt are well aware of who these guys are: 


PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and Touché, KPMG and Ernst & Young.


While each of these companies has various strengths and weaknesses, they are all alike in the fact that they provide the recent accounting grad with a world class experience. First year associates at these firms are given a level of responsibility that is truly remarkable. When I was a first year I remember thinking on an almost daily basis "I can't believe they're letting me do this." As I strolled into the CEO's office of the firm we were auditing, as I tallied up a multi-million dollar mistake I'd found in another company's books and as I traveled the country with my very own American Express Corporate Card, I kept repeating this thought:


"I can't believe they're letting me do this"


Truly the world of accounting is at your fingertips when you are employed with one of the Big 4. There is an air of respect in those names: PwC, E&Y, KPMG and D&T. There is camaraderie and there is pride. These are the truly elite in the accounting field, and the top of the business world.




Starting your professional career at one of these companies is a ticket to a career in the fast lane. The experience you receive at a Big 4 is, literally, priceless. Many beginners at these firms admit that they would be willing to work for nothing: the experience is that valuable. Land a job and you will guarantee yourself the following:


- For the rest of your career your resume will automatically move to the top of the pile
- For the rest of your career you will have access to a network of professionals that is staggering in its depth
- You will earn an industry busting salary, putting your friends at regional and local firms to shame
- Your resume will contain experience that is recognized and respected globally 
- An opportunity to travel the world 


At a speaking engagement in 2004, Martin J. Whitman, billionaire and namesake of the Syracuse University Whitman School of Management, was asked the single best piece of advice he could offer college graduates. His reply? "Begin your career with a Big 4 Public Accounting Firm. Period." 


Of course.


Think this all sounds good? Of course you do. You're probably thinking to yourself - there must be a catch? Unfortunately, there is. The benefits of working for a Big 4 are widely known and the demand for these positions is higher than ever. These positions are EXTREMELY competitive and often IMPOSSIBLE to obtain without an edge. A great GPA and resume are no longer enough.


If you are serious about your career and want to maximize your earnings potential, you need an edge. How do you land an interview with a Big 4 when there are thousands of others just like you? Once you get the interview, how will you be prepared for the barrage of questioning you will face? 


When I graduated from college I had one interview and one interview only: I landed a job with PricewaterhouseCoopers on the first shot. How did I do it? Good grades? Charming personality? Incredible experience? No! I had an insider at PwC who knew the ropes and coached me through the process, from the application to the signing bonus! When I learned these secrets I just watched as my peers struggled and I jumped easily through all the hoops. Unfair? Sure, but life in a world class industry is not fair. While working at PwC I also experienced the recruiting process from the side of the recruiter.


Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/accounting-articles/the-big-4-accounting-firms-how-to-get-that-perfect-job-with-one-of-the-big-ones-402186.html

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I Made a Late Payment. Will it Affect My Credit Score?

Let’s say you made one of those big no-no credit mistakes. You went out of town on vacation for a week, came back home and realized you totally forgot to pay your credit card bill. It happens all of the time.


Chances are you are okay. The worst thing that may happen is you have to pay a late fee, but more than likely the creditor won’t report your one-time late payment to the credit agencies. Most lenders and creditors will not report bad repayment history until you are 90 days late, and if they do not report it, it does not end up on your credit report. Since your credit score is calculated by the information on your credit report, you’re in the clear.


But what if they do and that late payment ends up on your credit report. Sadly, if you have an otherwise good credit score, this will affect you the most. It could knock 100 points off your credit score – ouch! Late payments by people who already have a crummy credit score won’t get dinged nearly as bad.


This may actually not be entirely true though. The way FICO is calculating credit scores going forward now gives some forgiveness to people who made that one-time mistake, but will further penalize people who have a history of not paying their bills.


The best solution to make sure this does not happen is to set up automated bill paying. That way, no matter what, your bills get paid.


If, however, you have a history of making late payments, you’re in a bit more trouble. You’ll wan to get a copy of your credit report and take some of the steps to increase your credit score, which you can do completely on your own.


Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/i-made-a-late-payment-will-it-affect-my-credit-score-397790.html

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How Do I Calculate Finance Charges?

Having some knowledge of how to calculate finance charges is always a good thing. Most lenders, as you know, will do this for you, but it can helpful to be able to check the math yourself. It is important, however, to understand that what is presented here is a basic procedure for calculating finance charges and your lender may be using a more complicated method. There may also be other issues attached with your loan which may affect the charges.


The first thing to understand is that there are two basic parts to a loan. The first issue is called the principal. This is the amount of money that is borrowed. The lender wants to make a profit for his services (lending you the money) and this is called interest. There are many types of interest from simple to variable. This article will examine simple interest calculations.


In simple interest deals, the amount of the interest (expressed as a percentage) does not change over the life of the loan. This is often called flat rate or fixed interest.


The simple interest formula is as follows:


Interest = Principal × Rate × Time


Interest is the total amount of interest paid.


Principal is the amount lent or borrowed.




Rate is the percentage of the principal charged as interest each year.


To do your math, the rate must be expressed as a decimal, so percentages must be divided by 100. For example, if the rate is 18%, then use 18/100 or 0.18 in the formula.


Time is the time in years of the loan.


The simple interest formula is often abbreviated:


I = P R T


Simple interest math problems can be used for borrowing or for lending. The same formulas are used in both cases.


When money is borrowed, the total amount to be paid back equals the principal borrowed plus the interest charge:


Total repayments = principal + interest


Usually the money is paid back in regular installments, either monthly or weekly. To calculate the regular payment amount, you divide the total amount to be repaid by the number of months (or weeks) of the loan.


To convert the loan period, 'T', from years to months, you multiply it by 12. To convert 'T' to weeks, you multiply by 52, since there are 52 weeks in a year.


Here is an example problem to illustrate how this works.


Example:


A single mother purchases a used car by obtaining a simple interest loan. The car costs $1500, and the interest rate that she is being charged on the loan is 12%. The car loan is to be paid back in weekly installments over a period of 2 years. Here is how you answer these questions:


1. What is the amount of interest paid over the 2 years?


2. What is the total amount to be paid back?


3. What is the weekly payment amount?


You were given: principal: 'P' = $1500, interest rate: 'R' = 12% = 0.12, repayment time: 'T' = 2 years.


Step 1: Find the amount of interest paid.


Interest: 'I' = PRT


= 1500 × 0.12 × 2


= $360


Step 2: Find the total amount to be paid back.


Total repayments = principal + interest


= $1500 + $360


= $1860


Step 3: Calculate the weekly payment amount.


Weekly payment amount = total repayments divided by loan period, T, in weeks. In this case, $1860 divided by 104 weeks equals $17.88 per week.


Calculating simple finance charges is easy once you have done some practice with the formulas.


Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/how-do-i-calculate-finance-charges-218237.html

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