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...
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
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...
The New Power Suit
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up in the morning? Is it… What am I going to have for breakfast? What is the weather like today? How long will it take me to get to work? If you are like me (and most people), the first thing that may come to...
Leadership from the Accounting Department
Accounting departments play a unique, business-critical role within organizations. An accounting department that works typically has a strong leader, which in turn makes for a strong group. Such strength helps alleviate the pressure that goes along with the job of...
4 Business Lunch Details Not to Miss
Weinstein Spira focuses on making relationships count. What better way to establish, build or maintain a relationship than sharing a meal. As business professionals, we need to take into consideration several factors that would constitute an ideal business lunch....
Life in the Slow Lane: 5 Ways to Entertain Yourself in Houston Traffic
Houston is known for many great things – our World Champion Houston Astros, NASA Space Center, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, museums, theater, Tex-Mex, parks, Beyoncé, Mattress Mack, and ZZ Top, just to name a few. Houston is also well known for its traffic....
Say What? How to Talk to Recruiters at a Career Fair
by Fernando Rodriguez I still remember the first day I went to a career fair while I was in college. I was 21 years old, clueless and had no idea how to talk to a recruiter. The only reason I ended up going to this event was because it was part of an assignment for a...
Gen Z is Coming: Is Your Company Ready?
Generation Z, or those born in 1997 or later, now make up nearly 26% of the country’s population and are about to enter and redirect our workforce. Similar to their millennial peers, Gen Z’ers have unique distinguishing characteristics and behavior patterns and will...
5 Reasons Why Your Business Should Engage in Philanthropy Year-Round
Have you heard? Today is National Philanthropy Day! This day was created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and aims to celebrate philanthropy, whether it be volunteering or charitable giving. While we are thrilled to celebrate philanthropy today, we...
Touchdown! How Friendly Competition Can Increase Engagement and Productivity in the Office
Wondering how gamification and a little friendly competition can make a huge difference for your internal culture? It’s not just our Houston Texans or University of Houston Cougars that understand the benefits of competition. We’ve seen the upside of bringing play...
Our Impact Extends Outside of the Office
At Weinstein Spira, we recognize the importance of getting out of the office to serve others. Doing it together, as a group, only makes the impact greater. Our community service Impact Days allow us work together, assume duties we don’t normally perform, socialize...