How did you end up at Marvel?
After graduating from Touro, I worked in the accounting department of an international family company. Marvel is actually a division of Disney. When I was growing up, I used to go to the Disney parks with my family every year, and I knew all the animated films. It was a lifelong dream to work there. When I saw a job in accounting at Disney on LinkedIn, I naturally applied immediately.
I started part time. In the beginning, I did a lot of legwork to learn and get involved in the company in every way I could. After nine months, I became a full-time employee and now have two employees under me. I moved into this position at Marvel five years ago.
What is it like to be a religious Jew at Disney?
The company is very accommodating. It was an interesting transition because I previously worked for a Jewish company. Now I’m the only Orthodox in my group. I have never hidden my kippah or shyed away from my origins and identity. I’m proud of who I am.
Disney is famous for its corporate culture. How do you experience that?
The company is very collegial. During my interview, I was asked if I would be willing to help out on various projects and if I had good communication skills. They hire people who want to help others succeed. Everyone I have ever worked with has been exceptionally friendly.
How does this culture affect you?
The company offers a lot of training to its employees, they pushed me to develop myself and gave me the opportunity to increase my skills and knowledge. I understood the dynamics and structure of the business environment from the top level down to the last detail. This allows me to understand the business process and make better recommendations.
What does a typical day look like?
On a typical day, I spend time reviewing documents related to the accounts I am responsible for. I check if something should be fixed or improved. At the moment I’m working with the publishing side of the business, but I’m learning about other parts of the business to see how this translates to my role and to understand the overall business.
During peak season I focus on reconciling accounts, checking journal entries and documenting everything. I often present in other departments including operations, finance and sales. It’s important to me to understand everything that’s going on to show how it affects income and expenses.
How did you decide to do accounting?
It actually came as a surprise to me. There are many accountants in my family and originally I wanted to do something different from them. When I first enrolled at Touro, I wanted to be a physical therapist, but I quickly realized that I didn’t like chemistry.
I sat down with Dean Goldschmidt who said, “This is your chance to explore other areas. Science may not be your specialty.” His advice was profound and helpful; without her I don’t know if I would have tried bookkeeping.
How did you like studying accounting at Touro?
It was great. I remember Professor Tajerstein for making accounting fun and interesting. He was a kind person and an excellent teacher. He showed me that accounting isn’t just math; It’s a way to understand the entire organization.
What tips do you have for current students?
Ask first if you don’t know something. There is always someone who can give advice. If you’re not afraid to ask, you’ll stay ahead of the game. Second, whatever area you are in, try to help others.
They have three small children. What do you think of your job?
My son tells everyone, “My dad works for superheroes.”
