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The Most Important Part of Your Job Negotiation

Job negotiations take much time and effort. You have to be prepared to ask for what you want and know what you won’t settle for. Because the process can be daunting, it’s important you have a plan in place before your interview. Here are four parts of your job negotiation you’ll want to focus on.

Research

Uncover all you can about the company and its typical salaries and benefits options for your department and role. Find facts and statistics you can use in your favor to build a case for getting what you want. Have set goals for receiving what you desire. Plan ways in which you may fill your needs and how you may respond to a counteroffer. Ensure you know which areas you’re set on and which are flexible. Showing you performed solid research increases your chances of receiving a more attractive offer.

Salary

Go online to research the current range for your position in both your industry and geographic area. Talk with local recruiters to see what numbers they give you. When you’re ready to negotiate, start with the top number in your salary range. The interviewer will probably negotiate you down, so leave plenty of room to find an agreeable number. Justify your request by pointing out specific ways you increased revenue or decreased expenses for previous employers and how you may do the same for your new employer. Ensure you know what salary is too low to fit your needs. If that amount becomes the final offer, be willing to walk away.

Benefits

If you agree to a lower salary, try making up for the value with benefits and perks. For example, you may obtain health insurance, gain a matching contribution for your retirement plan or secure a signing bonus. You might be able to gain additional vacation days, have a flexible schedule, or work remotely. Perhaps you’ll obtain opportunities for growth and promotion, support for ongoing education or reimbursement for tuition.

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Because you have more power when the interviewer sees where you’re coming from, ensure you do all you can to help them understand your position. For example, give concrete reasons why you’re worth the salary you’re requesting, including quantifiable ways you helped prior employers and can do the same for your new employer. Show you sincerely want to work for the organization and that it’s worth the extra effort negotiating with you. Point out the options you have as leverage and under which conditions you’d be willing to leave those options and accept an offer. Understand the interviewer’s concerns, such as a salary cap, so you can agree on an offer that suits everyone’s interests.

Partner With a Top Finance Recruiter in Chicago

For help securing your next accounting or finance position, contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources to work with a top finance recruiter in Chicago!

Top Finance and Accounting Candidates – June 2017

Controller

Areas of expertise: Strong Manufacturing Industry background at the plant level
Noteworthy: CPA with a mix of public Accounting/Audit experience and MFG Controllership experienced.
Position Interest: Controller or Plant Accountant
Available for: Direct Hire
Location: Northwest Suburbs, IL

Credit Manager

Areas of expertise: Credit department leadership and development of staff and driving process improvement.
Noteworthy: MBA, strong leadership of credit/collections staff, Credit reviews and financial statement analysis, develops and implements credit policies and procedures.
Position Interest: Credit Manager or Senior Credit Manager
Available for: Direct Hire
Location: West Suburbs, Northwest Suburbs, or Chicago Loop, IL

Corporate Controller/Chief Financial Officer

Areas of expertise: Experience leading Accounting/Finance function for small to mid-size privately held MFG/Distribution companies in the $50-$300M range.
Noteworthy: CPA, Drives cost savings initiatives, implements internal controls and establishing procedures, improving cash-flow
Position Interest: Corporate Controller or Chief Financial Officer
Available for: Contract or Direct Hire
Location: North and NW suburbs, West Suburbs and city of Chicago

Senior Credit Analyst

Areas of expertise: Analysis of financial statements, completing web-based research, determining credit worthiness, assigning, maintaining and monitoring appropriate credit limits, and releasing orders.
Noteworthy: Prior to his current company, stayed at his company for 16 years. Has experience with SAP, Salesforce, and Oracle in recent Manufacturing.
Position Interest: Supervisor role within credit and finance
Available for: Direct Hire
Location: Northwest Suburbs, IL

Senior Accountant

Areas of expertise: Monthly financial analysis, month end close, budgeting, fixed assets, endowments, reconciling investments, journal entries.
Noteworthy: Moved up while she was working for a public accounting firm. At her current role, she purchased two new modules for their accounting software and assisted in its implementation.
Position Interest: Senior Accountant or Accounting Manager
Available for: Direct Hire
Location: Chicago (loop), IL

Senior Accountant

Areas of Expertise: GAAP compliance, month end close, journal entries, Tax Preparation, Auditing, Financial statements, A/P, Corporate tax, Account Reconciliations
Noteworthy: Has worked in both large and small offices. Has a little supervisory experience.
Position Interest: Senior Accountant or Accounting Manager
Available for: Direct Hire
Location: Northwest Suburbs, IL

Staff Accountant

Areas of expertise: Month End Close, Income Statements, Variance Analysis, Budgeting, Financial Statement Review and Preparation, GAAP, Lawson, Crystal Reports, Oracle, Advanced Excel.
Noteworthy: Complete responsibilities for month end close, rolling out all the financial statements for each department and as an organization as a whole. Presentations for upper management and President for explanation of variances and impacts on the bottom line.
Position Interest: Staff Accountant, Sr. Accountant, Financial Analyst, Sr. Financial Analyst
Available for: Direct Hire
Location: Northwest Suburbs, IL

Director of Payroll

Areas of expertise: Employee Relations, Payroll Processing for up to 25,000 employees, ADP newest SaaS product, Review, Audit and correct all tax related issues for 21 subsidiary companies. International Payroll, Multi State Payroll
Noteworthy: Oversees 26 bi-weekly payrolls. Processed payroll for up to 25,000 employees and up to 43 states. Handled 26 FEIN’s. Globally for UK, Asia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada. 7 direct reports. Involved in numerous system upgrades and conversions. Worked with WorkForce Now, ETime, Kronos and HTML
Position Interest: Payroll Manager, Director of Payroll, Payroll Director
Available for: Contract to Hire or Direct Hire
Location: Western Suburbs or Chicago (loop), IL

Accountant

Areas of expertise: Advanced Excel (pivot tables, lookups, formulas), G/L Accounting, MFG Industry experience
Noteworthy: Excellent communication skills. Finishing up a Masters in Accounting with a goal to sit for the CPA exam in 2018.
Position Interest: Staff or Senior Accountant
Available for: Contract or Direct Hire
Location: Northwest and Western Suburbs, IL

Bookkeeper/Accounting Clerk

Areas of expertise: A/P, A/R, Bank Recs, Account Recs, Month-End Close, Billing, Payroll, ERP Systems
Noteworthy: Associates Degree in Accounting with a broad range of bookkeeping experience
Position Interest: Bookkeeper or Accounting Clerk
Available for: Temp to Hire
Location: Western Suburbs, IL

Why You Should Treat the Interviewer Like a Client in Your Next Job Search

During your next job search, you’ll want to do all you can to increase your chances of being hired. Part of your plan should include personally and professionally impressing the interviewer. For this reason, it’s important you find ways to treat the interviewer like you would a client.

The Interviewer Will Admire Your Knowledge

Researching the company before your interview will help you discuss why you want to work there. Peruse the website to determine the company’s history, location, size, mission and values. Read the annual report and listen to the most recent quarterly earnings conference call to find out about new products, company risks and current revenue status. Check out blog posts to see what topics the company is interested in. Also, visit LinkedIn to determine what type of news the company finds important. Check out Facebook and Twitter to find out the tone of the company, how engaged it is with its customers and how it responds to complaints. In addition, Google the organization and read what news comes up. You’ll be able to speak factually about the company and show you’re the best candidate for the position.

The Interviewer Will Be Engaged in Your Conversation

The more you engage the interviewer in conversation, the greater the potential they’ll want to work with you. If you go on LinkedIn and check out each interviewer’s profile, you can determine their background, position within the company and what personal and professional interests you have in common. Ensure each interviewer can see you viewed their profile so they know you’re proactively doing research. During your interview, use the interviewer’s name whenever possible. Maintain eye contact. Be alert and smile when appropriate. Let the interviewer lead. Ensure you listen more than you speak. Provide well-thought-out answers. Subtly mirror the interviewer’s posture, speech pattern or tone of voice to show you’re engaged in what they’re saying.

Your Follow Up Will Be Appreciated

Following up with the interviewer shows you appreciate their time and are interested in the position. Before leaving your interview, ask when you should expect to hear back about the role. Within 24 hours, send an email or handwritten card thanking each interviewer for meeting with you. Bring up a few topics that were discussed. Show your excitement about the position and how the company may benefit from hiring you. Be sure you check your spelling, grammar and punctuation to show you communicate clearly and pay attention to detail.

If you haven’t heard anything within the stated timeline, follow up with the interviewer by phone or email. If you don’t hear back within a few days, follow up again. If you still don’t hear anything, move to your next opportunity.

Work With a Top Financial Recruiter in Chicago

Treating the interviewer like a client builds rapport and shows you’re genuinely interested in working for their company. For help securing your next accounting or finance role, reach out to Casey Accounting & Finance Resources to work with an award-winning financial recruiter in Chicago!

Why We Love Millennials in the Workplace!

Millennial are often associated with negative terms including entitlement, poor communicators and technology reliant! But, we have found that it is actually a joy to work with millennials! Some of the attributes we enjoy about working with millennials include:

Focuses on Collaboration

Millennials are very collaborative to work with. They are very communicative, which is great when you work in an environment that has a lot of moving parts.

Purpose

Millennials share a sense of purpose with their teammates and work together on meaningful projects. They bring a creative spirit to new initiatives introduced within the workforce. Start an internal social group in your company and see what amazing benefits arise from it!

Technology

Millennials are tech-savvy and like to help others by offering solutions that support innovation. They are very good at leveraging technology! They want information fast since they often will be on their smart phone and working on their tablet/computer while viewing a program – and can switch easily between devices. Make sure you have multiple monitors for their desks!

Want to Make a Difference and Contribution to Society

Millennials are always looking for ways to better themselves and the community. Having a community spirit helps companies develop programs for the good of others. What better way to bring meaning to work!

Tolerance

Millennials are by far the most accepting of gender equality and LGBTQ rights. They are a generation of change and progression. They care about the issues and will help to make changes. They accept and celebrate their differences including breaking the stigma around mental illness. Having a tolerant workforce helps to lift everyone up!

Highly educated and they love to learn and be developed

Millennials are on track to become the most highly educated generation in the history of the United States. They want to be mentored and coached, and be the best employee they can be!

As you can see, there are many reasons that millennials are an asset to the workforce. From collaboration, purpose, technology, making a difference, tolerance and education, companies will have a new set of challenges that will bring meaningful change and growth to their organization.

Source: http://www.smartceo.com/zimmerman-millennials-in-the-workforce-what-they-want-and-how-to-manage-them/; https://www.theodysseyonline.com/6-reasons-millennials-awesome

How Can You Find a Job As an Unemployed but Qualified Worker?

Even though you’re a qualified worker, you may be unemployed due to circumstances beyond your control. Perhaps you were downsized or let go for having a difference of opinion with a supervisor about a new product or service being offered. Even though finding a job may be difficult, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of being called in for an interview. Follow these guidelines for finding a job when you’re unemployed but qualified.

Use Social Media

Because networking is one of the most effective ways to find a job, use social media to discover opportunities. For example, reach out to your Facebook friends and let them know you’re seeking a position. On your profile, specify what role you’re looking for and what your skills and experience are. People are typically open to helping others, so odds are you’ll find job leads. Also, use LinkedIn to connect with colleagues, supervisor, and executives you’ve worked with, as well as hiring managers at companies you’d like to work for. Join professional groups in your industry, as well. You’ll most likely get in touch with someone who can alert you to a job opening and potentially help you secure an interview. In addition, follow companies you want to work for on LinkedIn and Twitter. You’ll be notified when those companies have openings.

Showcase Your Skills

During your job search, continue showcasing and building your skills. For example, you may work with an interview coach to enhance your techniques. Also, you may volunteer with a nonprofit organization whose mission you’re passionate about. Be sure to list on your resume the experiences and skills you picked up, such as fundraising, email marketing or managing events. Potential employers want to know what you were participating in while searching for your next job.

Enlist a Recruiter

Consider working with a recruiter who specializes in your field. Determine what preferences they have for submitting your cover letter and resume. Most recruiters prefer a specific format submitted through email. If you update your resume, let the recruiter know. Follow through by doing what you say you’ll do to enhance your search process. Stay in touch weekly with the recruiter, but don’t become bothersome. Show gratitude for the recruiter’s role in your job search. Remain connected for the next time you need help securing a role.

Continue Developing

Continue personal and professional development when securing your next job. For example, take on temporary assignments or consulting work to show employers what skills you possess and how employers may benefit. Those assignments may lead to permanent work. Consider attending a class related to your industry. Participate in professional associations. If you want to change careers, volunteer in your desired field so you gain insight into whether it truly fits your interests and needs.

Work with a Top Accounting Recruiter in Chicago

If you are struggling to find a job, work with an award-winning accounting staffing agency in Chicago and contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources today!

Leading a Meaningful Life

What are your proudest accomplishments? What deep failure, fear or frustration do you have to overcome? According to Derek Deprey, these initial questions will help you to begin your journey on leading a meaningful life!

To get started on your journey, you will need to form your CORE VALUES. Define what your idea of success looks like, and develop this into your core values. These core values with guide your decision making and your actions.

MOVE TO GROWTH. What is your plan for personal development? Identify the goals you have for your personal growth and pursue them.

VISION. What gives you direction and purpose? What do you want your future to look like?

FLOW: On this journey, develop an APE attitude!

A: Attitude. Adapt a positive mindset: Everyone is a TEN! Give loyalty first, then you will get it back! Realize that YOU have the ability to be more positive.

P: Passion. How do your passions drive your life? What do you enjoy most and what skills do you need to get there? What do you have a strong desire to do or to achieve, that will typically require determination and hard work. Identify these ambitions.

E: Execution. “Do it Afraid!” Commit time to yourself to work on your goals.

Ask yourself, on a scale of 1 – 10, how was your last 3 months? What would you need to do to increase your happiness score!!

FUSION. You can lead a fulfilled life when personal values tie in with work values. Think about what’s been bothering you. Schedule the time to do what you would like to do and “Jump in the Pool!” At this level work and play can become synonymous!

IMPACT! Care about the dreams of others, and inspire fellow travelers along the way!

Source: 2017 Midwest Staffing Conference, Derek Deprey, www.derekdeprey.com

Applying Through a Job Post on Facebook? Be Careful!

In February 2017, Facebook launched a new jobs feature on its website. Employers may post jobs for free on their Facebook pages, and candidates may apply using Facebook’s interface. Employers may view candidates’ profiles and communicate with them through Messenger. Although this sounds like an excellent setup, there are drawbacks to consider.

Is Your Profile Public?

If you apply for a job through Facebook, your profile must be made public for employers to view your information. This poses serious privacy issues, especially if you wish to keep your personal information and pictures hidden from employers. You most likely don’t want to be judged for what you do in your off hours, which is exactly what may happen if you make your profile public. You most likely want to reveal a little bit about yourself at a time, rather than have everything out in the open all at once.

A related issue is that the more information you share about your education and work experience through a job application, the more details Facebook will add to your profile. This provides Facebook additional information about you that you may not want to disclose to the company.

Do You Want Your Information Private?

Applying for a job through Facebook may give employers even more access to your profile, letting them perform a deeper background check on you. This may be of concern if you don’t maintain the level of professionalism on your Facebook page that you would in front of an employer. Like most people, you probably post stories and pictures about topics and experiences that interest you the most. These may be appropriate for family and friends to know about, but not necessarily for employers. For example, posting inappropriate words, information, or pictures; speaking poorly about former employers, coworkers, or clients; and lying about qualifications are typical reasons employers don’t hire candidates based on their social media profiles. You may not want to go back and erase your favorite memories from your profile to avoid having employers discover them and potentially not hire you.

Are You Comfortable Drawing Attention to Your Profile?

Job applications through Facebook may raise legal and ethical concerns. For example, when Facebook draws information from your profile to fill out your application, it includes your profile picture. This increases your chances of being illegally discriminated against based on your race. Also, if your profile shows you’re involved with a religious organization or a specific political cause, employers may decide not to hire you based on that information as well.

Work with an Award-Winning Financial Recruiter in Chicago

If you’re uncomfortable applying for jobs through Facebook, you do have other options. Reach out to Casey Accounting & Finance Resources today and work with a top financial recruiter in Chicago!

Top Candidates – March 2017 Newsletter

Senior Financial Analyst
Areas of expertise: Budget and Modeling and Analysis, Financial Planning and Analysis, Corporate Reporting and Analysis, Cost Benefit and Product Analysis, Operations Modeling and Process Review, Procedural Development and Review.

Noteworthy: 15 years of experience within the manufacturing arena. In the last three roles they held sole responsibility for Financial Planning and Analysis as well as closing out all of the books.

Position Interest- Sr. Financial Analyst or Finance Manager
Available for: Direct Hire Placement
Location: Northwest Suburbs.

Treasury Operations Manager
Areas of Expertise: MBA and pursuing his CPA. Banking consolidation projects, FX hedging and netting, Compliance reporting, Prepare quarterly Board Meeting reports for the CFO, Implemented e-payment solutions, Implemented new treasury and banking platforms including foreign currency, the treasury workstation and bank fee analysis portals. Certified Treasury Professional

Noteworthy: MBA and pursuing his CPA with experience within manufacturing Fortune 500 Companies.

Position of Interest: Treasury Manager
Available for: Direct Hire Placement
Location: Northwest Suburbs

Sr. Credit Analyst
Areas of Expertise: 10+ years of working with SAP FICO and customized SAP programs. International credit analysis for Mexico, Australia, Canada and South America. Has handled a portfolio up to $350M.Deduction experience includes: shortages, discounts, promotions, damaged goods and spoiled product. Full DSO responsibility.

Noteworthy: SAP expertise as well as International Credit Analysis expertise.

Position of Interest: Sr. Credit Analyst
Available for: Contract, Contract to Hire or Direct Hire
Location: Western Suburbs

Staff Accountant
Expertise includes: Advanced Excel (pivot tables, lookups, formulas), G/L Accounting, Fixed Assets and Bank Reconciliations

Noteworthy: This person is only looking for temp work over the next 6 months while finishing a Master’s Degree and studying for the CPA test.

Position of Interest: Staff or Senior Accountant level
Available for: temporary
Location: West Suburbs

Senior Accountant/Analyst
Expertise includes: Month-End G/L close, sales forecasting, budgets, Analysis of SG&A expenses

Noteworthy: CPA and MBA with manufacturing industry experience.

Position of interest: Senior Accountant or Financial Analyst
Available for: Temporary, Temp to Hire and Direct Hire
Location: North Suburbs and NW Suburbs

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, Inc. Wins Invaero’s 2017 Best of Staffing® Client and Talent Awards

Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 – Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, a leading employment agency specializing in placing Accounting and Finance Professionals, announced today they have won Inavero’s Best of Staffing® Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and job seekers. Presented in partnership with CareerBuilder, Inavero’s Best of Staffing winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based completely on the ratings given to them by their clients and the permanent and temporary employees they’ve helped find jobs. On average, clients of winning agencies are 2.5 times more likely to be completely satisfied and talent of winning agencies are 3.6 times more likely to be completely satisfied with the services provided compared to those working with non-winning agencies. Award winners make up less than two percent of all staffing agencies in the U.S. and Canada who earned the Best of Staffing Award for service excellence.

Focused on helping to connect people with the right job openings at US companies, Arlington Resources received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from a majority of their clients and their talent, significantly higher than the industry’s average.

“Our staff is dedicated to finding the best talent for our clients, and the best opportunities for our talent. We work hard to make service a priority, and we are proud and honored to be recognized for our efforts in this way.” Casey Accounting & Finance Resources’ President and CEO, Patricia Casey said.

“Staffing firms are giving top companies a competitive advantage as they search for talent in North America,” said Inavero’s CEO Eric Gregg. “The 2017 Best of Staffing winners have achieved exceptionally high levels of satisfaction and I’m proud to feature them on BestofStaffing.com.”

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources, Inc.

Casey Accounting & Finance Resources specializes in the placement of Accounting & Finance Professionals for direct hire, contract and temporary services. As a nationally accredited, best in class recruitment firm, our staff is well networked in the Accounting & Finance community, tenured and industry certified. With our dedicated staff experienced in developing relationships, obtaining referrals, and sourcing candidates, we can locate top talent that you may not be able to find on your own. In addition to our outstanding recruiting practices, our team is committed to community service and philanthropy.

About Inavero

Inavero administers more staffing agency client and talent satisfaction surveys than any other firm in the world. Inavero’s team reports on over 1.2 million satisfaction surveys from staffing agency clients and talent each year and the company serves as the American Staffing Association’s exclusive service quality partner.

About Inavero’s Best of Staffing

Inavero’s Best of Staffing® Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based completely on the ratings given to them by their clients and job candidates. Award winners are showcased by city and area of expertise on BestofStaffing.com – an online resource for hiring professionals and job seekers to find the best staffing agencies to call when they are in need.

What Does Your LinkedIn Profile Say About You?

If you’re busy on the job hunt, don’t overlook the impact your LinkedIn profile has on a prospective employer. Your LinkedIn profile may be one of the first things your employer looks at when they are trying to find out more about you. Many employers will simply do a Google search of your name or check out your profile on LinkedIn to see your work history and get a better idea of who you are — beyond your resume. This is why it’s even more important to make sure your LinkedIn profile contains key information your employer is looking for and also presents you in the best possible light. Here are some things your LinkedIn profile needs:

Attractive Presentation of Accomplishments

You want to highlight your accomplishments, but avoid being boastful. Make sure to talk about all of your accomplishments in a professional way. For example, you could talk about how you led your team to secure a large contract with a big client instead of simply talking about how you won a large contract. Be detailed and sincere when sharing information about your awards and accomplishments.

Make Use of the Open Candidate Feature

If you’ve been worried your current employer will see you making new connections or showing interest in other jobs, you can make use of this feature for that extra level of privacy. LinkedIn rolled out this feature in late 2016 to make it easier for candidates to connect with recruiters or potential employers without a current employer noticing. This also helps recruiters choose from a larger pool of available and qualified candidates.

You can post recommendations from former employers and clients on your LinkedIn profile for public viewing. This can improve your reputation and help future clients or employers make an informed decision about hiring you. Recommendations are just like star ratings and reviews for businesses — the more positive recommendations you have to share, the more attractive your profile becomes to a potential employer.

Partner With a Leading Financial Staffing Agency in Chicago

Taking some time to update and revise your LinkedIn profile will help your job search. Take the next step and work with an award-winning financial staffing agency in Chicago and contact Casey Accounting & Finance Resources. Work with our great team of financial recruiters today to advance your career!