Meet James E. Martin, CPA, senior manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP

What college or university did you attend?
George Washington University, B.S. Accounting, 1991.

When did you decide to major in accounting and to become a CPA?
When I was a senior in high school and took an accounting course. I knew after the first month of this course that I wanted to major in accounting. In fact, I liked the course so much that I completed the full year of course work three months ahead of schedule and moved into the second year course materials for the remainder of the year.

What is your current position?
I am a senior manager and national tax specialist for LIFO, retail and other inventory accounting methods.

What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy traveling across the country to meet clients and introduce them to ideas that will typically save them millions of dollars in income taxes.

What piece of advice do you have for students about the "real world" of accounting?
In the "real world" of accounting, one key to success is developing experience and technical expertise in a subject or industry. Specialization is considered extremely valuable. When providing tax advice to a client, you deliver the most value by providing a practical solution that enables the client to make a good faith effort to comply with the rules.

What are some of your volunteer activities?
I am the church treasurer and trustee.

What do you do for fun? Hobbies?
I attend church regularly, play softball and attend my daughters' athletic events and school activities.

What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about you?
My sense of humor. I attend many Christian rock concerts.