Vault’s Verdict

Aprio is ideally looking for proactive, motivated self-starters who learn quickly and have strong communication skills. For students, the firm runs a valuable internship program. Interns get hands-on experience, excellent training, a look at what full-time positions are like, and opportunities to meet various professionals at all levels of the firm. For its full-time staff, Aprio offers a variety of career growth opportunities, including exposure to solid mentoring and training and senior staff who are always willing to help and answer questions.

While work/life balance can be achieved part of the year, the workload can be very intense during the busy seasons, making work/life balance harder to achieve. Time off (outside the busy season) is generous, and staff especially appreciate the ability to work remotely, which is likely why a new three-day in-office requirement has not been received all that well. Meanwhile, salaries, benefits, and perks are all said to be above average. Aprio also offers extensive wellness offerings, including counseling services, exercise programs, meditation sessions, and nutrition education.

Aprio has an inclusive culture, and its staff is very diverse, with many employee resource groups that people can join. Philanthropy, volunteering, and community service are also strong suits at Aprio. As for the firm’s business outlook, Aprio is growing rapidly, resulting in many development opportunities for staff. However, this growth has also resulted in constant procedural changes, at times disrupting employees’ work. In addition, many insiders are uncertain about how the firm’s culture might change, given the recent private equity investment in Aprio. Most insiders hope that, despite the rapid growth and PE investment, Aprio will maintain its small-firm feel.

EMPLOYEE REVIEWS

Hiring Process

“Our interview and callback process is thorough and designed to identify the best fit for our team. It typically involves multiple rounds, including initial screenings, technical assessments, and behavioral interviews. We value candidates who demonstrate strong technical skills, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to our core values of integrity, innovation, and client service. The ideal candidate is proactive, adaptable, and eager to contribute to our dynamic and supportive work environment.”

“Interview and callback process is excellent. Super speedy process, and all my interviews were more like conversations to get to know each other. Interviews focus on fit and what both the firm and I were passionate about in regard to client service and work methods. I really felt like it was a genuine conversation about what was important to me, what my thoughts were on the work we, and the firm expressing what they valued. It made me excited about the firm as a whole and the work we do. Some firms are just looking for a body to fill the slot; Aprio is much different. Aprio is more entrepreneurial, forward-thinking, and embracing of change than a traditional firm.”

“I think the firm is seeking individuals who are motivated and self-starters. There is a lot of on-the-job training, but I think we look for individuals who learn quickly and are able to work well independently without needing to be micromanaged. I also think it is important in audit and assurance to be able to speak with clients and feel comfortable doing so.”

“The interview and callback processes are smooth and fairly quick. It’s good to see that the hiring managers don't leave individuals hanging for months but instead work to get turnaround on status of hires quickly. The ideal candidate firm seeks is someone who is excited and willing to learn about accounting as a whole.”

Interview Questions

“Tell us about yourself. Why did you choose an accounting career? What are greatest strengths and weaknesses?”

“What was a hard situation you’ve been through at a job/internship/school project and how did you handle it? How do you handle competing priorities when working with multiple clients/projects at the same time?”

“1) What skills have you acquired while at school/internships/jobs that you feel will help you in the field of public accounting? 2) Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult personality. It could be someone you work with, a customer or students you were in a group project with. How did you maintain a positive relationship? 3) Tell me about a time when you had to work closely with others. 4) Can you give an example of a time when you made a mistake and what you did to fix the situation? 5) Tell me about a time when you identified a process that could be improved.”

“What are you looking for in a company? Where do you see yourself in five years? What are your career goals and how could we help you get there?”

Internship Experience

“The internship was extremely helpful. I learned about the day-to-day work life in addition to technical areas. It provided me with a real experience of what first-year staff work is like—I was included in client meetings, project review meetings, etc.”

“Great training program with lots of hands-on work experience, and the staff/managers are available for help. Ther only thing is I wish there were more in-person interaction with people in our department.”

“Consistent learning about tax principles through trainings, work, and building camaraderie with fellow staff. Since the internship was during the summer, the amount of work experience was inconsistent. Some weeks were busy, while some were slow.”

“The best aspect of my internship was meeting many of the people that I would eventually work with and become close with, as well as getting an introduction into the day in the life of an auditor, which allowed me to determine whether or not I wanted to make it a career. The only bad thing about the internship (which could also be considered a good thing) was that I wasn't introduced to the longer hours that busy season requires, as interns were only expected to work 40 hours (billable) per week during my busy season internship.”

“I got the true full-time experience and was able to see audits start to finish. Everybody was so welcoming and willing to help in every aspect needed. I really enjoyed my internship. It gave me great opportunities.”

Career Development

“Thanks to our amazing growth and focus on continuous improvement, there’s no shortage of opportunities for talented, smart, hardworking people to achieve their career goals.”

“Aprio has an extremely wide range of opportunities, allowing employees the potential to find what they’re passionate about and choose a career that suits them. There are still tendencies toward the mindset of the more hours you work, the more valuable you are, but Aprio does allow flexibility along the way and there are many avenues to be a well-rounded employee. Chargeable hours are unfortunately still the main driver behind promotions.”

“I appreciate how staff are welcoming and helpful in answering questions and how seniors are willing to give more advanced work in order to push for skill and knowledge development.”

“Aprio provides many opportunities to develop your career. Mentoring is a big part of Aprio, and you’re encouraged to speak with managers and partners in order to help you with your career path. The company is continuously growing and evolving so opportunities to move up are constant.”

Quality of Life

“I value the supportive work environment and the emphasis on work/life balance, which significantly enhance my overall quality of life. The firm offers flexible working hours and remote work options, allowing me to manage my professional and personal responsibilities effectively. However, there are areas that could be improved. At times, the workload can be intense, especially during peak seasons, which can impact work/life balance. Despite this, the overall commitment to employee well-being at Aprio is commendable.”

“DTO and firm holidays are very generous, and the partner I work with is so supportive of us taking the time we need. The culture is very family-oriented. Timing of getting in hours is very flexible, so long as there is good communication amongst the team and the work is getting done. There are many avenues for personal and professional growth. Leadership is still somewhat stuck in the public accounting mindset of having to work long hours to move up. Flexible schedules and hours are allowed but not necessarily encouraged from the top, and since the private equity firm has come in there have been changes with hybrid work allowances and time tracking policies that are a bit concerning.”

“Moving to a required three days a week in-office feels like a step in the wrong direction for work/life balance, considering that work can be done from anywhere and not having a commute helps increase the amount of hours that we are able to work while still having time for family. While the firm has unlimited leave, it feels as if regardless of being approved for vacation, you are not able to actually go on vacation without needing to do some form of work while being out. The firm is flexible with working times, which is very helpful when needing to schedule appointments, take care of sick kids, attend events, etc.”

“The best part is there is minimal micromanaging as long as you are performing well and getting your work done. The worst is that the seasonality is extreme. During the off seasons, there is not much to do; in the middle of busy season, you might go two months without having time to do anything but work.”

Salary and Benefits

“Salaries are competitive and generous, and the bonus structure is fair and moderately generous, though mostly based on chargeable hours. There is profit sharing, but disappointingly no 401(k) match. Health and wellness and other fringe benefits are great. The best medical insurance available is a high-deductible health plan, which has its pros and cons, but submitting claims through them has proven time-consuming due to the set-up of the carrier.”

“I appreciate the competitive salary and the comprehensive benefits package, which includes health insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. The additional perks, such as wellness programs and professional development opportunities, further enhance the overall compensation package. However, there are areas for improvement. Sometimes, the bonus structure can feel a bit unclear, and there could be more variety in the perks offered. Despite these minor issues, the overall salary, benefits, and perks at Aprio are quite satisfactory and contribute positively to my job satisfaction.”

“Salary, benefits, and perks all above average in my opinion. I would like a couple more options for insurance providers, but overall, there are a range of plans to pick from that best suit your needs. The company provides free lunch three times a week during busy season to help employees working late. Compensation is fair, with annual raises and bonuses based on performance.”

“Depending on how many hours a week some people may work, I wonder if the salaries are reflective of more than 40-hour workweeks. Which can make salaries seem low at times. However, Aprio is very generous with benefits and overall life incentives. I like the reward system where we can recognize peers, we’re able to expense coffees and lunches for our team, and I have really good insurance.”

Wellness Efforts

“The firm is very supportive of wellness efforts and offers numerous fun and practical programs. Cooleaf wellness challenges, DeskYogi, HingeHealth, Personify Health, Class Pass, etc.”

“We prioritize wellness with initiatives like counseling services, exercise programs, meditation sessions, and nutrition education. Leadership actively supports these efforts, integrating wellness into our company culture to promote a healthy work/life balance.”

“There are many ways my firm promotes wellness. There are many plans, like Personify Health, which encourage healthy behavior. My team in particular runs a wellness challenge during busy season to ensure people are making time for hobbies, exercising, and creating relationships among team members.”

“They offer the usual: exercise, health, wellness, counseling. The biggest thing they do, which is awesome, is if you have a physical done each year the firm places $750 in your HSA account. That is wonderful!”

Community Engagement

“ERGs are available for identifying employees and allies to join and have community and informative and training meetings for various different groups. The Aprio Foundation is the firm's charitable wing, which gives out tens of thousands of dollars annually to nominated charities around our communities. They encourage employees to volunteer and find many opportunities to do so together. Women could be better served through more flexible work schedules (decreased hours) for those with different priorities outside of work, but the women’s ERG will hopefully help to that end.”

“They promote ERGs to celebrate women and LGBTQ+ people in the organization. I am part of both and love it. There are also resource groups for Asian, Hispanic, and Black celebration in the workplace.”

‘The firm is fairly diverse. I have worked with people born in other countries such as Sri Lanka and Hong Kong and am sure there are many more that I haven't yet worked with. I have also worked with a veteran, and we do have at least one disabled individual at the firm that I have seen virtually. There are many women in leadership roles, which is wonderful. Aprio does have a foundation to support nonprofits, and during the wildfires in California, Aprio donated to the Red Cross.”

“Aprio does an amazing job with philanthropy. We have a YourCause page which lists volunteer opportunities in the community that you can do individually at any time (I try to do one a month). In addition, we have firm impact weeks where the entire firm has volunteer activities all over the country—you have lots of options to choose from to fit your schedule and can volunteer with other Aprio employees. We have a well-respected foundation that is known in the NFP community and provides grants to nonprofits every year; employees can contribute to the fund as well, if they like. You also are supported in your volunteer efforts personally and able to take time away from the office to volunteer at any time and that away time is automatically approved. Your volunteering is recognized as a component of your annual review; we report it in your review and your volunteer hours can be entered and tracked in YourCause. Diversity is also wonderful at Aprio. There are so many people of different cultures and backgrounds, and we have initiatives that educate and celebrate differences and interactive initiatives. For example, for Pride Month you could join a challenge to list an inspiring LGBTQ+ person in your life (in the past or currently). I thought this was just awesome! There are also mentoring and development programs, and I know the firm just had Excel, which was for women leaders.”

Business Outlook

“We are growing constantly, through acquisitions and mergers, as well as organically by expanding our offerings and client base. The downside of this is finding a balance between change and growth that allows us to work without constant disruptions.”

“Very exciting growth and hoping the July 2024 private equity buy-in will continue to fuel a lot of growth and technology opportunities going forward. Management has expressed ab intent to expand. With the feverish growth, there have been some issues getting files and software from incoming mergers and acquisitions online.”

“Things do feel like they’ve changed a good bit since the private equity investors came in. I used to be very confident in the firm’s outlook, but with a return-to-work policy, subsequent 2 precent layoff for reconfiguring teams, and change in timekeeping policy, it feels like the stability is less certain. There are many mergers still happening regularly, which is beneficial and exciting, but it seems that they may come at a cost. The small firm feel is still there somewhat, but it seems to be getting lesser in this transition and has impacted employee morale.”

“I was acquired via a merger and since then, Aprio has continued to acquire more smaller firms. The vision for growth is being made a reality. It is nice to have that small office feel while having the resources of a larger firm. I can't wait to see where we are 5 years from now.”

UPPERS
“Great, collaborative, team-oriented culture and smart, talented, helpful people”
“Work/life balance and remote/hybrid work flexibility”
“Many career growth and advancement opportunities”

DOWNERS
“Intense workloads during peak seasons”
“Constantly changing procedures and best practices”
“Uncertainty surrounding private equity buyout”