Undoubtedly, many of the seasoned public accounting hacks out there have received some variation of the following email:
From: [Bored L.A. Assurance Associate]Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 1:36 PMTo: [Everyone at BDO, allegedly]Subject: AvailableHello All,I have some free time today so if you would like for me to help out with something feel free to let me know.Thanks,[Bored L.A. Assurance Associate]
From: [Midwest Assurance Senior Associate]Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 1:39 PMTo: [Other Assurance Professionals]Subject: RE: AvailableI’m thinking [this was sent to] everyone hahah.I’m drafting an email to send him some work.[Midwest Assurance Senior Associate]
From: [West Coast Assurance Senior]Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 1:41 PMTo: [Other Assurance Professionals]Subject: RE: AvailableHaving second thoughts. Is it a [dick thing] to send the following?Hey [Bored L.A. Assurance Associate],Thanks for volunteering! You must be a new L2? Could you stop by my client in Sunnyvale to pick up some confirms?Regards,[West Coast Assurance Senior]
From: [Texas Senior Assurance Associate]Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 1:45 PMTo: [Other Assurance Professionals]Subject: RE: AvailableHaha, I sent –Hey [Bored L.A. Assurance Associate],My client has some inventory on consignment w/ a customer in LA. We need to perform a recount of their inventory. Do you think you can take an hour or so to recount for me? We are looking at about 25 items.Thanks![Texas Senior Assurance Associate]
From: [Different West Coast Assurance Senior]Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 1:46 PMTo: [Other Assurance Professionals]Subject: RE: AvailableSo the guy is delivering pizzas in WA [not sure where they came from, but add it to the list!], inventory observation in LA, confirm pick up in Sunnyvale, and Detroit staff work? All star.[Different West Coast Assurance Senior]
From: [Yet another West Coast Assurance Senior]Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 3:48 PMTo: [Other Assurance Professionals]Subject: RE: AvailableHe needs to stop in Oregon too.“Thank you for reaching out [Bored L.A. Assurance Associate]!It would be great if you could stop by my current client in [redacted location] this afternoon and perform some walkthroughs. Also, could you stop at In ‘N Out on the way and pick up 45 cheeseburgers for the BDO audit team and the accounting department?”[Yet another West Coast Assurance Senior]
From: [New York Assurance Senior]Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 4:54 PMTo: [More Assurance Professionals]Subject: FW: AvailableHey Guys –[Bored L.A. Assurance Associate]’s been with the firm since Monday, January 21, 2013. I am sure the pressure is on for him to achieve full utilization so if you can think of anything he can help with please let him know.Thanks for your help.[New York Assurance Senior]
That's teamwork, people. Bored L.A. Assurance Associate will be on an international assignment in no time.