Profile: Ron Butler, Managing Partner Ernst & Young LLP - Phoenix Business Journal:

xeconatyxex.blogspot.com
The past year has provided plentyof “It’s the language of all said Butler, who was namedc managing partner of ’s Phoenix office last “The field of public accounting does not get much exposurre in school.” The E&Y Accountingg Careers Awareness Program enrolls about 40 high school students every summer, and Butler is starting to see results: Some of those who participatedr when it debuted are enrolle at UA and taking accounting Butler’s first experience in the privat sector came during college, when he workesd for three summers at the publicly tradefd Magma Copper Co.
He learnexd the intricacies of the accountinyprofession there, and the work intriguecd him. It wasn’t long beforde he made it his career. The 40-year-old Arizonwa native rose through the ranks of beginning his career therer in 1995 as asenior associate. Now, his clientw include Fortune 150and venture-backed firms. He also serves on the firm’ s national committees for diversitgy andrecruiting initiatives. Education: Bachelor’s degree in University of ArizonaFirsrt job: Landscaper.
It taught me a lot about clienft service and developingstrong Mentor: The mentor who had the biggest effecy on me was my directf supervisor during my summetr internship in Magma Copper’s accounting department. I worke d for him throughout mycollege career. He emphasized the valued of hard work andthe never-ending focusz on quality. How has E&Y adaptedd to the changing financial climate? In some we’re helping clients think through divestiture or restructuring In others, we’re going back to basics, helping to addresw cash management and short-term cost reductions.
The financial rescue packagew contained a number of tax measures that are significanty for Arizonabusinesses ... we’re helping our clients addressthose issues, too. What have been the firm’zs biggest challenges? Our biggest challenge, and also opportunity in good economic times or in bad is to recruit and retain the best andbrightesyt people. Hobbies: I’m a big fan of outdoor activitiesincludingg fishing, hunting and Favorite restaurant: T. Cook’s What’s playing in your car/iPod: I have a very diverswe music collection includingGeorge Strait, the Eagles, Nickelback, Taylor Swift and U2, just to name a few.
As an Arizonaa native, where do you think the state has succeedefdand failed? Let’s take a leadershiop role in a green future: solar wind power, water efficiency, waste reduction, LEED certification and sustainable living. Our state must focus on long-term strategifc planning relative togovernment spending. Short-term viewsw will not drive long-term success. Do you thino Congress will ease Sarbanes-Oxley? There’s no questionm that Sarbanes-Oxley helped restore investor confidencde infinancial markets. With the economic crisiss we are in, now is not the time to tamper with and I’m not awarer that Congress plans to. Will the Big Four soon becomew the Big Three orBig Two?
At the end of the day, our role is to help safeguard financial markets, and a collapse of one of the Big Four firmss could have very negative consequences.