1. Tell me about yourself and what your role is at Rise?
My name is Liam and I am 23 years old. I started with Rise back in May 2020 when I had the opportunity to do two 4-month co-op terms. I then came back in September 2021 as a Staff Accountant and have been in this role for over a year now.
2. Where did you go to university and what was your major?
I went to University of Victoria. I completed my Bachelor of Commerce and I specialized in service management as well as finance and accounting. It really wasn’t until third or fourth year that I began to really enjoy the accounting courses and began networking and setting myself up for a career in accounting.
3. How did you hear about Rise and what solidified your decision to do your co-op here versus other firms?
It was purely networking. I began talking to people and the Rise name continued to come up. The office is close to my home which was huge for me as well. But the biggest thing for me was that it was a small to mid-size firm. I knew with a smaller firm there would be a lot of opportunity to learn and work closely with the partners and senior staff within the firm.
4. What has been the biggest difference going from co-op to staff accountant?
There are definitely more opportunities as a staff accountant. As a co-op I helped on smaller projects or smaller areas of a project and really just focused on learning the basics of accounting. Whereas now as a full-time staff accountant, I have really been able to see the full picture of all the projects and take on more responsibility within those projects. As I’ve started building my skillset, I have also been given the opportunity to take on larger and more complex files.
5. What piece of advice would you give to a student who is just beginning their accounting career at Rise?
I have a few but the three biggest ones for me are as follows:
- Be curious and always asking the question why. Why is this in place? Why does this process work the way it does or is there a different way we can approach this? Focus on being more curious than just trying to get the job done. I have found that being curious and constantly trying to learn has really helped me grow from where I was as a co-op to where I am in my career now.
- Being as resourceful as possible. Try to leverage all information available to you and exhaust all options before throwing the towel in. If you can make the manager and partner’s jobs easier by problem solving first and pitching your approach, this will show that you attempted to find a solution to a given problem and are now looking for guidance moving forward, which is a big differentiator especially in a co-op position.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. A lot of people are scared to bring questions up but I think it really shows that you want to improve and learn and gain a better understanding of what you are doing.
6. What was it like experiencing your first busy season as a Staff Accountant?
It was definitely a busy time of the year, but everyone at Rise likes to help each other. In times of stress, I knew I could always lean on any member of the team for support and ask for help. It never felt like I was in it alone, which definitely helped as a first-timer. Also, you definitely learn how to manage multiple projects simultaneously during busy season and I found communication was key during the busiest times.
7. What was your biggest takeaway from your co-op terms at Rise?
How much opportunity I recognized there was in a full service accounting firm. Whether it’s professionally or personally that you are growing, there is so much opportunity at Rise. I got to see a variety of different engagements and work on all sorts of businesses which I thought was valuable experience while completing my degree. We aren’t just your typical accountants here at Rise, we actually get the opportunity to wear multiple different hats on a daily basis. Whether its thinking like a business owner or advising clients on their accounting and tax matters, no two days are the same.
8. What skill have you improved most since joining Rise?
Definitely problem solving. Every day is different from the one before and every business is different. There is no “one size fits all”, so you really have to approach each file and problem that arises differently. I’m constantly finding new ways to tackle problems and every time I gain more confidence.
Another skill would be project management. In this role, you have so many different projects going on at once and you have to quickly learn how to handle it all and communicating with others while doing so.
I have had the opportunity to work with some incredible managers and partners at Rise who have really helped me improve these skills. They are constantly giving guidance on what works for them and the best ways to continue to grow.
9. How would you describe the culture at Rise?
I think the biggest thing I noticed from the get-go was the open door policy – its built into the culture here that you can ask questions of anyone no matter what their position is and they are willing to help you. It never feels like you are bugging someone when you reach out. Also, as a training firm, the learning aspect is built in at Rise and they really put the focus on helping people advance in their careers.
There’s also a focus on social events which has been great as a junior staff and really getting the opportunity to get to know your team and everyone you work with.
10. Where do you see your career going next and how will Rise support?
Rise has been very supportive of the goals I have and what area I plan on focusing on. We utilize weekly priority meetings where regularly check-ins happen between management and staff and this has been valuable since day one. As for where I see my career going next, I plan to begin the CPA program in May and Rise offers a comprehensive training and support program that I know will help me successfully complete the CPA program.
11. What are your hobbies or passion outside of work?
I am big into sports. I try to golf as often as possible, play hockey, hike in the summer, and work out. I find staying active has really helped with not only my personal life but my work as well and it’s something I really want to focus on as I continue progressing in my career. One of the great things about Rise is the flexibility they provided for a work life balance. They place a lot of trust in us to manage our own life and I’ve really appreciated that.
Your Business. New Heights.
Rise CPA provides professional accounting, tax and business advice to help you make the right decisions at the right time. Since 1979, we’ve been helping clients create businesses and lifestyles they envision by delivering expert insights and financial guidance. At Rise, we excel at advising business owners and their families in a caring and personal way. Our services cover a wide range of Tax Planning, Auditing, Accounting, Estate Planning, and Business Advisory. Please call (604) 936-4377 or use the online contact form to book an appointment with one of our accounting professionals.
