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Student Lounge

FAQs

1. What makes Soberman unique?
2. What qualities do you look for when recruiting students for co-op or permanent positions?
3. Does Soberman hire co-op and summer students?
4. Does your firm participate in any career events on campus? Where can I find information on your recruitment events and schedule?
5. Please describe Soberman's recruitment process, how it works, when should I apply, and what the stages are.
6. What type of support do you provide for students writing the UFE?
7. What are the firm-wide pass rates for UFE?
8. How can I learn about those specialties to which my interests and skills are best suited?
9. Does Soberman support designations other than CA?
10. Will I need a vehicle at first?
11. What is the dress code?
12. Does your firm have international connections?
13. How will my work be evaluated? Will I know how I am doing?
14. How will my career progress?
15. How does Soberman support ongoing learning and development?
16. How will you help me to successfully settle in to the firm?
17. How can I apply for a position?
18. How will I know that my resume has been received?
19. How can I prepare for my interview?
20. What type of client industries might I be exposed to?
21. What kind of salary can I expect?

1. What makes Soberman unique?

You will be working on a wide variety of client files representing very diverse industries and you will have a chance to accept responsibility right from the start. In addition, our staff accountants have full ownership of the file from start to finish. Finally, our partners are actively involved and interested in your career and your progress – you can be assured of both visibility and an opportunity to demonstrate your abilities!

In short, we have a unique environment that is large enough to have a diverse range of services and clients, but small enough to offer a more personal element to young professionals.

2. What qualities do you look for when recruiting students for co-op or permanent positions?

First of all, we want you to know that A+ grades are not required; we are looking for the complete package. You do need to demonstrate good grades overall and strong accounting marks so that we can be confident that you will be successful in completing the UFE. But we also look for students who have made the most of part time and co-op positions and who have taken on other activities at school or in their community. In terms of personal qualities, highly motivated, practical in problem solving, inquisitiveness and strong interpersonal skills are all vital qualities in our professionals.

3. Does Soberman hire co-op and summer students?

We do hire co-op students for both 4 and 8 month work terms and have a summer internship program.

4. Does your firm participate in any career events on campus? Where can I find information on your recruitment events and schedule?

We participate actively at info sessions at a number of Ontario universities and host an annual open house. A schedule of these as well as our recruitment timetable will be posted in the future.

5. Please describe Soberman's recruitment process, how it works, when should I apply, and what the stages are.

Students submit their cover letter, resume and a copy of their grades in September; (each university's career office will advise you of the process or you can submit directly to hr@soberman.com)

We review all applications and invite a number of students for an initial interview with Human Resources.

A select few students are offered positions for the following year.

6. What type of support do you provide for students writing the UFE?

We offer a very comprehensive program to support the CKE, SOA and UFE. This includes prep courses, reimbursement of course/exam fees, paid study/exam days off, professional marking and debriefing and a study buddy program.

7. What are the firm-wide pass rates for UFE?

Our pass rates have traditionally exceeded the provincial average and have been as high as 80% in the past few years.

8. How can I learn about those specialties to which my interests and skills are best suited?

When you first come to Soberman, we will ask you if you have any special interest areas and we will endeavour to provide you with some exposure to these and other specialty areas of the firm while you are a student. We have a number of young professionals who have transferred to specialty groups once they have fulfilled their ICAO required hours.

9. Does Soberman support designations other than CA?

We support students of CGA and CMA programs in certain circumstances as well as other designations such as CBV and DIFA that may be applicable to the career path you have with us.

10. Will I need a vehicle at first?

No. Our office is very conveniently located at Yonge and St. Clair. There is a subway stop right in the building! In terms of staff going out to clients, we find that public transit and car pooling with other staff are usually satisfactory for those who don't have a car.

11. What is the dress code?

Our office dress code is business attire with more casual dress permitted on Friday's. You will be made aware of times when more formal business dress may be required. Above all, we aim to present a professional appearance to our clients and in the business community.

12. Does your firm have international connections?

Soberman is affiliated with Crowe Horwath International, a worldwide association of accounting firms. We benefit from cross referrals, knowledge sharing and facilitating the employment of professionals between member firms.

13. How will my work be evaluated? Will I know how I am doing?

We have a number of programs in place to ensure that students and especially newer staff members get regular feedback. You will have a Performance Manager assigned to you and it is their responsibility to ensure you get timely and good quality feedback on your work. In addition, feedback is provided after engagements by the more senior staff working on the files so that you can learn rapidly and benefit from others who have experience. Of course, we encourage our staff to take the initiative to ask for feedback whenever they feel they need it. Our annual evaluation program includes a self-evaluation and you will have access to all of the components of your performance that are being evaluated. All of these programs are intended to help you to grow professionally and to succeed.

14. How will my career progress?

The personal and professional growth of our people is very much part of our culture. Our size and structure provide our people with opportunities to be professionally stretched and challenged. In addition, we have published Career Ladders for every practice area so that you can clearly see what is required for promotion and build your skills accordingly. These factors are backed up with a strong learning and development program - covering technical, technology and soft skills training, skill building programs, UFE prep courses, coaching and mentoring and opportunities in practice areas outside of assurance and advisory.

15. How does Soberman support ongoing learning and development?

We have a great professional development program called "Learning at Soberman". The Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses ensure that every professional stays current, but our curriculum also focuses on the managerial and soft skills that are important for success in public accounting.

16. How will you help me to successfully settle in to the firm?

Our commitment to your development starts the day you join the firm with a comprehensive orientation and training program. You will be assigned an orientation coach who will assist you during your first few months at the firm. On-the-job learning is essential to building your technical and professional skills and so we emphasize that with regular feedback from managers and partners.

17. How can I apply for a position?

Simply send your cover letter, resume and copy of grades to hr@soberman.com or to your school's placement office as directed during the recruiting season.

18. How will I know that my resume has been received?

All resumes received through our portal hr@soberman.com receive an automatic reply indicating they have been received. We are confident that resumes submitted through university websites have all been delivered to us as well.

19. How can I prepare for my interview?

Some tips we would share are: do your homework, know what the key messages about you are that you want to get across, have a list of questions prepared, practice with someone who will be honest with you if this is your first interview, dress for success, get a good night's sleep and put a smile on your face.

20. What type of client industries might I be exposed to?

Owner-Managed Businesses of all kinds
Advertising & Marketing
Automobile/Truck/Motorcycle
Manufacturing & Distributing
Not-for-Profit
Professional Service Providers
Public sector
Real Estate, Property Management
Retail
...to name just a few!

21. What kind of salary can I expect?

We remain competitive on salaries in our marketplace. We feel very confident that you can begin your career with us with a salary, bonus and benefits packages that is attractive to you.