Accounting Newsletter Issue - May 14, 2013

Stephen & Neil Gerard: Involved Rider Alumni

Recently, Iram Khan ’12, MAcc ’13 had an opportunity to speak with brothers Stephen Gerard ’84, president of KnowledgePoint360, and Neil Gerard ’89, partner at CohnReznick LLP, about their experience as Accounting students at Rider.

How did you choose Rider as the university you wanted to attend?

(Left to Right) Neil and Stephen Gerard

Stephen: I wanted a school that was big enough where I would not see the “same” people every day, but small enough where I would matter.

Neil: Rider has a great reputation for being one of the best Accounting and Business schools on the East Coast. I also had a lot of friends whose parents or siblings attended Rider and were doing very well in their professional careers. 

What skills are necessary to succeed in the business world other than technical skills?

Stephen: You have to be resilient on a day-to-day basis and deal with challenges as they come at you. Business moves so fast nowadays that you have to have an internal engine that can handle it. You also have to innovate – whether it is innovation at the company level, or simple innovations in your day-to-day work, change it, make it better.

Neil: Honesty, work ethic and empathy. I learned early that you have to be honest with the people you work with as well as your clients.  People can tell when you are not being truthful, and that will never help to build relationships.  All of the leaders that I have enjoyed working with had a strong work ethic, but they were human and always connected with their peers by understanding both their work and personal issues. 

What are your thoughts about the internship/co-op program at Rider?

Stephen: Internship and co-op programs are the most important aspect of preparing you to get a job – period. You learn more, you learn how to talk about business, and you begin to understand the rhythm and requirements of the business world. I’ll choose a candidate with two or three meaningful internships over a 4.0 GPA student almost every time.

Neil: Rider’s Office of Career Services helped me get a job my senior year as an internal auditor at an insurance company in Princeton. The internship was on point with not only what I was being taught at Rider, but it also gave me confidence that I can succeed as a professional.

Is there any advice you would give to students about college, education, or the workplace in general?

Stephen: Get some real-world experience by working during the summers, and study abroad for 5 months for a semester, or more. Expand your horizons by working and travelling. I would add to care deeply about your job. It is not just a “job” – it is your workplace identity – and that matters.

Neil: Try to maintain the relationships you’ve developed with students, faculty and administration. These will help as you move forward in your career. It’s a small world, and you will run into former friends and faculty.

What are some of your fondest memories of Rider?

Stephen: The absolute labyrinthine journey of succeeding in my accounting and tax courses!

Neil: Education, fraternity and community. I feel that I have never really left Rider; I try to come back to the campus every semester.