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Permalink Reply by Philip Zelinger on June 11, 2010 at 11:29pm

Hello Daniel,

I need more details about the position that you are applying for before I can advise you what might be "different" about an "accounting" position in an automobile dealership. For example, if you are applying for a position in the office responsible for payables and/or receivables then there would be no difference. Journal entries are journal entries -- as long as you apply standard entries -- so if you will be responsible for the D.O.C. or preparation of the P&L then as long as you are not expected to analyze the P&L to make decisions for operational changes then once again there will be little difference between the position at the auto dealership vs. the service industry. Same with contracts in transit and cash flow and closing out the cashiers -- money is money; both in and out!

Now, on the other hand, if you are expected to actually run an office with responsibilities in Title, tag, payoff and lien work to be in compliance with DMV regulations, factory incentives and warranty audits and/or any form of inventory management and floor plan projections then you might be stepping into areas that require experience specific to the auto industry. If you expect to advise on LIFO projections and/or capital requirement projections and analysis of the P&L then my advice is that you save yourself and your potential employer the pain and skip the interview.

Again, in the absence of the details of the position that you are applying for that is the best I can do. In any case, good luck and if you reply with the job description along with your resume I would be happy to offer more specific advice.

After all, what are friends -- and DealerElite -- for!

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Permalink Reply by Daniel D on June 14, 2010 at 7:18pm

The job that I am applying for is a Staff Auditor/Assistant Controller of a management group that owns about 10 car dealerships. What I would be doing is auditing the books for the dealerships and doing some of the entrys for the management group.

My resume is pretty simple, I'm an accountant in the Outdoor Advertising industy. I have done basically every entry for my company at one time or another. My main focus on revenue though.

Philip Zelinger said:

Hello Daniel,

I need more details about the position that you are applying for before I can advise you what might be "different" about an "accounting" position in an automobile dealership. For example, if you are applying for a position in the office responsible for payables and/or receivables then there would be no difference. Journal entries are journal entries -- as long as you apply standard entries -- so if you will be responsible for the D.O.C. or preparation of the P&L then as long as you are not expected to analyze the P&L to make decisions for operational changes then once again there will be little difference between the position at the auto dealership vs. the service industry. Same with contracts in transit and cash flow and closing out the cashiers -- money is money; both in and out!

Now, on the other hand, if you are expected to actually run an office with responsibilities in Title, tag, payoff and lien work to be in compliance with DMV regulations, factory incentives and warranty audits and/or any form of inventory management and floor plan projections then you might be stepping into areas that require experience specific to the auto industry. If you expect to advise on LIFO projections and/or capital requirement projections and analysis of the P&L then my advice is that you save yourself and your potential employer the pain and skip the interview.

Again, in the absence of the details of the position that you are applying for that is the best I can do. In any case, good luck and if you reply with the job description along with your resume I would be happy to offer more specific advice.

After all, what are friends -- and DealerElite -- for!

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Permalink Reply by NANCY SIMMONS on June 15, 2010 at 9:45am

As a Comptroller in the auto industry for over 30 years, I am certain I could answer most of your questions. Automotive accounting is no doubt specialized in many ways. For one, the Operating Report and Chart of Accounts is dictated by the individual OEM's, (manufacturers). A dealership is a unique business as each rooftop essentially has its own separate businesses found within its various departments. The office is the nucleus or the central zone which pulls all the data together to compile one financial statement. The dynamics in a multi-franchise store or multi-franchise automotive group is even a bit more complicated. However, it is an exciting and intriguing industry to be in!

Although, I think it would have been a help for you to have some dealership experience, since the position is an assistant to the comptroller, you will require on the job training and will have an opportunity to learn from the comptroller and broaden your knowledge.

As Phil stated, there is so much more than accounting involved with a position such as this one posted.. As an auditor, compliance issues will play a major role in your stated responsibilities.

I am just noticing that this interview has already taken place. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, and am still pursuing this opportunity. I am very passionate about the car business and have been fortunate to hold almost every position in the store at one time or another.

Please call me or message me if you want to discuss further.

Nancy Simmons
(508) 697-6000

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