Alum Feature: Keith Mellott, Class of 2015

Q & A with Forensic & Valuation Services Associate at Grant Thornton LLP

Why were you drawn to consulting?

I have never thrived in consistent, predictable environments. I love dynamic situations that keep me “on my toes” and force me to constantly learn new skills. Consulting is a perfect fit for somebody like me; it provides the opportunity to work within drastically different industries and acquire skills that I never would have in a more controlled environment.

 

What are three words to describe yourself and how did those characteristics contribute to your success in finding a job?

Curious, energetic, and motivated. Consultants are a different breed. It takes one to know one. The hours can be demanding and the intellectual challenges strenuous. During the job hunt, it is critical to convey a genuine desire to learn and a willingness to work.

 

Why did you choose to start your career at Grant Thornton?

Grant Thornton is an exceptional company. Their reputation speaks for itself. The great thing about starting a career at GT is the options you have. There is plenty of room for internal upward mobility, but GT will also provide you with the technical skills and the credibility to pursue advanced degrees at top schools.

 

Can you tell us about your role in Forensic & Valuation Services?

I work within the Forensic, Investigate, and Dispute Resolution Services department. Our department offers a variety of services. On a basic level, we investigate cases of financial fraud and provide expert financial and economic analysis during the litigation process. It involves a lot of data analytics, economic valuation, and forensic accounting.

 

What types of projects are you working on?

While I can’t speak too much about specifics, I can say that I am working on three very different projects! That’s my favorite part about my job; I am not restricted to one task or function.

 

What has been the biggest challenge for you while at GT?

My biggest challenge has not been related to GT itself. The transition from a college lifestyle to a working lifestyle should not be taken lightly. My daily routine requires more discipline and structure than it did in college. I certainly did not wake up at 6 in the morning during the school year! I have slowly adapted to the point where I am now accustomed to sometimes having to work 12-14 hours in a day and still accomplishing things outside the office, such as going to the gym or finding time for hobbies/interests.

 

How do you feel IUCG helped prepare you for work at GT?

The client-consultant relationship is at the core of every consulting firm’s success. IUCG taught me how to foster these relationships and maintain them throughout the course of an engagement. The hands-on experience with real life projects is irreplaceable.

 

What advice do you have for students interested in consulting? What do you wish you had known?

Consulting is hyper-competitive. You need to approach your career goals the way professional athletes approach theirs. You should have objectives every day that you strive to accomplish. Personally, I make a 5-year plan, a 3-year plan, a 1-year plan, a monthly plan, a weekly plan and a daily plan. You need to have some sort of vision for your future (even if it’s a rough outline) and you need to constantly monitor your progress towards your goals.

 

Final thoughts?

Learn how to use all the software you can! I cannot stress that enough. If you are masterful at Excel or programs like Stata, you are going to have an advantage over the competition. I would also advise learning at least one computer programming language. I started with R, which focuses on statistical and data analysis. Figure out what kind of consulting you want to do and research which programming languages will be most helpful for that type of work. Finally, the last piece of advice I can offer for undergraduates hoping to one day work in consulting is to forge as many professional relationships as possible in all kinds of industries. You never know who you might need to call upon for information or a favor!