How did you wind up at Marvel?

After graduating from Touro, I worked in the accounting department of a family-owned international business. Marvel is actually a division of Disney. I grew up going to the Disney parks with my family every year, and I knew all the animated movies. It had been a lifelong dream to work there. When I spotted a job in accounting at Disney on LinkedIn, of course I immediately applied.

I started out part time. In the beginning I did lots of nitty gritty work in order to learn and contribute to the company in whatever way I could. After nine months, I became a full-time employee and now I have two employees under me. I transitioned to this position at Marvel five years ago.

What is it like being a religious Jew at Disney?

The company is very accommodating. It was an interesting transition because I was working for a Jewish company beforehand. Now I’m the only Orthodox person in my group. I never hid my yarmulke or shied away from my background and identity. I am proud of who I am.

Disney is famous for its corporate culture. How do you experience that?

The company is very collegial. In my interview, I was asked if I was open to pitching in to contribute to diverse 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 that culture affect you?

The company offers lots of training to employees, they pushed me to grow and gave me opportunities to build my skills and knowledge. I’ve gotten to understand the dynamics and structure of the corporate environment, from the high level to the minutia. This enables me to understand the flow of the business and make better recommendations.

What is a typical day like?

On a typical day, I spend time reviewing documents on the accounts I am responsible for. I check to see if anything should be fixed or improved.  Right now, l work with the publishing side of the business, but I am learning other parts of the business to see how it impacts my role and to understand the overall business.

During the busy season, I focus on reconciling accounts, proving journal entries and documenting everything. I often present to other divisions, including operations, finance and sales. It is important for me to understand everything that is going on to show how it affects the income and expenses.

How did you choose accounting?

It actually came as a surprise to me. There are lots of accountants in my family and originally I wanted to do something different from them. When I first enrolled at Touro, I planned on becoming a physical therapist, but I quickly learned that I didn’t like chemistry.

I sat down with Dean Goldschmidt, who said, “This is your chance to explore other areas. Science might not be your field.” His advice was profound and helpful; without it I don‘t know if I would have tried accounting.

How did you like studying accounting at Touro?

It was terrific. I remember Professor Tajerstein because he made accounting enjoyable and interesting. He was a kind person and an excellent teacher. He showed me that accounting isn’t just math; it is a way to make sense of the whole organization.

What advice do you have for current students?

First, if you don’t know something, ask. There is always somebody who can give you advice. If you are not afraid to ask, you will stay ahead of the game. Second, in whatever field you are in, try to help others.

You have three young children. What do they think of your job?

My son tells everyone, “My dad works for superheroes.”