Manager
AICPA (that's us)
New York, NY
“Thank you for tuning in. I’m Ami Beers and here are tonight’s top stories.”
When Ami started at Syracuse University, she intended on majoring in communications and going into a broadcast-related field. “I took a few business classes and realized that my potential for obtaining a job after college would be much greater with a business degree—especially accounting,” she says.
So Ami switched majors and graduated with an accounting degree. She got her first job with a Big Four public accounting firm - Ernst & Young - and requested to work with the media and entertainment clients. “Among other industries, I spent a lot of time auditing a major record label,” she says. She even got to count the ballots for the Emmy® Awards.
But Ami never forgot about her dream of going into broadcasting. So a few years later she went to work in the Corporate Finance Office for ABC. “I was involved with the accounting for the merger with Disney and then continued to work for Disney in the TV unit,” Ami says. “Accountants get involved with the entire organization. With an accounting background you really can go anywhere.”
In her position now, Ami is “doing more creative activities including writing and getting involved in educational activities to support our members with new business reporting initiatives, such as webcasts and sessions at conferences.”
Despite the fact communications wasn’t her major, Ami says that it’s still a huge part of her job. “I spend a lot of time working with people, and still do today, rather than having my head stuffed in a computer or book,” she says. “Communication skills are a very important part of the job.”
No matter what field you’re interested in, remember that someone always has to take care of the money. Why not you?
Years as a CPA: 16
Best job: Counting ballots for the Emmy® Awards
Worst job: Inventory count of ham and salami in 40 degree warehouse on New Year’s Eve
Hobbies outside of work: Shopping, exercise, reading
Words to live by: “Honesty is the best policy.”