Anthony Sedlak
Assistant Financial Reporting Manager
LLOG Exploration
New Orleans, LA USA
“Take it one day at a time—take responsibility, do what you have to do in that day, and then let tomorrow deal with itself.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationAnthony Sedlak
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
I was born in the suburbs outside of Chicago as an only child, so my mother was able to homeschool me—but home life was often rough because she suffered from schizophrenia.
After pushing hard through my courses so that I could graduate early, I finished high school at 15 years old and went straight to college full time.
Financially, community college was the only option available for me—we were in the middle of a financial crisis and I had to provide for my mentally ill mother while going to school.
After completing my associate’s degree at Kishwaukee College, I transferred to Loyola University New Orleans as an international business major with a minor in accounting.
Under the guidance of one of my professors, I switched my major to accounting, which aligned better with the route I wanted to take to be able to better provide for my family.
After graduation, I got a job at Ernst & Young as a CPA—I grew a specific interest in my oil and gas clients, but knew I didn’t want to stay in the “Big Four” atmosphere.
After three years at EY, a headhunter reached out to bring me onboard with LLOG Exploration Company—it’s the largest private oil producer in the United States.
In addition to my position with LLOG Exploration, I also own property and work as a landlord.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Certification/License
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Career
Assistant Financial Reporting Manager
I handle financial planning and analysis for the largest private oil producer in the United States.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Numbers
Accomplishing Goals
Day to Day
Attending operational meetings and understanding the financial impact of decisions made in such meetings, adjusting budget and long-term planning. Creating financing presentations for solicitations of outside investment. Analyzing raw data and transforming it into meaningful analyses with recommendations for management. Converting tax basis accounting records to GAAP, and drafting quarterly and annual financial statements. Manage accounting and treasury for multiple compensation programs.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
If you are interested in finance, you'll get in easier via accounting. You'll also have a solid base understanding of the underlying data you are analyzing and making decisions from. Strongly recommend a Big 4 CPA Firm for your first job. The doors that it will open for your career are crucial. Audit path recommended, although tax can also open doors.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Certification/License
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"It's too hard to succeed if you start out with nothing."
Challenges I Overcame
Family Stress
Financial
Interviewed By
Making it Balance
Paths in accounting and auditing
