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Jay Montalbano

Senior Manager
Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP
Baton Rouge, LA

 

What does CPA certification mean to Jay Montalbano? “It means you invite challenges,” he’d tell you. “And that you’re not afraid to think outside the box to solve problems.”

Jay’s never had a problem thinking outside the box in his own life – for starters, how many people do you know who learned the value of higher learning from Grandma? “She fostered that passion at an early age,” he says. “She told me stories about my grandfather, how after he finished medical school, he quickly realized that to be the best doctor he could, he needed to go to pharmacy school. And he did.”

This decision made an impression on Jay – after passing the CPA exam, he went on to pursue certification in business valuations as well. “It expanded my knowledge,” Jay reports. “Now I’m more versatile in my profession.”

That helps a lot with his current work. He’s out meeting with clients a lot, and he’s really only in the office once or twice a week. In a given year he may work with 20 to 30 different companies, managing a team of staff auditors, and making sure the clients’ needs are met.

He also stays involved in the community, serving as a Junior Achievement volunteer and teaching 6th- and 7th-graders about entrepreneurship and the global economy. Grandma and Grandpa would be proud.

Jay’s got one more piece of advice for you, too, just in case you’re wondering how to invite challenges and think outside the box yourself: “Becoming a CPA is the best decision you can make.”

Got questions of your own? Ask a CPA.