Accounting Adds Up at DGN
DGN's 20 CPAs and candidates find accounting is a 'balanced' choice.
Thirty years ago, when Mary Krantz was an accounting student at Central Michigan University, only 10 percent of the nation’s CPAs were women. Today, more than half of U.S. accounting graduates are female and firms across the country are welcoming women at all career points – from entry level through partner.
Public accounting is proving to be a great success story for professional women of all ages. The field offers flexibility, security, challenge, mobility and a broad range of career paths. During the 1980’s, women began breaking through the industry’s proverbial glass ceiling and have progressively moved into the highest levels of management. And the numbers – seasoned professionals to brand new graduates – keep adding up. Recent statistics show more than 106,000 women are members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) up from 2,000 in 1972 and only 750 during the mid-1950’s.
Locally, the trends mirror the national upswing. Krantz joined Dennis, Gartland and Niergarth (DGN) in 1986 after beginning her career in Lansing. She followed a traditional path from staff auditor to supervisor to manager before becoming a DGN partner, and the region’s first partner in a large public accounting firm, in 1998. Today, three of the DGN’s eight partners are women with Shelly Bedford named in 2006 and Heidi Wendel in 2007. Mobility is shown at all levels. Two-thirds of the firm’s 45-member staff are women, with almost half in leadership positions.
“Things have certainly changed,” said Lois Roper Forrester, a DGN tax manager. “When I attended CPE (continuing professional education) in the 1980’s, it was generally 80% percent men.
“Early on, I interviewed for a job and the male partner said that he had never worked a female CPA, but he would consider hiring me because of my experience,” she said. “I left the interview knowing that I would never accept a job at that firm.”
The pathways to public accounting take many routes.
Forrester chose her career after taking classes and working as a bookkeeper’s assistant while in high school. Similarly, Krantz was exposed to the field through classroom career explorations and summer jobs. Karen Kuehlhorn, a DGN tax manager and pension plan consultant, received her degree and certification when in her 40’s, completing her studies without leaving Traverse City. Krin Clary pursued a master’s program in accountancy after earning a bachelor of business administration.
Others shifted focus while pursuing other endeavors.
Staff accountant Kelly Burtchett, a 2008 Ferris State University graduate, was on track to study nursing until an internship in a local emergency room caused her to question whether health care was the right fit for her. “I found that I didn’t like nursing, but I was good at my accounting classes and really enjoyed them,” she said.
“Accounting as a profession definitely works for me. Your mind is constantly active and never bored. And, I enjoy the responsibility along with the freedom that the job gives us,” she said. “I also feel like there’s a great deal of flexibility – you can choose a limited schedule or a power career. You have the choice to take your career to whatever best suits you and your lifestyle.
Challenge, flexibility and aptitude with numbers are often cited as top attractions to the field.
“When I was growing up, I loved logic problems, number crossword puzzles and building legos … Accounting really fit my ‘nerdy numbers’ side,” said Laura Reinhold, CPA, who earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University prior to pursuing an accounting degree. “I love the fact that, in accounting, everything has to balance.”
Reinhold, who began at DGN as a tax season intern and was recently promoted to senior accountant, gives high points to the variety in her work assignments, increasing client contact and the collegiality and support among the entire staff. Flexibility and work/life balance are also pluses that she’ll test further when she becomes a new mother this summer.
“The next chapter will be figuring out how to be a mom as well as an accountant,” Reinhold said, “but I have some great role models here…who have done it well and are so supportive.”
Burtchett agreed. “Coming into this profession as a newbie, it’s really inspiring to have such young partners to look up to. ,” she said. “It gives all of us drive…someone to look up to and something to look forward to.”
The veteran CPAs encourage others to consider the field, especially in northern Michigan.
“I have worked in both public accounting and the private sector as a controller. There are many advantages to each,” Forester said. “I believe that everyone that is interested in accounting should start out in public accounting, which you need for your CPA license anyway. Once you have your CPA, there many career choices available.”
“There’s currently a labor shortage in the accounting field, so there are opportunities almost everywhere,” Krantz said. “I’m so happy that we made to decision to move to Traverse City. The quality of life is wonderful, and the flexibility at DGN has been great. I’ve been able to provide audit and accounting, tax and consulting services instead of being concentrated in just one department as I was downstate.”
“I enjoy working with clients in a variety of industries, learning their businesses and helping them find solutions to issues they have,” Krantz said. “The smaller community makes it easier to develop and maintain relationships.”