InfoTech Update: It’s a long road from being a controller in the publishing industry, serving as a securities analyst for a financial services company and now working with a Big 4 firm. What led you to your work for Deloitte?

Khalid Wasti: My undergraduate degree was in economics, which led to the securities analyst position. After doing this type of work for some time, I decided to obtain my master’s degree in Accounting, and while going to graduate school part-time, I worked full time as a controller. Both of these jobs gave me the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of very different industries, and also obtain a broad base of experience. I also picked up some robust IT experience along the way, so once I had my master’s degree, I decided to find a career that would enable me to pull it all together. It turns out Deloitte was a perfect fit for me – not only can I use what I learned, but working in an organization such as Deloitte with tremendous resources gives me many opportunities to continue to develop new skills, and grow both my industry and technical skills.

ITU: Along with your colleague from Deloitte, Sarah Adams, you are co-presenting a Web seminar and accompanying podcast on Governance, Risk and Compliance for IT for the AICPA. Tell me three key takeaways the audience will walk away with if they participate in this session.

KW:  The first and probably most important takeaway will be how complicated the IT environment has become and how many risks are all around us. The second point is to cover the importance of strong IT governance, followed by practical ideas on how to address the risks.

ITU: This fall, you’ll be a part of a special AICPA program focused on IT auditing. This is designed for members of the IT Section and others who work in audit. What kinds of takeaways should attendees receive?

KW: Due to the rapid changes in the technological environment, financial auditors must develop a solid understanding of the impact of IT on auditing. If participants already have a clear understanding, these sessions will provide useful and practical information that should directly impact their daily activities. However, even if some do not have an in-depth knowledge of various topics, this forum will still offer excellent exposure to what they need to know, along with good sources and references for additional follow-up.

ITU: How has the CITP credential helped make you a better CPA working in IT consulting and services?

KW:  Achieving the CITP credential demonstrates that specific IT knowledge has been achieved. I think as the credential starts to become widely recognized, more and more organizations will require their CPAs who focus on IT to become CITPs as well. Most industries rely a great deal on information technology; auditors must become, and remain, technically proficient.

ITU: Of all the technologies available for use, which one do you think makes you the most productive?

KW: That is an interesting question, and when you start to think about all the technologies out there, you realize how it is not that simple to answer. For example, having instant messaging software always open on my desktop allows me to immediately reach out to practically anyone or respond instantly to a question. However, IM can sometime become a time-consuming distraction. Similarly, e-mail is a very effective way to communicate, but the volume can become burdensome. If really pushed to select one, my current favorite is my Samsung Blackjack II phone – not only for the e-mail and Web browsing capabilities, but also because I can work anywhere, even on the subway.

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