The EM Questionnaire: Ching Yang

Ching Yang

 

Ching Yang

Arizona State University, WP Carey School of Business
MACC Accounting

National Chengchi University
BS Accounting, BA Economics

I’m originally from Taiwan. After completing my undergraduate degree in Taipei, I headed to Arizona for graduate school, and I’ve been here ever since.

My work at Equity Methods requires expertise in ASC 718 standards related to equity compensation. There’s also a considerable amount of client communication involved.

We solve a lot of complicated problems, and one reason we’re able to do that is because we don’t have a rigid, dogmatic approach to problem-solving. Independent thinking is strongly encouraged here. What we do expect is that you keep learning, improving, and taking on challenging new things. That includes taking advantage of the professional development that the firm offers.

The culture at Equity Methods is really unique. We treat clients as valued colleagues, which is a reflection of how we treat one another internally. People are committed to helping one another, even across levels of seniority. It’s surprisingly easy to talk to a senior manager and get their guidance about something you’re working on.

That’s why I recommend new hires stay in touch with their seniors. Ask questions—good questions—and take their feedback to heart, because management might have different feedback from other groups or your peers in the organization. Reflect it in self-improvement, and you’ll be well on your way to success!

What’s the most interesting client project you’ve had so far?

A project where the key issue was employee mobility. The client is a multinational company who issues equity internationally. They have to record the value of the equity they grant to employees, which is complicated enough. But it gets even more complicated when an employee moves from one country to another. There are so many details: exchange rates, percentage of time the employee spends in each country, and much more. We actually built robotic logic in our process to keep it all straight for the client.

How would you describe your Equity Methods colleagues?

Passionate, smart, egalitarian, and professional.

If you had a special guest, what meal would you prepare for them?

Traditional Asian beef and noodle soup.

What was the last movie you saw?

“Jojo Rabbit.” It’s a coming-of-age satire set during World War II.

What did you do during your last vacation?

I spent my last vacation camping at Payson, Arizona. Payson is about an hour north of Scottsdale, in the middle of the Tonto National Forest. It has tons of hiking trails, the world’s biggest natural bridge, and the world’s oldest ongoing rodeo!

Who was your biggest influence while you were growing up?

My grandmother. Both my parents worked; my mom actually had two roles, housewife and breadwinner. So my grandparents took care of me.

After my grandfather passed away, my grandmother decided against moving in with any of her children because she didn’t want to lose her independence. But my parents worried, so I went to live with her for a time. It worked well for both of us. My grandmother and I were kindred spirits in so many ways.

Which living person do you admire most?

Emma Watson, for her advocacy of women’s rights. To me, the speech she delivered at the UN on gender equality was very insightful.

What is your motto?

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