When I was finishing school, like many, I did an internship in a large CPA firm. It was an excellent learning experience. Rather than being in the tax or audit departments, I was in a small consulting department, which offered me huge variety in my internship projects. I got exposure to tax, asset management, estate planning with entities, year-end cleanup of books, and the basic internal workings of a large firm.

One of the most important things I learned was that I never wanted to work for a large firm again. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t think they’re evil or anything like that. Some people thrive in large firms, and they have an important place in our industry. However, it was not the right fit for me.

As an entry level staff member, I had no direct connection to the clients we served. As a result, I often worked on a tiny slice of a larger project, without understanding the context or larger picture. I completed my tasks, passed them on to my senior, but never spoke to a client or knew the value I was providing. Although my technical skills expanded and the large firm could provide a career path with advancement, I was too far removed from the purpose & value of our services to care and it all felt very empty.

Fast forward ten years and I started my own CPA firm. From the beginning I cast a vision of a small firm providing services to small businesses. As the daughter of two entrepreneurs, I have a strong belief in the importance of small business (in fact I believe they are the true backbone of our economy). As a CPA, I quickly developed the belief that small business owners deserve excellent accounting help at reasonable rates. Serving clients from within a small firm helps us fulfill this vision.

We are small enough to be flexible – we get to tailor our services to our clients’ needs – whether they need a little support or a lot – even when it changes from month to month. We can be proactive in seeing their needs and helping them find solutions before they know they’re headed for rough waters.

We work together as a dynamic team – closely coordinating bookkeeping, tax preparation, and advisory services to deliver a well-coordinated package for our clients. Every one of our team members has direct client contact, is keenly aware of the value they bring to our clients, and enjoys the satisfaction of making a difference. We love our clients. We get to work with some of the most courageous, creative, kind, and passionate people around – entrepreneurs. We get to know them personally and love knowing we are of value to their businesses and their lives.

We can be dynamic internally as well – as a small, close-knit team, we can provide flexibility for each other. Cross training provides “vacation insurance” as well as backup for the unforeseen – even if it’s the unexpected mental health day. We don’t have multiple layers of seniors, but instead work directly with each other. As the manager of our team, I get to work with each team member to clarify their strengths & passions and support them in developing a career that focuses on those areas.

When I speak with colleagues in large firms, I hear the exhaustion of mandatory overtime, frustration with lack of choice of projects & career path, too much travel away from home, and ultimately not enough heart in what they do.

I believe in family time and weekends (even during tax season!). I believe in caring about what we do. I believe our clients deserve a business that supports their life (rather than the opposite), and our team members deserve jobs that work in balance with their lives. I believe in personal ownership of my results and support my team in the same mindset. I believe in working hard and playing hard – with work & play in harmony. I believe in truly making a difference for our clients. They approach their businesses with passion and heart, and so we bring heart to serving them.