Compass allows you to try new things and stretch yourself. I’ve gained the confidence and experience that equip me to basically do anything in the finance and accounting world.
Korn Ferry Compass: A career development program for individuals transitioning from public accounting to industry
You’ll be challenged to stretch, reflect and explore professionally through a variety of companies, projects and roles, with the goal of gaining insight on questions like:
- What type of company/culture appeals to me?
- What skills do I need to build and develop?
- What roles and situations do I find meaningful?
What participants say about Korn Ferry Compass
Compass gives me the structured freedom to explore what I want my career to look like. They support me yet give me ownership over my own directions.
I’m getting to see what it’s like to be inside the company—creating reports, managing processes, and being a strategic member of the team.
The Compass program provides the opportunity to gain relevant experience through many finance and accounting roles.
The nature of the program makes you extremely adaptable to new situations. I felt myself becoming a lot more comfortable living in ambiguity and learning new things quickly.
Korn Ferry Compass program details
Korn Ferry Compass candidate requirements
Korn Ferry Compass is for professionals with:
- At least 1-2 years of recent public accounting experience
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field (advanced degree preferred)
- CPA (preferred)
- Demonstrated self-starter mentality
- An appetite/aptitude to learn and perform at a high level
- Flexibility—ability to adapt to new situations
- A love of new challenges
- Great communication skills
- A positive, energetic personality
- Strong customer service skills
Types of work you might do
The Korn Ferry Compass team will help you navigate your options based on your goals, skill gaps and interests. In past rotations, program participants have had career-building experiences, such as:
- Controller, assistant controller, and accounting manager responsibilities
- SEC, regulatory and management reporting
- Technical accounting
- Financial modeling
- Finance/information technology liaison
- Project management
- Business analysis
- Internal audit/risk management
- Financial planning and analysis
- Cost accounting
- Corporate accounting
- Business systems analysis
- ERP implementation assistance
- Due diligence
- Acquisition integration
About Korn Ferry Compass clients
Korn Ferry Compass works with all kinds of clients—public and private, large and small, PE- or VC-backed, or entrepreneurs. Many are looking for the right professional to fill a role at their organization.
Salary and benefits
During your time in the Korn Ferry Compass program, you will be a salaried (versus hourly) employee. You’ll receive benefits—and the stability—you’re used to getting. And as your program experiences add up, you’ll see your market value grow, too.
Working hours
Work hours may fluctuate depending on the outcome our client is trying to achieve. We try to pre-identify projects involving overtime and let you know about it during the interview process, so you can make the best decision for your life. Average work weeks range between 40-45 hours.
Korn Ferry Compass participants
Here is what some of our professionals had to say about the Korn Ferry Compass program.
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Emmy Kaluzny
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London DeBenedetto
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Gulaid Warsame
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Luis Leon
Our experts
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