Why did you decide to go into the accounting profession?

When I first enrolled in college I was actually going to major in computer science; however, Accounting 1010 was one of my general education courses and after taking that course I switched my major to accounting.  One of the reasons for switching was because I enjoyed the course. However, the biggest reason I switched was because of the professor who, during the course of the class, discussed how valuable an accounting degree is and all the various career fields that you can enter with an accounting degree.

 

What are your three BEST life skills?

~Work/life balance;

~Communication;

~A short term memory (this can both be good and bad – good in relation to forgetting about disagreements/arguments, but bad when my wife gives me a verbal list of grocery’s to pick up from the store)

How do you typically spend your leisure time?

I spend most of my leisure time with my family (my wife and 2 kids – my oldest is 4 and the youngest just turned 2).  Apart from spending time with my family, I like to read just about anything I can get my hands on - fiction or non-fiction.

What are the best things about your job?

I’m in private industry – banking to be exact – and the best thing about my job is the challenge that the banking industry faces today.  There are numerous items that affect the banking industry (regulation reform/changes, the economy, the real estate market, small and large businesses, etc) and it’s always a challenge to keep up with the various changes that take place in the industry.

What advice would you have for those considering entering the CPA profession?

I heard a great presentation once on career equity.  The presentation was about taking ownership of your career and how the harder you work and the more you learn, the more equity you will build for your career. So I guess my advice would be to build your career equity -- and public accounting is a great place to begin.

In your professional opinion, why is accounting so important?

Accounting is a vital component of our lives and communities.  Accounting affects us individually and as a community from tasks like balancing our check books to determining how much money is provided to our school systems.

What do you think are the three most important skills CPAs should have to be successful?

~Critical thinking

~Communication

~A good work ethic

How do you balance your personal and professional life? And does that change during the busy times of the year?

Balancing personal and professional life is difficult for all of us both in public and in private industry.  It’s a little easier in private industry because of the structure and the lack of travel.  I usually try to balance my time by coming to the office early in the morning so that I can get home on time to spend the evening with my family.  I also make sure to plan ahead for any personal appointments/meetings so that I can get my work done prior to whatever it is that I need to do. 

What is your most meaningful volunteer experience?

I’m not sure I can rank my volunteer experiences as they have all meant something different to me. I am excited about being involved with the NVCPA Financial Literacy committee this year and the focus of the committee.

What major obstacles do you think the CPA profession faces today and in the future?

One of the continuing obstacles for the CPA profession is ensuring that there are students interested in working in the profession and that those students are receiving the education that they need.  The CPA profession plays a significant role in our communities and it is important that we as CPAs, as well as students coming into the profession, understand our role in the community and what can be done to further our community’s goals.