Meet An Auditor: Julie Touretzky
August 2018 Update
Name: Julie Touretzky
Current job and location: Office Manager, RSM US LLP, NYC, NY
Number of years with the firm: 4 years
Hometown: Bridgewater, NJ
College/Major: University of Delaware, 2014. Major: Accounting (Minor: International Business)
1. How long have you now been employed with your accounting firm?
It’s been close to 4 years that I have been working at RSM full time.
2. Briefly describe your current role, and how it’s different than when we last connected.
When we last connected, I had transferred from audit to campus recruiting at RSM. For 2 years I worked on our NYC campus recruiting team. As of May 2018, I am onto my 3rd position at RSM! I have taken on the role of Office Manager for our NYC office which leaves me in charge of internal events and communications, overseeing day to day operations, managing relationships with new and existing vendors as well as rolling out projects we receive from our national team.
3. What are you most excited about in your current position?
I’m most excited about the amount of exposure to our overall business that comes with the role of Office Manager. I wear many different hats in this role, and am learning something new every day. Our NYC office is moving this summer and I have become an integral part in the process. A year ago, I never would have thought that I would be running office-wide update calls on our deconstruction plan, but it’s an exciting transition and I’m glad I am a part of it.
4. Now that you have advanced in your career, is there any new advice that you would offer to undergraduate students who are considering a career in audit?
Audit is a great foundation. Whether you stay in public accounting long term, switch to private accounting, or switch roles completely, I feel that a background in audit can help someone better understand how other companies work. It also teaches you the importance of working together as a team and gives you great exposure to different types of people, clients and their working styles.
5. Finally, what do you most look forward to in your professional future?
If I’ve learned anything over the past few years, it’s don’t be afraid to try something new. I’m excited to delve into the world of being an office manager, but who knows where this may lead in the future!
Original 2016 Post
Name & Age: Julie Touretzky, 24
Current job and location: Campus Recruiter, RSM US LLP, NYC, NY
Number of years with the firm: 2 years
Hometown: Bridgewater, NJ
College/Major: University of Delaware, 2014. Major: Accounting (Minor: International Business)
1. Briefly describe what is your current role at the firm?
I started my career with RSM in our commercial audit practice in NYC. I completed two busy seasons and have now transitioned to being a campus recruiter for the firm. I travel to various college campuses and attend career fairs, club meetings, and banquets in order to help promote RSM and recruit top talent for audit, tax and consulting entry-level and intern positions. I also help organize and run the summer internship program, as well as our Pathways Summer leadership program.
2. What one personal quality helps you most in your auditing career and why?
Having strong communication skills is key. I feel like people sometimes think of accounting as a stereotype where you sit at your desk and crunch numbers. Auditing is very much a people-oriented career. You need to be in constant communication with the members of your team and also be able to communicate your needs to the company you are auditing.
3. What experience as an undergraduate student provided you with the best preparation for your job and why?
My audit internship helped me prepare for working full time. I interned with McGladrey (now RSM) in the Blue Bell, PA office. I was treated like an entry-level associate and it allowed me to experience firsthand what a typical day as an auditor would be like. I loved getting to travel to different companies and work with different engagement teams. From this experience, I knew I wanted to start my career in audit.
4. What advice, personal or professional, do you have for students considering a career in auditing?
Start building your network early! There are tons of different opportunities in audit to explore and the only way to do that is to put yourself out there early in your college career. You have to figure out what size firm you want to work for and the type of engagments you would want to work on. The best way to do that is to hear it firsthand from professionals in the field and through job shadowing and internship opportunities.
5. What has been the best part of your job and why?
The relationships I have built in the last two years have definitely been the best part of my job. I have made so many connections from the entry-level associates all the way up to the partners, which have also helped me in my campus recruiting role. I can reach out to any of them to accompany me to events on campus or assist with interviews. Not only do they help me at work but I am able to consider a lot of these people my friends. You spend a lot of time with your teams when you are auditing and it makes work easier when you enjoy the people you are working with.