professional perspectives

Kyle Kagerbauer, CPA

Job title: Audit Manager l Employer: Strohm Ballweg LLP

What influenced your decision to become a CPA?

From an early age, I loved math and the concept of numbers. My dad worked in a corporate setting my entire childhood (although not in accounting or finance), and hearing about his experiences in business made me excited to have similar experiences.

How did you complete the 150 hours necessary to take the CPA Exam?

I attended the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (UWW) and majored in accounting. Once I received my bachelor’s degree, I returned to UWW for a fifth year to obtain my Master of Professional Accountancy degree (a one-year program somewhat unique to UWW).

What are some dead-wrong assumptions people make about CPAs?

An assumption students often make is that you should use public accounting as a stepping stone early in your career and make it a one- or two-year experience. I see a lot of young professionals leave public accounting before their experience has benefited them to the fullest. By exhausting that leverage early, you lose out on the opportunity to see the inner workings of many different companies. If you would like to have doors open to the possibility of upper management later in your career, I recommend staying in public accounting until you are a part of the management team — and from there, your options will be endless.

What’s the best part about your current job?

I enjoy the client interaction and serving our clients. Being able to meet deadlines for them and provide excellent service is very rewarding.

How did you find your first job out of college?

I was placed with Strohm Ballweg LLP through the internship matching program at UWW. It was a great process and afforded me the opportunity to see the company before making a long-term commitment.

What was your first year like?

My first year was a lot of learning and soaking up information. You can’t be a leader on day one, but you can contribute to a cause!

What surprised you the most when you started your job?

What surprised me most was how quickly I was entrusted with tasks to help the team. It provided the opportunity for quick learning and growth.

What’s the best thing about being a CPA?

Respect for the profession. With the CPA designation comes respect, but also expectations. The best thing about having the credential is that it opens the door to many opportunities.

What do you like most about the organization you work for?

What I enjoy most about Strohm Ballweg is our attention to client satisfaction. Never lose sight of the fact that you are in a service industry, as this ultimately drives your work product.

What are your goals for the future?

To continue utilizing the opportunities the profession provides me and to grow as an individual and a professional because of those opportunities.

Samantha Teal, CPA

Job title: Director of Finance l Employer: Blended Waxes Inc.

What influenced your decision to become a CPA?

Earning my CPA designation was a goal I set to challenge myself after having earned an MBA. The CPA designation is the gold standard when it comes to credentials. It was challenging, but I knew I was more than capable of passing the CPA Exam. The hardest part was staying motivated.

How did you complete the 150 hours necessary to take the CPA Exam?

Initially, I did not have any plans to obtain my CPA. But when I started working in public accounting, I realized the value of the designation. I already had credits from earning my MBA, and the remainder of the required credits were obtained by earning my BBA.

What are some dead-wrong assumptions people make about public accounting?

That we do taxes! Many have congratulated me on earning my CPA license only to ask if I can now help them with their state and federal tax filing. Yes, I could work in the tax field, but I choose not to. There are many other opportunities for CPAs in both public accounting and private industry.

What’s the best part about your current job?

The culture is the best part of my job. I work with a team of highly dedicated and caring individuals who know our organization inside and out. I really enjoy being able to work with them at a high level to ensure the future success of the company. In my role, every day is different.

How did you find your first job out of college?

My first job out of college (the first time) came through a connection I had. To pick up a few extra hours for disposable income, I assisted at a business valuation and forensic accounting firm as an intern, helping with marketing and data entry tasks. As I started to learn more about the accounting and consulting industries, I realized I loved the projects, the challenges, the clients and the general line of work — and I decided to return to school for an accounting degree.

What was your first year like?

I learned a lot — from best practices when it comes to dealing with clients to valuation models to understanding what “FUTA” is (remember, I didn’t have an accounting degree at this time). It was really a great job for me. I was able to learn anything and everything, as long as I remained curious.

What surprised you the most when you started your job?

Client interactions. I was intimidated and nervous during my first site visit. I didn’t know what to expect. But the clients I worked with were down to earth, passionate about their business and always more than happy to act as an open book on any project. I still find this to be true today. The clients are the best part of public accounting!

What’s the best thing about being a CPA?

The industry recognition and respect that comes along with the CPA credential is very beneficial.

What do you like most about the organization you work for?

I’m now employed by a private manufacturer, where I can work every day on small day-to-day items and big-picture projects and see the results in real time. I wanted to work where I could make a difference — and so far, I feel that I have.

What are your goals for the future?

My professional goal is to obtain the certified management accountant (CMA) credential.

Brooke Winter, CPA

Job title: Corporate Controller l Employer: Ad-Tech Medical Instrument Corp.

What influenced your decision to become a CPA?

I always enjoyed working with numbers and logic. My father was also a CPA and felt that it was a valuable way to start his career. Being a CPA provides a strong foundation for a variety of careers in the business world. So, it felt like the right choice.

How did you complete the 150 hours necessary to take the CPA Exam?

At UW–Madison I completed a double major in accounting and finance. This took me five years and got me the 150 credits needed for the exam and an extra year on campus.

What are some dead-wrong assumptions people make about public accounting?

The most common incorrect assumption that I have gotten is that people assume all CPAs do taxes. There are so many other career options for CPAs outside of tax preparation.

What’s the best part about your current job?

I’ve enjoyed the ownership that comes with the responsibility to prepare and analyze the financial statements, which assists the leadership team in making important strategic decisions. It’s also exciting to have an impact and influence over the annual budget, which I recently prepared and presented to the leadership team.

How did you find your first job out of college?

My first job out of college was in finance at SC Johnson (SCJ) in Racine. I got this job after being a summer intern, which I landed after talking with the company at the UW–Madison career fair.

What was your first year like?

Busy! The first year of “adult life” after college has lots of adjustments — a less flexible schedule, living in a new city and so forth. I was also still studying for the CPA Exam during the first year, so I spent most of my time either working or studying.

What surprised you the most when you started your job?

I was surprised by how much I had to learn on the job and how little I referenced things learned during college classes. There was much to learn about the systems used at SCJ, the company structure and company’s specific accounting practices.

What’s the best thing about being a CPA?

The responsibility that comes with the profession to prepare accurate and complete financials for key stakeholders like tax authorities, investors, boards of directors and other members of leadership. There is a lot of trust instilled in CPAs by these parties.

What do you like most about the organization you work for?

At Ad-Tech, I really appreciate the transparency and approachableness of the leadership team. It’s fun to work in an environment where I can be myself and feel that my voice is heard and my opinions are valued.

What are your goals for the future?

I’d like to be a CFO of a small to mid-sized company someday.