CAREER:

Age: close to 30
Company: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Length at position: Over a year
Hours worked per week: 50-60 hours
Salary: $55-70k a year

Best Part of Job: I get to be involved with a variety of industries and areas of law, thus exposing me to diverse people and ideas. I am responsible for the marketing and business development of six key practices nationally- from developing strategies to execution of the business plan; I monitor the budget as well as to ensure that we are on target.

Inspiration: I didn’t want to be a traditional accountant that only reports the calculated amounts and file taxes. I wanted to be in the strategic side of the business while utilizing my anlytical skills. It’s by combining methodical anlysis with the understanding of strategy that I want to use the numbers to drive the business.

Challenges: Communication is one of the challenges, especially when I first worked here. At the time, I wasn’t too sure how to share my ideas effectively with the partners of the firm without stepping on other people’s toes. I need to be able to let them know my point of view - bringing in my experience and expertise in marketing- and structure the business case to speak to them directly.

Differences: Compared with my old job, one thing different is the different personalities I deal with. I work consistently with the senior partners of the firm and I interact differently with various people because they have their own communication style and work ethics.

EDUCATION:
Degree(s) and Schools: Bachelors in Business Administration ( Marketing & Accounting) in SFU, CMA Designation in CMA’s Strategic Leadership Program.

Advice:
You need a good ability to analyze things and learn how the numbers interact with the big picture of a company. Realistically, math could be done with Excel spreadsheets, therefore you don’t necessarily have to be good in math.

Benefits:
It’s worth to do the extra work at CMA because it has a practical approach. It taught me how to work with people in a group and integrate everyone’s opinions to reach a common goal in a project.

LIFESTYLE:
Favourite activity: Running.

Future vacation plans: Going to China to get in touch with my heritage.

In five years, I see myself: At the moment, I’m in a maketing manager role and would like to see myself in a director’s role.

Personally, I would be able to enjoy life more.