Matt Stoltzfus is a senior consultant in Protiviti's Dallas, TX office focusing on finance process optimization. We asked him the following questions to get an idea of what his day to day responsibilities are as a risk management professional. Below you will find his responses and advice if you are thinking about entering into this profession.
1. What was your college and your major?
Southern Methodist University - MBA
University of Texas at Dallas - BS in Business and BA in Psychology
2. What courses did you find the most helpful to prepare you for your current position? What advice do you have for students about choosing a major and choosing courses?
You simply can’t go wrong choosing a major in business. I found my accounting classes to be the most useful. Although accounting is not exactly thrilling, keep struggling through it because this knowledge will pay off more than you know. If your school offers a course that teaches hands-on computer skills such as MS Office, take it! Also, there is a significant interpersonal element to this profession. You will learn many of these essential skills outside the classroom, so get involved in extra-curricular activities.
3. What are your primary work activities on a day to day basis?
I work on projects of varying lengths at varying sites for different clients. My daily activities may include helping with sales proposals, researching specific clients and industries, gathering and analyzing data, developing recommendations and at times implementing those recommendations; but the constant across all of my daily activities is teamwork.
4. What industries have you worked in?
Retail, Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Financial Services
5. What do you enjoy most about your profession?
For me this profession is where my ambition, curiosity, business acumen and altruism converge. The boundaries of this job are limitless, with each project carrying with it new challenges and new ways of thinking about business. I also find it energizing to work with a team of intelligent like-minded consultants that encourage me to new levels. But perhaps most of all, I love meeting new people, learning about some of their most urgent problems and helping them find a solution.
There are of course times where my daily tasks are not the most thrilling, but it is always bearable because I know I will soon be on to something new!
6. What advice would you give to students interested in the internal audit/risk consulting business? Anything you would do different or change? Any success strategies to share?
Remember to stay well-rounded because it takes more than just academic smarts to succeed in this career. I wish I had focused more on networking while in school. In addition to considering whether you would like the job now, also consider whether this is a good long-term career for you. Keep in mind that there is a big difference between the job as an entry-level consultant and the job six to eight years later when you will be managing projects and maintaining client relations. That said, there is no better environment to quickly reach your potential. You will become a leader and discover new dimensions of yourself both personally and professionally.