As Partner – Campus Recruitment and Strategy, Geneviève Dubé-Marcil has a clear mission: find and recruit the best student talent for our Firm. But her role also involves accompanying students throughout the process. She tells us more about it.

Can you describe the role of the campus recruitment team?

Basically, our job is to attract, assess and recruit the best talent from universities and colleges for our Firm.

My team and I organize recruiting events, including campus visits, and give students presentations in various settings. For example, we participate in job fairs, the Jeux du Commerce and the Financial Open.

We collaborate with professors, internship services and student associations to find the most qualified candidates and promote all the benefits of working in a firm like ours. This aspect of our work is very important.

As well, to help candidates make connections, throughout the year, we organize recruiting activities like our famous spring garden party in Sherbrooke, mixology workshops, team games and happy hours.

How do you and your team make sure that the candidates’ journey goes smoothly?

Campus recruiters know the importance of providing a quality candidate experience. We strive to communicate clearly and transparently with candidates throughout the recruiting process. We try to find each candidate not only the right job, but also the right team.

As well, we work hard to guide applicants throughout the recruiting process. The process can be daunting for young students, so we really do try to support them well. This can include providing them with interview preparation advice, selection process information and informal meetings to familiarize them with our Firm’s brand and products.

What skills and qualities are you looking for in candidates?

A love of teamwork, good communication skills, initiative and autonomy—these are all valuable assets. We also look for people who want to learn and grow with us throughout their career.

What challenges do campus recruiters face?

The pandemic was certainly a challenge, sometimes preventing in-person meetings and forcing campus recruiters to adapt to virtual events.

What’s more, in talent, there is vast need and vast supply. One of the ways we set ourselves apart from the competition is through our strong employer brand. Even though we have a solid reputation, we are always developing more programs to make internships and life at our Firm stimulating and enjoyable.

We also collaborate with ambassadors, who are interns at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton. They come to speak about their positive experience and are motivated to help new talent integrate.

In your opinion, what makes a good interview?

A good interview is when there is a discussion, a real exchange, and both the candidate and the Firm’s representatives have had the opportunity to ask all their questions, express their needs and concerns, and get to know each other.

How can internships help contribute to your career as a CPA? We discuss this with Anaïs Eudes, Consultant – University Recruitment, at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.

How will completing an internship benefit you on your accounting journey?

Internships offer trainees practical experience in their field of study. It gives them the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a real work context and develop essential professional skills. When you do an internship with us, you feel better equipped afterwards in the classroom and have a better understanding of the concepts seen in class.

Internships also allow you to discover the different facets of the accounting profession and give you a clearer idea of what your future work will entail. When your internship begins, you will be asked to carry out various assignments. Since Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton has many clients, you will be involved in all kinds of fields and face a wide variety of situations.

Doing an internship also gives you the chance to start building your network right away. In our firm, this network extends to more than 100 offices offering many different services. This will be useful throughout your career.

What other skills can you acquire through an internship?

For us, work should be a source of pleasure and motivation. Right off the bat, you will be an integral part of the team and you can get involved in the social committee and participate in all of our events. We believe that the social ties created at work are essential to feeling good in your professional environment. Internships are a way to develop life skills that will serve you throughout your professional and personal life.

Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton is a human-scale firm with a warm and friendly working atmosphere. Interns, and all staff, are strongly encouraged to express themselves freely and share their ideas to help the firm grow. You will learn to put forth your projects and discuss them in a respectful manner. Another winning asset!

What are the advantages of doing your internship at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton?

The quality of coaching is one of the first factors to consider. As of your first day with us, you will receive training to familiarize yourself with the firm’s procedures. You will also have access to online training about various topics, some of which will help you prepare for the CPA Common Final Examination.

We listen to our juniors and maintain a close relationship with management. We know that transparent and open communication is essential to maintaining a healthy and productive work environment. It’s part of our business culture.

On your first day, colleagues will be there to welcome you. A large firm can be intimidating, so the door is wide open to make you feel at home from the get-go. Mentors share their expertise, experiences and valuable advice to help you develop in your future profession. You will quickly acquire a great deal of autonomy and a sense of resourcefulness that will also serve you in your studies. All this while feeling supported at every stage of your development.

When entrepreneurs are prepared to make a pivotal decision, such as the sale or acquisition of a business or a shareholder buy out, they require appropriate expert guidance.

This is where Simon Marcotte Légaré, Senior Director, M&A and Corporate Financing Advisor, comes in.

How could we summarize your specialization?

The work of an M&A and corporate financing advisor consists in guiding entrepreneurs when they’re planning on selling their business, decide to acquire another business or require capital to finance major projects, such as a shareholder buy out or significant capital expenditures in connection with expansions. The businesses we work with are from various industries and typically generate revenues of more than $30 million.

Can you tell us about a typical day?

Our work is very diversified. I couldn’t really tell you about a typical day, but in a typical week, there could be several tasks such as:

• Numerous work sessions with colleagues and our clients to gather information about the business and its financial situation;
• Preparing financial models and drafting marketing documents used to pitch potential clients or approach targeted buyers or financial partners;
• Meetings with these potential clients or partners (buyers, investors, banks, etc.);
• Reviewing and negotiating legal documents such as the letters of intent, share purchase agreements or credit agreements;
• Participating in various business development meetings and activities.

Transaction processes usually last about three to four months for a financing mandate and nine to twelve months for the sale of a business.

Is the demand for this profession on the rise?

Yes, it is on the rise. The economic context of recent years has been favourable: private equity funds raising of billions of dollars to invest in private companies, great availability of funds on favourable terms with banks and high stock market valuations.

Furthermore, many entrepreneurs are reaching retirement age and want to sell their businesses.

The economic headwinds we are facing will enhance our involvement in accompanying entrepreneurs to ensure a successful transaction.

What do you most like about your work? What are some challenges?

I chose this profession because I’m passionate about this field. We touch on advanced finance concepts as well as corporate strategy. It requires the comprehension and application of advanced finance concepts as well as corporate strategy.

It’s also very rewarding to guide entrepreneurs through these crucial moments of their professional life, like buying a growing business, a shareholder buy out or selling a family business upon retirement.

As for challenges, I would have to say that each transaction has its challenges. We need to prevent more difficult situations and find creative solutions when they occur. These challenges can vary from financial performance during the transaction process, a communication issue between the client and potential financial partners, risk elements identified during the due diligence review, legal issues when negotiating the transaction’s terms and conditions, macro-economic conditions etc. We must be prepared for several contingencies and be solution oriented.

Do you work with other experts?

In our profession, we essentially play the role of quarterback of the transactional process. We have to ensure that everything runs smoothly at every stage, that instructions and objectives are properly communicated between all parties and that the interventions of the several professionals involved are well managed. This includes the client’s audit team, each party’s tax specialists and legal advisors as well as the due diligence teams.

What skills are needed to carry out this specialization?

Essentially, it requires knowledge of corporate finance and accounting, as well as an understanding of the business world and corporate strategy. The studies that lead to this profession are generally a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or business administration.

Afterwards, there are several specializations to choose from: chartered financial analyst (CFA), chartered accountant (CA), business valuator (CBV) or an MBA. Obviously, these specializations can be useful, but they are not a prerequisite for becoming a successful M&A Advisor. Strong communication and negotiating skills are also very helpful working in this field.

Do you have advice for people who would like to be an M&A Advisor like yourself?

The technical aspect is important in this profession, but we must not forget the human side, which is essential for building relationships of trust with our clients and with the various parties involved in a transaction. In ordre to succeed, you must be passionate, persevering, a good listener, a team player, a problem solver, and have the ability to learn quickly and the desire to make a difference.

Can you describe the working atmosphere at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton?

The values I just mentioned are also important for the firm and our team. Support and mutual help are an important part of our success. The well-being and development of our employees is paramount. We enjoy an environment where newcomers can quickly advance in their careers. Teamwork is based on collaboration. And we put all our knowledge and expertise at the service of our clients.