In this edition of Beyond the Numbers, Bernadette Grattan, Founder & Recruiting Director at The Resource Link, is joined by Jennifer Slaton, Senior Controller of KB Home.
It’s All About the Questions
Jen talked about the importance of learning and asking questions in the early stages of one’s career. She advised, “Soak it all up, ask all the questions, make connections, network, have fun because you’re just like a sponge learning so much. Use the resources around you to learn everything you can because it helps you find your passion for what you like.”
When Bernadette asked if she could be a devil’s advocate for this advice and asked about approaching busy superiors, Jen maintained her stance as she said, “If it’s not your boss, ask somebody else. I’m fortunate in the jobs I’ve had. When I worked in public accounting, there was always another senior or a manager. If there’s none, then ask your peers. Ask anybody who’s been there for a while because they will tell you.” In addition, even if your boss is busy, Jen still encouraged to ask questions to your bosses, as she stated, “But keep bugging your manager too because it shows them that you’re motivated and interested.”
Is there a Dumb Question
Bernadette then asked if there was a dumb question. Jen believed there are no dumb questions. Bernadette acknowledged “Right. As you start your career, it’s all new, right?” Jen agreed with this and shared her personal experience during her public accounting days.
“Yes. Everything is so new. I remembered at Ernst & Young, I went into a Controller’s office as a Staff Auditor to ask questions. I was asking questions that I didn’t even know what the right or wrong answer should be. A couple of days later, my senior told me that the Controller told me stuff to mess with me as a Staff at EY, but it was fun.” Jen laughed at this and added, “It was just all part of the fun learning.”
Bernadette also laughed, finding this a funny experience. She said, “I don’t know if they would do that now.” Jen responded, “Probably not. There are too many restrictions now, but it was that way back then.”
Why Jen Loves Accounting
When asked why she loves accounting, Jen said, “I love accounting because I get to meet people from every part of the organization. I get to see all the different functional areas of the business. Understanding accounting leads you to understand the whole business because everything ultimately ends up in accounting’s lap. So, you get to see all the operations through the accounting lens, and I like that.”
Jen’s Career Accomplishment at KB Home
When unexpectedly asked about one career accomplishment she’s most proud of, Jen said, “Just recently, we implemented our new ERP system here at KB Home. I’ve been on it since 2016, when we started. We have implemented it to all of our 18 nationwide divisions and corporate entities.” Jen then reiterated, “Again, because of my accounting background, I was able to learn and pull together all the different business areas of this project. It was a lot of fun.”
Can you Take a Step Back to go Forward?
When Bernadette inquired how long she had been working at KB Home, Jen humorously replied, “23 years. I’m like aging myself right here on this video.” Bernadette asked a follow-up question about the title and level at which she had started at this company. Jen explained, “I started as an Assistant Controller here. I took a step down.”
Despite starting as an Assistant Controller at KB Home after being a Controller at a previous company, Jen found career growth opportunities here. As she said, “That’s the other thing about accounting. Don’t be afraid to venture out because I started here as an Assistant Controller, but I was a Controller at a previous company. So, I took a step down to come here, but I felt like I could grow and learn within the company. And so now, here I am.”
Long Term Challenges
With an enthusiastic “Yes!” Jen confirmed that working at KB Home challenged and stimulated her enough to stay for 20 years. Bernadette commented, “Which is cool, right? You can’t say there are a lot of companies like KB Home that provide you the opportunity for interesting work, challenge, and stability.”
Jen agreed, “You really can’t, but I think I work in a company that values people being inquisitive, motivated, and wanting to learn other areas. So, if you find the right company, accounting is probably one of the only professions that lets you learn all different parts of a business.”
Should You Ever Stop Asking Questions
Bernadette asked, “As a Senior Controller, would you still ask questions to people?” Jen responded decisively, “All the time. I ask questions. Right now, I’m asking lots of questions about SOX because one of my new things that I’m doing here is digging into a SOX project. So yes, I’m asking questions every day.”
Find the Passion in the Business
To conclude the interview, Bernadette asked if there was one last piece of advice she’d give to Staff or Senior Accountants. Jen answered, “Find your passion for the business and the type of accounting you like. I found that I loved construction. I loved people building things. And I loved home building because we were getting buyers into their first homes. That was rewarding to me. So, find something that interests you. And then that kind of passion thrives your motivation. It’s fulfilling, and I love it.”
ABOUT Jennifer Slaton, CPA: Jen Slaton is currently one of the Sr. Controllers at KB Home. She started her career at EY, where she gained experience working with various venture capital and IPO companies. After a few years, she went to work with one of her clients, Spectrum Astro (now part of General Dynamics). From there, she was the Controller at Schuff Steel prior to joining KB Home. Jen loves construction accounting!
Jen graduated with her B.S. in Accounting from Arizona State University.
Learn more, or reach out to Jen at https://linkedin.com/in/jennifer-slaton-3648389/
ABOUT Bernadette Grattan: Bernadette is the founder of The Resource Link, a specialty accounting and finance recruiting firm based in the Phoenix area. Since 2002, she has been providing a personalized approach to recruiting and a commitment to making great matches for long-term success. This means taking the time to understand the needs of employers looking to hire and discover career goals with those who may be seeking their next career opportunity. Before recruiting, Bernadette worked in public accounting.
If you are looking to hire or considering what is next, learn more at https://www.theresourcelink.com or https://linkedin.com/in/bernadettegrattan
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