It’s taken me a month to make the announcement, because the award timing was smack-dab in the middle of tax season… but I was recently named one of the Top 50 Women in Accounting by Practice Ignition — one of only 20 women in the United States.

The coveted international annual award, in the words of the sponsors, is determined as such:

Those included in the list came from all corners of the globe and ranked among the highest on our anonymised scoring system which took into account;

• Dedication to promoting inclusivity and diversity in the workplace and beyond
• Investment in the next generation and the future leaders of accounting
• Advocacy of the accounting industry and support of the wider community

I was honored to be nominated, even more so to be awarded, and excited to have the opportunity to share how our firm lifts up the voices of women in our field. The award is designed to celebrate the women who are driving advocacy, change and creating opportunities in the Accounting and Bookkeeping industry.

As such, they asked us the following questions, and I wanted to share my answers, because I feel that an award is only as good as the reasons for its being given. Thank you to Practice Ignition and the greater accounting and bookkeeping community for this wonderful honor.

---

1) Provide an example of how you are actively promoting inclusivity and diversity in your workplace?

Our firm is focused on a hyper-local population of small businesses in my Chicago neighborhood, so most inclusivity efforts are focused here in the community. I speak Spanish, which enables me to share vital accounting information with an often-underserved population. 

I’ve done significant outreach to Spanish-speaking communities regarding PPP lending. Almost a quarter of Chicagoans are native Spanish speakers, and the pandemic has made the need for professional fiscal guidance for these small business owners more urgent. I spearheaded a pro bono event for our state representative’s office in a largely Latino neighborhood, which was then translated into Spanish, and did a radio interview on a Spanish-langage show to promote it. I also created a blog post with both my interview and the Spanish-translated version of the webinar. 

I do this work after-hours, for free: not to court clients or try to be a hero, but because I believe all small businesses deserve access to expert guidance, not just those who can afford it—especially during a massive economic contraction. 

I also strive to mentor, coach, and funnel new business towards bookkeepers and accountants of color. I’m privileged to have an amazing network and share with others as much as possible. 

2) Explain how you are investing in, and championing, the future of accounting and advocating for the next generation of leaders?

Because I believe in promoting food security, worker fairness and equitable economics, I’m working to mentor the next generation in the specifics of co-op accounting. I give presentations for the NCBA (National Co-op Business Association), NSAC (National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives) and CPG (Co-op Professionals Guild) on the different types of co-ops, demonstrating their sustainability as an economic structure. The pro bono work I do in these groups is an effective way to share knowledge—teaching valuable skills and modeling leadership for the next generation.

I also offer numerous free webinars and consultations to young women accountants through organizations like Bookkeeping Buds (more below). In addition, I employ three outstanding women as my staff—having introduced two of them to this career path and provided their initial training and development. They receive both monthly and annual paid training hours, and we have weekly mentorship meetings—as well as ad hoc training sessions—and I pay for their continuing education classes. This investment benefits my business in the short run, but I do it because I’m committed to their professional development long-term as women in a male-dominated industry. My first hire has even gone on to start her own bookkeeping business.

3) Provide an example of how you are promoting advocacy of the accounting industry and actively supporting the wider community.

I provide regular pro bono continuing education and mentoring for newer industry members through Bookkeeping Buds, a national community that helps women bookkeepers grow stronger practices by sharing support, resources and education. Throughout the pandemic, I’ve shared my expertise in areas such as PPP,  ERC, RRF, and local/state/industry grants—as well as the bookkeeping and tax ramifications of those programs—extensively: on a daily basis with members on Slack, and through free targeted webinars. I was honored to be awarded 2020’s “Bud of the Year” for my contributions!

My award-winning blog is the community service I offer of which I am proudest, because I use it to.provide free accounting resources to small businesses who do not have the funds to hire a CPA. I earn no money from ads or commissions.

Finally, I made the decision not to charge my clients for work on COVID-19 relief resources in the first three months of the pandemic. These small businesses were already hard-hit—to ask for money they don’t have during an economic crisis simply didn’t feel right to me. Giving small businesses my time was the best way I could think of to help them—and my beloved Chicago community of Logan Square—survive.

---