Sketch Your CPA Future: One CPA’s Blueprint for Success

I am certain of two things: Being a CPA opens doors. And plotting the path to an ultimate career goal is critical to ensuring the journey is worthwhile.

My personal story did not start with me getting my CPA right out of school. In fact, I graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in finance and my first job was working as a temp for the Virginia Department of Corrections. While working in the Human Resource department, I made friends quickly and found out about a permanent job in the accounting department. Then, after a year, a college friend let me know that the Virginia Department of Taxation was hiring. With her help, I was hired.

Later, I jumped on a multi-state tax auditor position. Again, another friend, who was the former administrative assistant with the director who oversaw this section, made sure to introduce us. I got the job. Being the only female auditor had its challenges, but I knew if I was going to get ahead I would have to work hard to learn my craft. I would show them they did not make a mistake by hiring me.

I finally gained the trust of my fellow co-workers, and when one of the senior auditors asked if I would review his work, I started to see that my hard work was paying off. Of course, winning over my fellow co-workers was easy compared to going into the field and going up against men who were twice my age and held titles like vice president, CFO or director of taxation.

I once had a male employee of a large corporation say to me “I have a daughter older than you.” I just remembered what Eleanor Roosevelt said: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” I just smiled and said, “Yes sir, and I am still the auditor from Virginia.”

But I also started to see that these men didn’t just hold titles — they all were CPAs. I knew that if I was going to get ahead and be taken seriously by these men, I was going to have to get my CPA.

So I started at Virginia Commonwealth University at night to receive a post-baccalaureate certificate in accounting. As anyone who has ever worked and gone to school will tell you, it is a challenge. But then add in traveling out of town every other week. It became impossible to go to school and stay at my job, so I knew that something would have to change. At this point, my goal of getting the CPA designation was more important than getting ahead at the tax department. I left.

Because of some other life choices, I lived in Germany for two years and ran an H&R Block office. I finally returned back to the states and to VCU. I was more determined than ever to get my degree and CPA, so I worked days and went to school at night. I finally graduated and achieved my CPA.

To try out my new wings as a CPA, I worked in corporate America for several years, but I missed my time working with folks at H&R Block. I wanted my own business, and I knew continuing to get ahead in corporate America was not what I wanted to do.

At the same time I received my CPA, a friend invited me to join the American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA). I became involved in the society and the local Richmond chapter and was elected to the board.

Because of my networking and contacts, I was told that a local accounting firm was hiring, so I applied. During my interview, I still remember being asked where I saw myself in five years. I answered that I wanted to own my own CPA firm, but I might consider being a partner at that firm. Well, they hired me.

The three partners helped me to learn my craft and encouraged me to grow. I continued my networking by joining the VSCPA and the VSCPA Richmond Chapter. I also continued my formal education, returning to VCU to get my Certificate in Financial Planning and sitting for and passing the CFP^® exam.  I later returned to graduate school for my master’s degree in taxation, which I received in December 2007.

When the local firm merged with a larger regional firm, I became a manager, continued to improve my skills as a tax CPA and continued my education and networking.

In the summer of 2008, two things really made me think about what I wanted to do with my life: a mission trip to Russia and being elected to the national board of the ASWA. I discovered that I wanted to help people my way, and that I had a strong network behind me. I began to think about the path I was on, about my career and “getting ahead” and about that goal of owning my own CPA firm.

In November 2008, I left my career as manager to start my own CPA firm. This had been my goal for a long time. Even though I was finally “on my own,” I was not by myself.

So if I was going to leave you with any great words of wisdom that I have learned over my accounting career about getting ahead, it would be:

1. Have a main career goal: Think about what you want to be when you “grow up.” The better you can define it, the better you can start to form it, and to know what skills you need and where you are trying to end up.
2. Never stop learning with either formal or informal education: Remember, most CPAs get 40 hours each year of continuing education. Don’t sleep through it! Continue to learn your craft and strive to be the best CPA you can be.
3. Network, network, network: Join your professional organization, attend meetings and get involved. If you aren’t a member already, join the VSCPA (www.vscpa.com) and ASWA (www.aswa.org — yes, guys can join too). Get involved by serving on a committee; maybe chair one; and then, when you are ready, serve on its board. Believe me, the skills and contacts you make are worth the time. As you can tell by my career story, friends, contacts and professional organizations were instrumental in helping me gain new experience and move my career forward.
4. Have fun: Remember, we spend more time with the people we work with than our own family. If you are not enjoying going to work, then you might want to consider why. Remember the words of John Lennon: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” It is no fun going through life with a job you hate while you wait for something better to come along — go make it happen. If your goal is to get ahead, make sure you enjoy the ride as well.

Dianna M. Patton, CPA, CFP^®, MTAX, owns her own firm, Patton Tax Group, LLC, in Richmond. She has more than 20 years of experience in accounting, including work in private, public and government sectors. Contact her at dianna@pattontaxgroup.com or connect with her at www.linkedin.com/in/diannapatton.

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