Meet James Brackens Jr., CPA, sole proprietor in Richmond

When did you decide to major in accounting and decide to become a CPA?
When I was in high school, business wasn't really considered a career. Pursuing a degree in the arts or sciences was more reputable, so I had been originally inclined to head towards medicine. When I didn't make the 3.6 needed in chemistry and biology to go into the medical field I decided to look at alternatives.

I had an uncle that was a CPA and who seemed to have more money than most of my other relatives. After taking some of the course I realized that I excelled in this area and really enjoyed it.

Where did you start your career?
In college, I joined a cooperative education program, alternating classes one semester and work the next. It took longer than the traditional program, lasting about five years, but when you graduated you already had experience. I worked for Bob Musselman, CPA in accounting.

What is your current position and responsibilities?
I am a sole practitioner and am responsible for everything. I have three staff members: a professional staff member who has a diverse educational background, a para-professional bookkeeper level person and a right-hand administrative person.

Small business consulting is what I do. Yes, we still handle the traditional accounting functions such as financial record keeping and tax, but my true joy is focusing on advising small business clients on how to use the financial information to grow their businesses and be successful.

What is your most valuable lesson learned?

• Broaden your horizons
• Learn to communicate
• Become involved
• Expose yourself to different people, charitable organizations
• Public speaking experiences
• Basically learn the ability to really understand people and be able to articulate the knowledge back to them

What are some of your volunteer activities?
Most recently, Kiwanis club, president of the Richmond VSCPA Chapter, treasurer of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, active in the Chamber of Commerce and active in my church, especially the Methodist Men's Group.

I continue to be active in the AICPA Professional Ethics Committee, the VSCPA Ethics Committee, as a leader of the VSCPA Government Affairs Resource Group and continue to be a member of the Institute of Management Accountants (I used to be the past president of their Roanoke Chapter but at that time they were called the NAA).

I also used to serve on the AICPA Public Relations Committee, the VSCPA Peer Review Committee, the VSCPA Federal Taxation Committee and served as chair of the VSCPA Public Relations Committee.

What do you do for fun? Hobbies?
Run marathons but don't always have time (haven't had time in the last two years). My true joy is backpacking. It's the time when I can really get away, enjoy solitude, commune with nature, enjoy overlooks and cliffs, with time to read and just really relax. Also, I usually meet interesting people during the journey, from students training to become camp counselors to attorneys and other professionals.

Additional hobby is reading. I am a voracious reader — you can always find me in the middle of reading another novel.

I don't play much golf, maybe 2–3 times a year. And rarely do I stay home.