Vault’s Verdict

HBK is ideally looking for candidates who are highly motivated to grow and succeed, intellectually curious, collaborative, and eager to learn. Strong technical and communication skills are also important. For students, HBK runs a valuable internship program, offering interns hands-on experience, exposure to real client work, and access to senior leadership. Full-time insiders say the firm has a very flexible, people-first, inclusive culture where autonomy and trust are central. PTO is generous, remote work opportunities are plentiful, and benefits are generous (and include solid health coverage and a competitive 401(k) match).

Although hours can be intense during the busy tax season, HBK offers free dinners and an upbeat atmosphere that offsets some of the difficulties and stress. Also, outside of peak periods, workloads are more sustainable, and leadership emphasizes recovery and work-life balance.

Career development is a strength at the firm. Young professionals are given meaningful responsibility early, promotion tracks are fast and transparent, and formal mentorship is strong—insiders have access to senior leaders who are invested in the developing of juniors. Meanwhile, HBK’s compensation is fair and competitive. 

As for the firm’s business outlook, HBJK is growing strategically, investing in advisory services and technology. Though this expansion brings the occasional growing pains, most insiders agree that HBK has a strong leadership team in place and its outlook is very bright. 

EMPLOYEE REVIEWS

Quality of Life

• “Best aspects are the freedom and flexibility, unlimited PTO for those that need it, remote working opportunities, IT systems that allow us to work from anywhere as if we are sitting in the office, support from others, and key relationships that are built. Many of my clients are also very good friends, so at times it doesn’t even seem like work to me, especially when we can get out of the office to have some fun and discuss work-related issues while we are there. During the three months from January 15 to April 15th (aka tax season), the hours we have to work are a little absurd, but it is what it is and what comes along with this profession. The good news is that it’s only a couple of months and it’s usually dark and cold anyway. It’s like running a marathon and it always feels great to cross that finish line. The rest of the year feels like a breeze in comparison.”
• “Extremely flexible PTO policy, which allows for guilt-free requests for time off to spend time with family. Very generous paternity leave so we are able to spend one of life’s most precious moments with our family and ample time to enjoy it and adjust to new life. They keep the office fun and upbeat during the busy season so the long hours don’t feel more draining than they need to be. They offer meals and reimbursed dinners during busy season so that we don’t need to spend time worrying about making dinner after a long day of work, and now we can spend more time with our families.”
• “Leadership truly cares about work-life balance, and we have some very successful leaders who have been able to achieve the leadership level because of the respect that the firm has for personal time and personal situations. We can do more to get more women and diverse practitioners as leaders in the firm. We have made great strides with our new CEO and COO, but there is always more that can be done to help support women and create a welcoming culture in each office.”
• “HBK offers a strong overall quality of life compared to many public accounting firms. The culture is flexible and people-focused, with leadership that recognizes the importance of balancing client service with personal commitments. There is meaningful autonomy in managing your schedule, supportive teams, and an emphasis on sustainability rather than burnout. The firm also encourages growth without requiring a ‘face time’ mentality, which makes it easier to build a long-term career. Like all public accounting firms, there are periods—particularly during busy season—when workloads increase and hours can be demanding. While this is expected in the profession, it can still be challenging at times. That said, the firm is increasingly intentional about recovery time, flexibility, and workload management outside of peak periods.”

Compensation

• “Best aspects include: 401(k) offers Vanguard funds; health insurance is not too restrictive; Holmdel office is located in the Bell Works building, which provides access to restaurants, gyms, daycare, shopping; lots of free meals during busy season and throughout the year; and FSA and HSA options. Worst aspects: salaries are not top-of-market; health insurance is getting expensive; bonuses can swing greatly up or down from year to year; new client referral commissions need to be more generous.”
• “The firm strives to provide market-based fair compensation to all. The firm’s benefits are fantastic, with the firm paying a very generous portion of health insurance and a very generous 401(k) match that is better than other firms our size.”
• “Paid very well. Receive annual bonuses. Good benefits, with portion of health insurance being paid and some match on retirement. Best perk is the paid time off.”
• “HBK’s salary, benefits, and perks are competitive within the public accounting market and have improved consistently over time. Compensation is tied to performance and opportunity for advancement, and there is transparency around growth as responsibilities increase. The benefits package is solid, with strong health coverage, retirement options, and flexibility that adds real value beyond base pay. Perks such as flexible work arrangements and a supportive culture meaningfully enhance overall compensation. As with many professional services firms, compensation may not always match peak-market offers from the largest firms at every career stage. However, this is balanced by the quality of life, access to leadership, and long-term growth opportunities, which make the overall value proposition very strong.”

Career Development

• “Young people have tremendous opportunity in our firm to take on responsibility and learn and develop through collaboration with others. Those that can and want to lead are given the opportunity to do so at a very early stage in their careers. We promote people way quicker than other firms and give them opportunities to lead, which really makes a difference in our ability to retain the young talent that we want to keep.”
• “HBK is extremely transparent with their expectations of us and what is needed to advance professionally at the firm. They truly care about our professional development and offer plenty of opportunities for us to continuing learning and encourage us to become more competent in our professional lives.”
• “HBK offers strong long-term career development opportunities for those who are motivated and willing to take ownership of their growth. The firm provides early exposure to clients, access to leadership, and increasing responsibility over time, which allowed me to progress from intern to partner. Career paths are not rigid, and there is flexibility to grow based on strengths, interests, and performance rather than simply tenure. Mentorship and leadership support played a meaningful role in helping me develop both technically and professionally at each stage of my career. Because the firm emphasizes autonomy and self-driven growth, career development is not always ‘one-size-fits-all.’ Individuals who prefer a highly structured or prescriptive path may need to be proactive in seeking feedback, mentorship, and opportunities. That said, the resources and support are there for those who take initiative.”
• “We have senior professionals that truly care and are engaged in helping younger professionals be successful in their careers, giving guidance and advice that our young professionals can use to make meaningful decisions about their futures. While our mentorship and coaching is formalized, assigning everyone a mentor and coach to help guide them, we struggle in providing consistent training and messaging to our mentors and coaches to ensure that messages about career opportunities and development are consistent across the firm. This is an area we are working on.”

Inclusion Efforts

• “I’ve experienced/observed no situations where inclusion was an issue. The firm has actively engaged in ensuring all team members feel included. DEI training has been provided firmwide. Firm culture is that a team member’s performance is what matters when considering hiring/firing, promotions, raises, bonuses, etc.”
• “Our efforts are largely driven by local office culture, with consistent firm messaging. This firm messaging has become much more inclusive with our new CEO and COO, but we still have pockets of individuals and offices that struggle to be fully inclusive. This is largely driven by political divides, locations of offices, and religious views. Regardless of some of these struggles, all professionals across the firm are treated with respect and provided with the same opportunities and access to work. Our introduction of ‘pools’ on the tax side to schedule out work has helped with this access.”
• “I think they are as inclusive as they could be considering that the profession overall is not well represented by differing groups. I feel all professionals within the firm have equal access to work and promotion opportunities.”
• “The firm works on providing the best team members without regard to gender, race and ethnicity, LGBTQ, disability, military veterans, or underserved individuals. There are many team members that fall into this inclusion group.”

Business Outlook

• “HBK continues to grow and continues to stay up-to-date with technology and other aspects of business. Always looking for the right new clients.”
• “HBK’s business outlook is very strong. The firm continues to invest in growth areas such as advisory services, industry specialization, and technology, which positions it well in an increasingly competitive public accounting market. Leadership is strategic and forward-thinking, with a clear focus on sustainable growth rather than short-term wins. Employee morale is supported by transparency around the firm’s direction, access to leadership, and a culture that encourages long-term careers. HBK’s ability to attract and retain talent, while maintaining strong client relationships, is a key competitive advantage. Like many growing firms, rapid expansion and increased demand can create pressure on resources and teams if not carefully managed. The accounting profession as a whole also continues to face talent shortages, which can impact workloads during peak periods. However, HBK appears aware of these challenges and is actively addressing them through process improvements, technology investments, and thoughtful workforce planning.”
• “We have a strategy and we communicate it on a regular basis, tying our strategy to our daily efforts, celebrating achievements, and bringing everything back to our values as a firm. We are still working to build the technical specialists to help support many opportunities we are provided.”
• “Our leadership has adopted a meaningful strategic plan, restructuring the firm to grow and expand. The most difficult aspect of our business is continuing to find good professionals, an issue all firms are facing.”

Intern Experience

• “The best part of my internship at HBK was the exposure to real client work and the accessibility of senior leadership. I was treated like a member of the team rather than ‘just an intern,’ given meaningful responsibilities, and encouraged to ask questions. The culture is collaborative and supportive, and people genuinely take the time to teach and explain—not just delegate. I also appreciated the firm’s emphasis on flexibility and professional development, which made the experience both challenging and rewarding. Like most public accounting internships, the learning curve was steep, and at times it could feel overwhelming balancing deadlines while still learning the systems and processes. There were moments when things moved quickly, especially during busy periods, but the team was always willing to help and provide guidance when needed.”
• “I got to meet new people within the office and throughout the firm and form meaningful connections with them.”
• “I had a true hands-on experience that could not be matched by collegiate classes. I learned so much and it truly helped me to decide that I wanted to work in public accounting.”
• “It was a great experience. Way different than anything my friends experienced. To me, it was invaluable in determining that I wanted to work full-time in this role.”

Hiring Process

• “I believe our recruiting and interview process is great. Finding the ideal candidate is hard. We are seeking individuals that are highly motivated to succeed, have strong technical skills, and who fit with our culture.”
• “HBK’s interview and callback process is well organized, transparent, and relationship-focused. Candidates have the opportunity to meet professionals at multiple levels, which provides a realistic view of the firm’s culture, expectations, and career opportunities. Communication throughout the process is clear, timely, and respectful, and interviews feel conversational rather than transactional. The process is designed to assess both technical aptitude and cultural fit. The ideal candidate HBK seeks is someone who is intellectually curious, collaborative, and motivated to grow. The firm values individuals who take ownership of their work, communicate well, and are eager to learn, rather than those who simply ‘check boxes.’ Long-term potential, integrity, and a client-service mindset are as important as technical skills, making the firm a strong fit for candidates looking to build a sustainable career in public accounting.”
• “We appear to have made a lot of progress in this area recently. Now we have an A team that seems focused, intentional, and coordinated in their pursuit of resourceful team members who have the right mix of technical skills and social skills that will allow them to become the future leaders of an organization.”
• “We have a team that is involved in recruiting and interviewing, if promising, the interview will be done by the team needing the team member. The ideal candidate is ambitious, wants to grow their knowledge, and is willing to embrace change and succeed. In addition, the candidate should be a team player and have good communication skills or is willing to develop those skills over time.”

Interview Questions

• “What are your strengths and knowledge? Where do you see yourself in five years? Why did you choose to interview with us?”
• “We start interviews by giving introductions and then asking the candidate to introduce themselves. We then ask them to tell us a little about them. The conversation flows naturally from there, with questions generally building on information provided and aimed at understanding who the person is, what their level of skill is, and whether they would fit the team they are being interviewed to join.”
• “HBK’s interview questions tend to be conversational and behavior-based rather than formal case studies. Typical questions focus on understanding a candidate’s experience, problem-solving approach, and cultural fit. Examples include: Walk me through your background and what led you to pursue public accounting. Tell me about a time you had to manage competing deadlines. How did you prioritize? Describe a challenging situation with a client or team member and how you handled it. How do you respond to feedback, especially when it’s constructive or critical? What type of work environment helps you perform at your best? Why HBK, and what are you looking for in your next role? For more experienced candidates, questions may also include scenario-based discussions such as how to approach a complex client issue, how to communicate technical information to a non-technical audience, or how to manage and develop junior team members. Overall, the process emphasizes real-world thinking, communication skills, and alignment with the firm’s values rather than textbook case question.”
• “We ask about critical thinking skills and people/team skills.”

UPPERS

• “The people are great, and the atmosphere in the office is always positive and collaborative”
• “They offer flexible work arrangements.”
• “The variety of clients and early exposure to clients.”

DOWNERS

• “Long hours and pressure in busy season.”
• “Growing pains: as we get larger, there is some bureaucracy creeping in.”
• “Guidance/mentoring for career growth could be better.”