Carter Mackenzie International

As a recruiter with a background in IT, I find it important to consider technological improvements as they affect the job market. Lately while working at Carter Mackenzie International, I've been thinking about how accounting and finance roles will be supplemented heavily with AI soon. Will it eventually become a requirement for employment? AI made significant leaps and bounds over the past few years, breaking into various industries. from expressive works such as art and film to agricultural tasks involving irrigation and fertilization. Bearing in mind such complicated and skill-intensive projects have been accomplished with the assistance of machine learning, it would be unsurprising to me that accounting and finance will be overhauled. Big 4 firms have already adopted AI in some form. This improved services for their clients by utilizing machine learning to review documents, extract unstructured data, and analyze Big Data sets as part of the auditing process. Smaller firms have started to use AI tools to streamline the accounting process, where expenses, account reconciliations, and financial reports are automatically generated. AI has entered the automation space and it's here to stay, but will it go further than that? Many articles and videos have a ‘doom and gloom’ slant on the topic of artificial intelligence, to the point where robotic, dystopian themes from Terminator, The Matrix, and 2001: A Space Odyssey are seen as prophetic. Do I think AI will completely replace people in accounting and finance? Absolutely not.  Machine learning is imperfect. Such imperfections are not exclusive to artistic mistakes, such as generating a painting of someone with disproportionate hands. It’s within the realm of possibility for AI to make errors in the accounting and finance world, too.  AI will be a tool like any other-- one professionals utilize to speed up the automation processes. However, a machine’s work will always have to be checked and potentially corrected by a human being. AI will not replace skilled professionals, but professionals will have to know and understand AI and incorporate it into their skillset very soon. #AI #DigitalTranformation #FinancialServices #Accounting 

In May 2024, I celebrated my fourth employment anniversary as a recruiter at Carter Mackenzie International. The exposure and knowledge I have gained in my first few years of employment are immeasurable. As I reflect on my experience thus far, I want to provide a few lessons and tips that I learned on the job as a recruiter directly out of college: · Attitude & aptitude are everything – Whether you are interviewing for a role, starting a new project, or communicating with external stakeholders, positive energy alongside a willingness to learn and improve will always benefit you. · Keep an updated resume on file at all times – You do not want to miss out on your dream opportunity and lose the offer to someone else because you did not have an updated resume on file. Stay proactive and prepared. · Find a friend to peer review your resume and/or run your resume through an online grammar checker before submitting/sharing the document elsewhere – There are many free grammar checkers online. Spelling and grammar errors on resumes can be a red flag and detrimental to the interview process. · Use your personal social media accounts wisely – Be cautious about the statements, photos, and videos you post on the internet. Clients, bosses, and customers do personal “social media checks” every day. · Prioritize expanding your network in person – Meeting up with your customers, teammates, clients, and certain vendors in person regularly and consistently is crucial for trust, credibility, and retention. Don’t be afraid to have conversations! · Send a thank you note after your interviews – A written note or an email expressing your gratitude to the individual who took time out of their workday to interview you will go a long way. I recommend this to all my candidates. If your organization needs staffing and recruiting services, or if you/someone in your network is seeking a new job opportunity, please contact me!