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Diana Deem

Senior Manager - Congressional Affairs
AICPA (that's us)
Washington, D.C.

 

Work hard, play hard? Not if you ask Diana Deem. "I always thought I liked that cliché," she says, but at this point in her life, "I understand more about balance."

These days it's more about working to live ("Not the other way around," Diana stresses) and believing in what you do. That doesn't mean she takes it easy – not at all. She’s on Capitol Hill attending hearings, participating in meetings to determine how legislative and regulatory proposals could affect the accounting profession. Pretty intense stuff.

"Having a positive impact on public policy is very exciting," she says. "I also really enjoy the people I work with. Some are CPAs and others are not, but all are incredibly interesting people and have a passion for public policy."

Diana got to where she is – fulfilling her goals, loving her job and shaping federal laws – by using her talents and keeping her options open. “I wanted a major in college that would allow me to be both creative and marketable,” she says. “And I wanted to use my math and people skills. Accounting seemed like a good fit.”

A good fit indeed. Before working with policymakers on Capitol Hill, she started her career on the audit staff at PricewaterhouseCoopers. “Public accounting, specifically, lets you see a lot of business, government and not-for-profit organizations from the inside out,” she reports.

And it has given her chances to do all sorts of rewarding things; she continues to work with her sons' high school music department even though they have both graduated. She and her husband are also currently hosting an Egyptian high school exchange student in their home. 

Looking at Diana, it seems like a healthy attitude is the true key to a successful career.

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