Alumni Spotlight

This week we are continuing a relatively new program for the paper called "Almuni Spotlight." We want to inform current students and faculty of what the alumni are doing in their post-college lives by providing an interview with answers to the questions you all are dying to read!

Abby VanHouten

Class of 2005

Major: Mathematics

1) What is your job? Describe what you do on a daily basis.  

I am a manager in the Deloitte Tax LLP New York transfer pricing group.  My job function relates generally to international corporate tax compliance and planning.  My day to day responsibilities vary depending upon the particular project I am working on that day, but include generally:

 Meeting with clients to evaluate the facts and circumstances of their businesses

 Corresponding with clients and colleagues (via phone, e-mail, etc.) in order to discuss the status of projects, next steps, etc.

Economic modeling (largely excel-based) to evaluate our clients' intercompany pricing strategies (e.g., related to intercompany, cross-border charges for the sale of goods, provision of services, etc.)

Writing and reviewing reports and memoranda describing the facts of our clients and their industries, the results of our economic analysis and the relevant tax law

Assisting clients in responding to IRS inquiries in the event of a transfer pricing audit

2) What is your commute like? 

I recently moved to White Plains, NY, so commute an hour and 20 minutes (via the metro north railroad and a transfer to the subway) down to the World Financial Center in downtown Manhattan (which is directly next to the World Trade Center site).

3) What has the transition been like from being a student to working full time?

The transition is both a difficult and fulfilling one.  An aspect of starting a new job that I was not appreciative of before I started at Deloitte (as my only comparison was starting a new semester of classes!) is that you are necessarily thrown in with a bunch of folks who are already several years (if not decades) into their careers.  As such, there is a significant disparity in your ability as a new hire and that of all the experienced people with whom you start working.  While most workplaces will identify for you an advisor to assist you with the onboarding process, I found this "I know nothing" feeling a bit frustrating and overwhelming during the first couple of months.  Once I overcame this initial discomfort, having gained an understanding that it is actually expected that it will take new hires several months to get up to speed with the rest of the group, I was able to step back and appreciate that, for the first time in my life, I was fully independent and could start giving back to all those who had provided their unconditional support in preparing me to get that first job.

4) Do you plan on going back to school to get an advance degree? If yes, in what? 

In fact, I went on for my advanced degree directly after graduating from Muhlenberg.  I have a Masters of Economics from the University of Virginia.