The person that I interviewed is Hillary Burr. She is a CPA and works for Wolf & Company, P.C. Her job title is a Tax Supervisor.
Are people surprised to learn you're a CPA? Why or why not?
I don’t know if they are as surprised to learn that I am a CPA as much as that I enjoy what I do. The CPA title carries weight when I talk to clients and anyone about my career but what makes an impact is someone actually liking what they do and being proud of their hard work.
What does your job entail?
The majority of my job is reviewing tax returns. At this point I would say 80% of the clients I work on are individuals. I still work on a few partnerships and corporations but enjoy the individual clients the most. The busiest times of year for me are before April 15th and October 15th (the extended deadline). We definitely have enough to do all year long though with quarterly estimates, planning, non-calendar year end clients and any other events or transactions that arise during the year.
Do you think you have made a difference by being a CPA?
Absolutely. This July I went to New Orleans with 14 CPAs from Massachusetts, North Carolina and Illinois. We worked with Operation Hope to provide pro-bono services to small businesses in and around New Orleans and Houma, LA. This was an experience unlike any I have had before. We were helping these individuals learn how to better take care of their business and as a result, their families and their futures. Everything they wanted to know was already in our heads or a few minutes’ worth of research away. That one-week we saw over 150 clients between presentations and one on one time with them. We absolutely made a difference and I would do it over in a heartbeat.
What advice do you have for someone who is thinking about joining the profession?
Do an internship. If possible, do two or find one that lets you experience both the