Jen: This is the PKF Texas Entrepreneur’s Playbook. I’m Jen Lemanski, this week’s guest host, and today we’re telling the stories of what PKF Texas means to our people. Jake Morris is an audit manager, and he’s here to tell his story. Welcome to the Playbook Jake.
Jake: Hi, thanks Jen. I’m glad to be here.
Jen: Now recruits tell us that people are really one of our biggest strengths, and that you know that’s how they get to know PKF Texas, that’s how that we prove we are who we say we are. Tell us how did you get to PKF Texas?
Jake: I came from Baylor, and I interned here, and then started a couple of years after I interned. I think the first big thing coming out of college when you go through the recruiting process is to decide if you want to go big four, or middle market. It’s a pretty big decision. A lot of the professors in universities push a little bit harder towards big four, and it’s a great option for some people, but I decided that I was more interested in the middle market just based on some of the experience; life/work balance, some of the other differences between big four. Once I was geared towards middle market, I started looking around, and just tried to find a fit culturally, and going out to the dinners, and some of the social events, and everything I really felt that I connected with PKF’s people the best. Just doing auditing, doing accounting in general you look at numbers all day, so it’s really important to enjoy the people that you work with, and work around. It really makes for a good experience to come to work every day, because we’re going to spend as much or more time with these people than our family at home.
Jen: So was there anything in particular that made you choose PKF Texas over a different middle market firm, or was it –
Jake: Really just my connection with the people that I interviewed with, and talked to at the socials, and everything. I really just felt that we are a cultural fit. They really seem to enjoy themselves, and we just kind of connected personally.
Jen: Now so beyond choosing between big four, middle markets, what other advice would you give to a candidate going through the recruiting process?
Jake: Like I was pointing to, just the people are really important. So I would just say go in with an open mind, and get to know the people as well as you can. It’s a difficult process, and I’m sure it’s a little nerve racking going through everything, but really just try to be yourself, and get to know the firms, and go with a clear mind, and just figure out the firm that fits culturally with you the best.
Jen: Perfect, well thank you so much for being here today. We really appreciate it.
Jake: Sure.