- Name: Sara Cousineau
- Age: 28
- Current location: Maui, Hawaii
- Home town: Toronto, Canada
- Education: Bachelor of Commerce
- Current position: Senior Finance Assistant, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Maui
- Countries I've worked in: Canada, India, France, Tanzania, United States
- Sector / subsectors: International business, travel and tourism, hospitality, accounting, finance
- Country: India, United States
- Region: North America, Asia
- Sector: Business, Finance & Banking, Tourism & hospitality
- Degree subject: Business & commerce
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Tell us about yourself and role with Ritz Carlton.
Sara's accounting skills earned her an island life.
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Could you tell me about a day or week in your working life at the Ritz in Hawaii?
Delivering a five star experience is everyone's responsibility, including those in finance.
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Can you tell us about your career trajectory?
Though Sara has studied and worked in France, Canada, India and Tanzania, Hawaii is the first place that has felt like home.
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What do you enjoy most about international work?
Sara loves interacting with the 700 employees at the Ritz and working together to make the business better each day.
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What are some of the challenges of working internationally?
The challenges of being away from loved ones while living abroad are balanced out by building a network of friends around the world.
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What skills and abilities do you think it takes to succeed in international work?
Pack an open mind, curiosity and eagerness to listen and learn from everyone you meet and work with.
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What opportunities exist in your field at the entry level, and for recent graduates?
Start at home, build your skills and then look for international transfer opportunities.
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What credentials do you need in your line of work? Is having a CA/CPA necessary?
Sara talks about the most important decision she made for her international career.
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Do you need a business degree or CPA to work in finance/accounting in the hospitality sector?
A designation in finance or accounting can unlock international opportunities.
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What tangible advice would you give to people looking to follow in your footsteps?
Sara shares her top tips on breaking into finance and accounting in the international hospitality industry.
