I AM THE VSCPA

HAVING FUN AT WORK >> Two minutes with Vince Nadder, CPA

VINCE NADDER, CPA >>

Th is Keiter partner is NOT a champion poker player.

Vince Nadder has been a partner at Glen Allen fi rm Keiter since 2012. He has spent 19 years in public accounting, providing tax and consulting services to privately held companies, mostly professional services fi rms and real estate companies. He is the chair of Keiter’s Professional Services Industry team and the partner in charge of the fi rm’s cost segregation and historic rehabilitation tax credit certifi cation services.

I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT... Making Keiter a great place to work. CPAs, like many other professionals, spend quite a bit of time at work. When that workplace is fun, fulfi lling and full of energy, it is easy to do a great job for clients.

PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS, BUT… A few years ago I attempted to win my way into a World Poker Tour event by playing a small “qualifying” tournament. I was so jacked up and excited. I was prepared for a grueling 14-hour day of poker with a bag full of energy bars and vitamin water. I knew that once I knocked out the 50 other bums, I would be playing alongside the big boys for real money in a 500-player tournament. Unfortunately, I busted out in less than 30 minutes and had to make the walk of shame out of the casino.

MY ADVICE TO ASPIRING CPAs IS… Take a public speaking class. Th e role of a CPA is not just sitting at a desk crunching numbers. A signifi cant part of our job involves talking with clients, giving presentations and even teaching classes. Th e more comfortable you are speaking in front of people, the more skilled you will become at providing valuable information and being viewed as an expert in your fi eld.

I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT… A hug from each of my three kids and my wife. Even if they are asleep, I make sure to give them a hug goodbye. I made the mistake of leaving early one morning without telling my youngest son goodbye. He was sound asleep and I didn’t want to wake him. At 8 a.m. I received a scathing call from Nicholas (then 4 years old) about how I should never leave without giving him a hug and if I ever, EVER did that again, I was going to be in BIG trouble. I will not make that mistake again! I WISH CPAs KNEW… Everything. My clients ask me questions about almost everything: insurance, retirement, college, weddings ... you name it. It is an honor to know they trust me to answer so many things; however, sometimes the questions fall outside the scope of my knowledge. I am pleased to say that because of the many great connections with other professionals that I have made over the years, I can typically get an answer for my client.

WHEN I TOOK THE CPA EXAM… I thought passing it meant I was brilliant and the rest of my career would be a cakewalk. I was wrong. Every day for the last 19 years I have learned something new. Of course, the thousands of pages of changes to the tax code enacted by Congress every year also manages to keep me on my toes.

I AM A CPA BECAUSE… I am not good at poker! But seriously, being able to look under the hood and analyze the issues behind the numbers is exciting. Having the opportunity to help my clients achieve their goals as a company, while minimizing the tax impact, is why I’m proud to be a CPA. n