J.H. Cohn Reviews

Pros

Partners have an open door policy
There is a CPE or other form of training for just about anything
If you are vocal and driven the sky is the limit

Cons

Pay is not very competitive
Expensive benefits
Favoritism / very cliquish / gossipy
Human resources are not good at either scheduling or hiring

Advice to Senior Management

If you don't hire better people (especially human resources) and don't increase the pay or offer some other form of reward, you will lose the talent!

Pros

It is a good public accounting firm to work for.

Cons

There is not enough opportunity for growth. There are partners who have come through acquisitions that don't do anything to grow the firm but make a ton of money.

Advice to Senior Management

Pay your employees more and stop promising the world and under delivering everytime.

Pros

Good training if your manager is willing to invest in you.
Good and fun staff to work with
Good IT support

Cons

A lot of politic and kissing up involved.
Some very aggressive bus drivers who relentlessly throw people under buses.
Very hard to move up if partners cannot relate to you.

Advice to Senior Management

We want to see Management care more about staff feedback. Partners should diversify their workforce more and treat people equally.

Pros

Good teaching firm
Great work/balance lifestyle
City office is great to work in
Mentor program

Cons

Long Island Office is very cliquey and full of politics.
IT department isn't that great, and makes engagement difficult.

Pros

There is always work above your level that you can take on. The IT and reference resources are above average.

Cons

Performance evaluations are used to make the "reviewer" look good. Many seniors feel that being rougher on the staff makes them look better to managers and partners.

Advice to Senior Management

Take better care of the foot soldiers. They're the ones doing all the work. Recognize the good managers from the ones that "look good"

Pros

great coworkers
fun assignments
ability to learn via OJT

Cons

resumes are modified at will to show expertise which is not as deep as presented
out of work people taken from job boards and presented as direct employees even thought they are 1099'ers
larger/sexier projects go to the Big4

Pros

Small firm feeling with Big 4 capabilities, technology, training, and professionalism. Strong team environment in which everyone works together to benefit the group and provide outstanding client service. Low turnover, great Mentor program, friendly staff.

Cons

Since JHC serves many industries and provides trainings only at certain times during the year, I found myself having to do several self-initated on-line training courses to learn about an industry. But, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Also b/c of the low turnover, if an employee who has been with the firm for a while does leave, it causes more havoc than what you'd see at other firms.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep doing your best to keep staff and office morale up as it is one of the most important components of creating an enjoyable work environment, which can only lead to better client service in the end.

Pros

decent pay structure, good benefits

Cons

information flow from top down has lot of scope of improvement.

Advice to Senior Management

be more transparent with performance reviews and salary structure. Goals shall be provided to all the employees. Bonus structure should be formalized.

Pros

great clients, decent work/life balance if you brown nose, capable people, forward looking management, growth oriented vision, excellent technology, open door policy from most partners

Cons

poor communication from the top down, crappy busy season timing depending on department, advancement potential very limited, suckups and company men wanted

Advice to Senior Management

management needs to loosen up the career paths, reviews should be done more often, institute a bonus/comp time structure to reward top performers

Pros

Good experience, and good clients.

Cons

Large firm trying to be like a Big 4. Very clichy and to do well you have to suck up. Not a diverse organization.

Advice to Senior Management

Need to become a much more diverse organization (mindset and culturally).