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Read where Aureus Group has made the news in our industry and in our
community.
Individuals, Firms Alike Prepare for Tax-Related Provisions, Changes
to Tax Laws
Midlands Business Journal, October 10, 2008
Tax season may not be so close it's nipping at our heels, but
industry experts say now is a great time to get your W-2s, charity
receipts, and other items in order. That same philosophy of time is on
your side also applies to the accountant - firms should be assessing
their staffing levels now. Allotting enough time to adequately prepare
for the rush of tax time is especially crucial this year as a number of
tax law changes and provisions are going into effect, according to
accountants. There are things that tax advisors should be doing right
now to prepare for tax season as well, according to Chris Carlson,
regional manager of Aureus Group. Carlson consults with firms to make
sure their workforce is up to par for the busy season. Though she said
the preparation is often case specific, depending on such factors as
whether or not a business operates in a multi-state area, all firms
should make sure they have the applicable software and updates on hand.
But the No.1 mistake, she said, are firms not being proactive enough
when it comes to staffing. "Estimating as best you can how the workload
is going to affect your current staff and if you have the competencies
to continue meeting their day to day obligations and complete the
necessary tax filings and deadlines," Carlson said. If an employee
leaves in the middle of tax season, for example, Carlson said that is
not a good time to train a new team member. "I've seen that hurt
companies," she said. "They have to make sure they have everyone on
board and trained. It's beneficial to have one or two people on call or
lined up to be backup. You never know what can happen - tragedies
happen, people get sick, life goes on, but the deadline stays the same."
Strong's Recruitment Team Doubles Revenue in a Year at Aureus
Group
Midlands Business Journal, August 15, 2008
Kara Strong's three-member team contributed to boosting revenue
for Aureus Group's Lincoln region by 40 percent - nearly doubling
2006 revenue. "I've hired and trained the members of my team and
we've made a valiant effort at focusing on customer service and
quality," she said. "Helping others gives me a huge sense of
satisfaction." Satisfaction, she said, also comes with watching the
team she developed grow. "It's profoundly rewarding, just knowing
that I helped to play a part in getting them to where they want to
be," Strong said. As she played a part in other's successes, she
carried a modified version of the Golden Rule with her. "Treat
others as they would like to be treated," Strong said. "I like this
one better because not everyone wants to be treated the same way. By
really getting to know someone, you'll know how they like to be
treated and can be a better friend, leader or partner."
Employers Strive to Broaden Workforce by Diversity in Hiring
Midlands Business Journal, July 25, 2008
Companies across Omaha are making an effort to have a diverse
workforce, which oftentimes requires targeted recruiting efforts.
Many employers have human resources staff directly involved in
diversity issues, said Nuria Archer, sales manager with Aureus Group
and co-chairman of the Human Resource Association of the Midlands
(HRAM) diversity committee. Although Omaha is still a work in
progress, many employers have one or two human resources employees
focused on diversity issues, Archer said. Companies increasingly are
having more diverse candidate pools, allowing flexibility to
accommodate religious rituals and even scheduling regular education
seminars aimed at embracing diversity, she said. Creating a
workplace that respects and includes everyone maximizes the
potential of the workforce, she said. "By being diverse we are able
to reach and better serve the diverse clients we may have," Archer
said. "Also by mixing all of our backgrounds we come up with
different ideas to not remain stagnant and take us all to new
levels."
Demand for Accounting Intensifies as Profession Resists
Volatility of Economy
Midlands Business Journal, July 11, 2008
Accountants are in high demand and many command high starting
salaries, but it takes devoted study to get there and the education
never stops. Employers want to hire accountants who are "analytical,
knowledgeable about technology, and have good communication skills,"
said Chris Carlson, regional manager of Aureus Group. "Accountants
are now seen by corporations as business partners who will increase
cost efficiencies, be skilled financial analysts and involve
themselves in capital and operational decisions." They are not just
background people who supply executives with the numbers, Carlson
said. The accounting needs of small firms are often different from
the needs of larger companies, Carlson said. "Smaller firms often
want a generalist who can do the routine day-to-day bookkeeping work
and may be able to develop the position to the point where he or she
is making recommendations to the executive team," she said. "Large
firms tend to want people with specialized skills especially in the
areas of international tax laws, multi-state payrolls, technology
and compliance issues arising from Sarbanes Oxley."
Employers Prizing IT, IS Professionals Aware of their Effect on
Bottom Lines
Midlands Business Journal, June 20, 2008
Businesses are seeking IT professionals that demonstrate industry
knowledge and a firm's business goals, a priority affecting the job
market that is still in need of skilled IT candidates, according to
a survey of firms in technical staffing. Chris Carlson, regional
manager of C&A Industries' Aureus Group, said that Aureus' direct
hire placements have outpaced contract or temporary to hire
scenarios for IT professionals so far this year. "Obviously, every
industry has different seasonal peaks and organizational challenges,
but for the most part we are seeing the leaders and hiring managers
taking a little more time on making decisions and making sure they
have the right people on the team instead of halting hiring
altogether," Carlson said. IT and IS professionals need to help
bridge the gap between departments in corporate America, she said.
Aureus, which connects companies with IT and IS professionals,
surveyed employers recently and a majority responded that a
potential increase in workforce is likely in the next year, Carlson
said. "Understanding the nature of the businesses and what keeps
their internal partners up at night will impact the bottom line, as
well as enhance their careers," she said of IT and IS professionals.
Millennials Usher In New Kind of Work Life
Omaha World-Herald, June 16, 2008
It's no longer business as usual, as young professionals change the
way American companies operate and redefine expectations in the
workplace. Millennials, also referred to as members of Generation Y, are
generally defined as those born in the 1980s and '90s. "We've
(millennials) been raised with the idea that we can do or be anything we
aspire to be," said Brad Jones, 27, a corporate accounting and finance
recruiter at Aureus Group, a division of C&A Industries. "I think we're
more results-driven," he said. Scot Thompson, chief operating officer at
C&A Industries, an Omaha-based corporate recruiting and staffing firm,
said he has noticed that flexibility is extremely important to
millennials, who are more conscientious of a work-life balance than
previous generations. A low unemployment rate has created lots of
opportunities, Thompson said. In addition, millions of baby boomers are
preparing to leave the job market in the next several years, and it will
be difficult for companies to fill those positions, he said. "It's an
employees' market and they (millennials) know it. This generation's
workers are loyal to mentors and their teams...and they thrive in
team-oriented environments," he said. Adds Jones, "It is important to me
that I contribute to the culture (at work), and I want to be recognized
as a value and an authority in my position."
Kara Strong Named as "40 Under 40" Award Winner
Lincoln Business Journal, June 1, 2008
The Lincoln Business Journal is pleased to recognize Kara Strong as a
"40 Under 40" award recipient. As branch manager for the Nebraska
division of Aureus Finance and Accounting, Kara led her team at the
Lincoln office to its highest revenue ever in 2007. Strong has managed
employees for more than seven years and is regarded as a key member of
the management team and a role model in the organization. Strong started
with Aureus as a recruiter in 1999 and recruited for all accounting
positions, from clerks to top executives. After serving as senior
account manager and sales manager, she was promoted to branch manager
for the state of Nebraska in August 2007. Today she trains, evaluates,
motivates, and monitors a staff of 10 employees. Strong is a certified
personnel consultant and is active with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
and the Society for Human Resource Management.
Carlson Expands Aureus Group, Develops Systems and Executive Search
Divisions
Midlands Business Journal, March 28, 2008
Before she began working for Aureus Group, Chris Carlson admits she
didn't have a clue what the staffing industry was all about. Fourteen
years later, her accomplishments and leadership in the company certainly
wouldn't suggest that. Carlson, regional manager, has played an
important role in growing Aureus, which is composed of three divisions,
from four to 40 employees since joining the company in 1994. "There are
three different teams that are part of Aureus Group - executive search,
systems and finance and accounting - and each team has experts in its
own marketplaces," Carlson said. "I always talk about our three key
success factors - market penetration, people, and development and client
or candidate satisfaction. Everything I do is one way or another related
to those areas." Carlson was introduced to the staffing industry by
Larry Courtnage, the founder of C&A Industries, Aureus Group's parent
company. I definitely didn't know what the staffing industry was about
when I joined Aureus," she said. "Its ironic how it lends itself to my
personality and the strengths I honed in a big family - working in
teams, being able to collaborate and work together. My dad always said
'Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you' and working
among some really amazing people has pushed me to new levels." The best
advice she has ever received, Carlson said, came from her mother and
father. "I was fortunate to have some amazing parents who taught me
strong work ethic," she said. "My dad always told me to do what's right
and that if I believed in something to stand up for it, even if I was
the only one standing. He told me to do things right not matter what the
impact is."
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