If you have never worked from home for an extended period of time, this pandemic-induced new schedule may be a shock to you and your family. Have you settled into your “new normal”? How is your family adjusting? As a Weinstein Spira virtual team member, I spend most...
The Balancing Act
Weinstein Spira Blog
Weinstein Spira’s blog, The Balancing Act, provides helpful information on technical accounting and CPA firm culture.
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Culture
Why Public Accounting Was the Right Choice for Me
Now that I am a staff auditor for a public accounting firm, I find myself reflecting on the choices I made that led me to this role—a perfect decision for me, as it turns out. In this blog post, I will describe my journey and offer some pros and cons for those who are...
How to Get the Most Out of Career Fairs
Are Career Fairs Worth Your Time? From my experience on both sides of the equation—as a student seeking my first accounting position and as a recruiter screening new grads to work at Weinstein Spira—I can honestly say that career fairs are a great opportunity that you...
Accounting Internship Etiquette: How to Start on the Right Foot
Having worked with a lot of accounting interns over the years has given me insight into the do’s and don’ts that can determine a successful internship. In this article, I will share some tips to keep in mind as you embark on your internship journey. Before You Begin...
Double Your Fun: Advantages of an Accounting Rotation Program
Fresh out of college with an accounting degree, armed with an internship and having landed an entry-level job just months ago (both with Weinstein Spira), I am hitting the ground running as a tax accountant—in large part due to my participation in a rotation program....
Best Practices on Managing Remote Employees
There are various forms of working remotely, a popular work style that is catching on more and more as companies try to help employees achieve work-life balance. For example, at Weinstein Spira one of the perks is to be able to work from home one day a week after one...
What Does Workplace Culture Mean to You?
A Home Away from Home Accountants are notorious for spending long hours at work, so much so that it can become like a home away from home, where certain creature comforts are sought. A paradigm shift from previous generations, the concept of workplace culture is now...
Mobile Workforce: Considerations When Choosing a Video Conferencing System
Following the Mobile Trend Today’s workforce is conducting business on the go more than ever before, thanks to mobile devices and growing emphasis on work/life balance. Collaboration from anywhere at any time is also key to building relationships with colleagues and...
Day in the Life of a Tax Accountant
Working at Weinstein Spira as a tax accountant since September 2018, I can honestly say there’s always a lot happening on any given day, whether it’s the busy season or not. Driving to Work My day begins with driving 30 miles into Houston from Brookshire (west of...
Day in the Life of an Audit Senior
There is really no “typical” day to speak of in my experience as an audit senior. I find that every day is different based on the season. My busy season spans from January to the end of May for corporate clients, during which I am hyper-focused. Then, I have a bit of...
Business Books for Your Summer Reading List
With the lengthening of daylight hours, school being out and the hubbub of tax and year-end filing deadlines finally past, it’s the ideal time to plan your summer reading list. Perhaps you can even read alongside your school-aged children! Reading books about business...
The Power of Office Artwork
Art Matters It’s no secret that art inspires, relaxes, motivates and even increases the productivity of employees, which is why so many companies line their hallways with framed pieces of art, typically of the generic, corporate artwork variety. While some are higher...
Home Sweet Desk: Workstation Essentials for Tax Accountants
As a tax accountant, I virtually “live” in my office. It’s like a home away from home! Unlike field auditors, who sometimes work onsite at client locations, tax accountants can be found sitting in their own office working on client tax returns in a comfortable,...
Top 5 Qualities to Highlight When Interviewing for Public Accounting
As HR manager, I talk to every candidate who comes through the door with the hope of landing a position at Weinstein Spira. With respect to public accountants, in particular, we look for people who have certain qualities that will be a good fit for our firm and our...
Optimizing Your 2019 Resume
Resumes are living, breathing documents that need to be kept up-to-date with your latest accomplishments while still fresh in your mind. With online profiles, like LinkedIn, it is ever more important to make changes in real time, so that recruiting search engines are...
Overcoming a Procrastination Mindset in 2019
According to Webster’s dictionary, to procrastinate is “to put off intentionally (or habitually) the doing of something that should be done”. The truth is most of us suffer from bouts of procrastination, especially regarding non-preferred tasks. In my experience...
Top Recipes for Thanksgiving: From Our Family to Yours
Need a quick, last-minute recipe to round out your Thanksgiving table? The folks at Weinstein Spira come to your aid with some of our favorite, easy-to-make family recipes. While it’s not an exhaustive list, these mouth-watering dishes are sure to enhance any feast....
10 Ways to Improve Your Telephone Etiquette
From working as a corporate receptionist for the last several years, I’ve learned so much about telephone etiquette that I can now share my expertise for the benefit of others. Regardless of your position, answering the phone is a part of everyone’s daily repertoire...
Practical Mobile Apps for Business
Collaboration and productivity are considered high priorities in today’s workplace. With so many mobile apps available to support conducting business on-the-go, we are able to work and connect with others from virtually any place that has web access. There are also...
Common Misconceptions About Accountants
When most people hear the word ‘accountant,’ their vision is clouded by a set of preconceived notions based on old-school misconceptions about the profession. I’m about to debunk some of the common myths that not only get in the way of having a positive relationship...
What I Wish I Knew About Accounting in College
One of my favorite work responsibilities is visiting college campuses, like Texas A&M, to recruit new grads to work at Weinstein Spira. I often present a slide show to students that depicts things to know when charting a career path in accounting. These are the...
Take a Listen: Podcast Recommendations
As busy as we all are, it’s important to schedule some relaxation time to chill and de-stress. But, this doesn’t always have to mean going to the gym or doing yoga. It can take the form of exercising your mind, by listening to an interesting, informative podcast,...
Structure + Action = Organization
Have you ever thought to yourself “there is so much to do and so little time”? If so, you are not alone. Everyone has had an overwhelming feeling at some point, but it is what we can do to overcome those feelings that make us successful. The biggest contributors to...
Tips for First-Year Tax Accountants to be Successful
You’ve chosen a great career that, from everything we can see, will always be around. Regardless of technology advances, clients want someone to talk to, to ask questions, to help plan ahead and so on. With over 25 years as a tax accountant, I’ve seen it all. As I now...