A. The firm has over 50 employees during busy season, including 7 Partners, 40-45 professionals and administrative employees.
Q. How would you describe the culture?
A. We have a challenging, yet flexible, professional environment; one that recognizes the different strengths of each employee and the different challenges of each client. We offer a diverse and collaborative environment that respects individual needs and promotes ongoing development. We believe in open communication; working as a team with our clients. Our work environment is not rigid and structured like many accounting firms, and there are no limits to what our employees can achieve.
Q: How many hours would an employee expect to work?
A. All Komisar Brady employees work on an hour commitment, including vacation, sick, holiday, travel time, continuing education, and networking engagement time. 2,300 hours is the typical annual hours commitment for a full-time staff accountant. After employees have used their allotted paid time off and they are on target to meet their hour goals, they have the ability to use additional flex time. We encourage everyone to achieve a work/personal life balance.
When it comes to our internship program we have several variations in our expectations. KB provides both full-time and part-time intern positions.
Q. What can I expect a typical day to be like?
A. Our individual responsibilities are dictated by client needs. Auditors typically spend fieldwork time at client sites then wrap up their engagement at the office while tax accountants may only participate in a small component of fieldwork, then handle technical tax preparation in our office. Don't take our word for it, see the following input from two of our staff accountants:
"I was first introduced to Komisar Brady at UWM’s intermediate accounting forum. I was impressed with how friendly the representatives of the firm were and I was pleased to see that the same inviting atmosphere was present throughout the firm. On campus, KB was very knowledgeable about the accounting profession and gave me really good insight about the internship experience before I accepted my position. After meeting them again at another career fair I knew that this was someplace I could see myself fitting in well.
My position with Komisar Brady & Co provided me with wonderful experience that has turned into a full-time career. I was exposed to in-depth training, been involved in many types of projects, and had the pleasure of working with various levels of staff. Everyone was very encouraging as I made my way through my degree and they provided me with a great deal of support and flexibility so that I could work and go to school full-time. I am excited to find what my future at Komisar Brady will hold, and I am very thankful to have been given the opportunity to work for such a well respected accounting firm." -Carly Bruskiewicz, Staff Accountant
"Komisar Brady & Co. has provided me with an exceptional environment to learn and grow in the accounting profession. As a young professional I have been given the support and guidance necessary to make educated decisions about my career path. I have been exposed to a wide variety of opportunities that have provided knowledge and experience in all aspects of the profession.
The size of the firm was the main contributing factor that attracted me to Komisar Brady & Co. The partners and upper management are connected with the staff and, therefore, have a real understanding of staff needs that are necessary to successfully balance a work life and a personal life. Komisar Brady & Co. offers countless opportunities to reach out to the community, while also building and strengthening relationships with co-workers. The amazing atmosphere provides a comfortable and easy transition from college life to a professional career.
Overall, I could not have asked for a better environment to begin my career and develop as an accountant. It has been motivating to be welcomed as a valued member of the Komisar Brady & Co. family." --John Kuehn, Staff Accountant
Q: What size clients does the firm have?
A. Our business clients are typically in the $5 million to $50 million revenue range. This size business enables interns and new associates to see many aspects of public accounting and to get involved in various levels of the engagement right away.
Q: What kind of engagements will I be working on?
A. Our firm offers the diversity of many different types of engagements. Staff work includes audits, reviews, compilations, individual tax work and special projects. Specific areas of work include employee benefit/retirement plans and nonprofit audits, individual and entity income tax returns, business valuations, tax projections and financial statement projections.
Q: Will there be out-of-town or over-night travel?
A. There is minimal amount of travel with almost no out-of- town or overnight stays. We occasionally work with clients that require us to be away from home for 2-3 days while on the engagement.
Q: Does the firm have any mentoring or similar program?
A. Our advisor and peer program is designed to enhance the career development of our personnel and promote communication between various levels of our organization. The program is aimed at ensuring that our professionals receive individual attention. In addition, it is our hope that individuals are nurtured along their chosen career path. Regardless of an individual’s chosen career path, our program’s goal is to make each employee’s first experience at KB pleasant and stress-free.
Q: What is the typical career advancement track at Komisar Brady?
A. We have five professional staff levels through which we hope every employee will progress. We expect each staff member will spend a minimum of two years at any level before advancing to the next level; however, the Firm recognizes each employee progresses at a different rate. The typical career path within our firm is staff / senior / supervisor / manager / partner.
Q: What type of training and development will I receive?
A. When you accept a position at Komisar Brady, we try to make your transition as smooth as possible. Every member of our firm – from the partner level to the staff level – is willing to help with any questions you may have.
Our initial training process introduces you to our basic accounting procedures and software. Part of this process is working on the Tackle Box which is a simulation of a project. This simulation is run like an actual job, including preparing work papers, using different types of software and working with an In-Charge. In addition, you are assigned an Advisor within the firm for on-the-job training and guidance for each project you work on during this time. Ongoing opportunities for professional development include outside training through accredited courses and seminars and in-house training through small group training and staff meetings.
Our driving, entrepreneurial energy at Komisar Brady encourages the growth of your individual talents, so you can move on to bigger challenges and become an integral part of our continued growth and success.
Q: What software does the firm use?
A. The software we use for our financial statement and accounting work is called Engagement CS. We use the Microsoft Office Suite for the preparation of some client work papers as well as QuickBooks & Peachtree. Here are some examples:
Practice Management: ProSystem fx Practice Management
