http://toptierlife.com/2007/06/08/interview-series-part-one/
This is the first in a series of interviews with successful Big 4 alumni, asking them to let us know where they went right, and what they would have done differently.
We are very fortunate to get an interview with Terry Vander Ploeg. After starting his career with Touche Ross &Co, Terry has had great success within Motorola
Name
Terry Vander Ploeg
Career
1988 – Current – Motorola, Inc, Phx, AZ, Tokyo, Japan, Philadelphia
87 – 88 – General Dynamics, Ft. Worth, TX
84-87 – Touche Ross & Co., Sacramento, CA (Big 8 at the time!)
Current Position
Director of Finance, Sector Controller
Why did you join a Big 4 (or 5 or 6 etc) accounting firm?
Excellent experience, with the opportunity to view the financial workings of various private and public enterprises
How long did you stay and what made you decide to move on?
3 years, enough to go thru multiple busy seasons, work on progressively more difficult projects and understand the flow of financial information & results. I left after becoming CPA certified (working in Audit in USA it was mandatory to be certified) and to pursue a career in private industry, supporting a company to grow its market / profitability
Looking back, are you happy that you left your accounting firm when you did?
Yes, another year would have been helpful, but personal circumstances were such that the timing was right. Unless you want to become a partner, 3-5 years is the maximum I recommend staying in public accounting.
Any advice for those currently working in Big 4 accounting firms?
Get as much technical accounting background knowledge/experience as you can while in public accounting……industry is starving for technical accounting experts, and this is the best breeding ground to land that industry position.
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