What is your opinion about an advanced placement (AP) course in high school for accounting, as proposed by the Pathways Commission? How would you propose implementing the “Pathways Vision Model”?
Why do you think that the demand for accounting and finance professionals is so strong, leading to expected compensation increases? How much do you think you will earn in your chosen field upon graduation?
Will you personally consider a firm’s “good deeds” in deciding whether or not to take a job? Why or why not? Do you think such deeds affect the value of the firm? If so, how? If a firm donates time or money, what’s the journal entry?
According to the article, accounting as an industry has an average pre-tax profit margin of 19.8%. In your opinion, why do you think accounting firms can command such a relatively high margin?
Good ideas for working capital management are in this article. As you explore career options, does this type of work (CFO, internal accounting) appeal to you?
Do you share the writer’s concern that Wall Street is now less attractive to top graduates? Have you changed your mind about a career in banking? If so, what would make such a career attractive again?
Do you have what it takes to be (or to become) a “good financial analyst”? Does this type of work resonate with you?
There will soon be a job opening at the SEC. Are you interested? What qualifications do you think are needed to be the Chief Accountant? Do you think it is a good idea for the Chief Accountant to have been a partner at one of the Big 4 accounting firms? What conflicts, if any, might arise?
Try describing in your own words this dichotomy of the “inside view” and “outside view.” Apply the dichotomy to the decision of whether or not to buy another firm. Can you personalize the dichotomy to a career decision you are making? Is the dichotomy useful, and if so, why? If not, why not?
Ok, let’s assume that you will fully support the professor’s position essentially to stop giving students exams, or at least “traditional” exams. So, students, should you be assessed at all? Why or why not? If so, how? Describe how the assessment would be implemented.
Describe the nature of the problem between a bank’s research division and its investment banking division. What are the concerns about the breach in the “Chinese Wall”?
Do any of the careers in “top demand” (according to Robert Half) interest you? How should you prep in order to land one?
