I got my undergraduate degree at Rutgers, which is obviously a big school. I guess that environment breeds a philosophy in the students that "bigger can really be better" so the students tend to be very interested in the larger accounting firms. But I knew that I was really more focused on finding a firm with a family atmosphere, where there was an emphasis on the individual employee's needs and interests. So when I heard Jules Frankel's "Top 10 Reasons to Work Here" it really resonated with me. In fact, Jules played a major role in my decision to come here. One of the many reasons is because I was very impressed that he was so completely focused on making sure that I was using the right information to make good a career choice. It spoke volumes to me about his sincerity to make sure the fit would be right for me, not just for the firm.
People say that one of the benefits of an internship is that it gives the firm and the intern the opportunity to get to know each other well enough to see if they are a long-term fit for employment. What I don't think I expected to result from my internship with W&G was that it would motivate me to pursue a graduate degree on a full-time basis before joining an accounting firm. Maybe not such a big deal, until you consider the fact that Wilkin & Guttenplan decided to hold a position open for me for 2 years until I finished my Masters degree!
Everyone around here talks about the great work/life balance, the professionalism and quality of our work, but there are some other aspects of working here that have really impressed me. I've been especially fortunate to work with Ed Guttenplan, who has repeatedly given me the opportunity to take a job and run with it. Having had the chance to work with him, I see how he leads the firm by example. It starts with his genuine interest in us, and it shows up in a ton of ways, from his open door policy, to his personal involvement in our career development plans, to the random fun surprises he springs on the staff.
With all of the resources and effort expended by accounting firms to attract students, it might be easy for job seekers to overlook a mid-sized firm like ours. But I think that would be a mistake. There's no doubt the quality of life here is unmatched by any other firm, but just as important and equally unique is the variety of work and number of opportunities to work with different people on each assignment. I really do feel this is the best place to work and I love being here.
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