“On the Record”

with JEREMY BLECHA, CPA, Partner

Q Jeremy, you are one of only two Tronconi Segarra & Associates professionals whose entire public accounting career—from staff accountant to partner—has been with Tronconi Segarra & Associates. Was that a goal you set out to achieve when you graduated from college?

A Yes, I recall saying that when talking with a few of the people that interviewed me back then. It’s pretty rare for employees to stay with the same company for the duration of their career now; but being a loyal and long-time employee was part of my upbringing, and it is paying dividends now for my family and me.

Q You are deeply involved in recruiting for the Firm now. What differences do you see in students graduating from 01 accounting programs now vs. when you were graduating?

A Students now are much more prepared for public accounting. They’re more educated about and interested in our specialty service offerings such as business valuations and mergers and acquisitions. This provides more opportunities for a defined skill-set which hopefully will translate into enhanced loyalty, satisfaction and a desire to remain with us.

Q What are some of the intangibles you look for when interviewing candidates for the Firm? 

A Firm culture is extremely important and the glue that holds us together. We look for individuals that are willing to invest in themselves; this means the drive to learn new things and challenge themselves, the ability to work closely with others and provide positive energy to the group.

Q Talk about the typical experience of a new staff accountant at the Firm.

A New staff associates go through our orientation and training programs and are assigned to a variety of engagements so they get that real-world, on-the-job exposure to audits, reviews, advisory and special projects. During their first couple of years, associates also have the opportunity to learn intangible skills as well, such as developing professional relationships, writing and communicating effectively, and prioritizing tasks.

Q And for experienced accountants—what might attract an experienced accountant or CPA to Tronconi Segarra & Associates that they might not find at other public accounting firms?

A We want experienced professionals coming into our Firm to be able to leverage their skills and specialty knowledge as much as possible. Building off of their experience and giving each professional the runway to expand and grow in an area that they enjoy will make for a successful, long-term career at Tronconi Segarra & Associates.

Q What advice can you offer to accountants and CPAs who may be considering a job change? 

A Figure out exactly why you are thinking about a change, and meet with your current employer to provide honest feedback and give them a chance to respond to your concerns. I encourage people to take a well-thought-out approach; weigh the pros and cons of their current position and the position they are considering elsewhere as it may be a life-changing move. Interview the company they are considering; ask to meet with others in the company. Inquire about the culture and what others’ expectations of you would be. The bottom line: is this new company and position a good fit for you?

Q And specifically, why would you encourage them to consider Tronconi Segarra & Associates? 

A Tronconi Segarra & Associates is a growing firm with endless opportunities that allow our associates to control their own destiny when it comes to their career. Our firm culture, work-life balance, flexible and remote working arrangements and investment in our associates all support our professionals in charting their unique path to success. Our Leadership Academy and Business Development programs provide avenues for our associates to grow both personally and professionally. It’s really partnering with our associates for success.