WNDE Goes On-Campus to Recruit Top Level Talent

“White Nelson Diehl Evans LLP (WNDE) has just finished its fall-spring on-campus recruitment season,” said Sandra Hague, WNDE’s talent acquisition and brand manager, who visited five local universities in search of talented staff, which include Biola University; Chapman University; California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Long Beach; and University of California, Irvine.  “WNDE has openings and continues to grow,” she said, “although it’s always a challenge to find top talent that is a fit for the firm.”
She continued, “We actively recruit at these campuses because they each have strong accounting programs and a large number of talented students who would be well qualified for positions with us.”
WNDE engages in a variety of recruitment activities at these campuses, including one-on-one interviews, career presentations and “office hours” on the campuses, which provide an opportunity to meet students informally.  WNDE recruiters are looking for a variety of qualities in potential hires, including a strong GPA, good communication skills, experience with customer service in the accounting field and leadership and involvement in campus organizations.  Sandra added, “We also want people with experience in leadership, who are team players a
nd have a sincere interest in public accounting.”
Promising students are invited to work at the firm as interns during the tax season and participate in the firm’s leadership program during the summer months.  Some are then offered full-time positions with WNDE upon graduation.  “About a dozen graduates will be hired in 2017,” Sandra said.
Sandra noted that competition to hire quality graduates is intense among Orange County accounting firms, prompted in part by the turnover, which is a common occurrence in the accounting field.  Yet despite the competition for staff, recruiters representing various firms regularly meet to coordinate efforts in an attempt to avoid overlapping recruitment events.
“Accounting is a great area for employment opportunities,” Sandra concluded, “and we’re always looking for top talent,” adding that employment inquiries through the firm’s website are always welcomed.
Photographs: Audit Partner Daphnie Munoz speaks with a perspective California State University Fullerton accounting candidate; Sandra Hague, WNDE’s talent acquisition and brand manager; WNDE audit and tax interns.