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Justin O'Horo

Senior Manager
WithumSmith+Brown, PC
Red Bank, NJ

 

“The best bad advice I've ever been given” is how Justin O’Horo describes his guidance counselor’s suggestion to try accounting.

“The counselor suggested it because I was good at math,” he recalls. “But after 10 years in the business, I still don't really know what high school math and accounting have to do with each other.”

A little more relevant, according to Justin, are things like determination, an interest in meeting people and learning new things. Fortunately, he had all those qualities – and as a senior manager at WithumSmith+Brown, he’s found a career as a CPA to be a great fit.

“Every day brings with it a different challenge and new level of excitement. In the course of a given week, I could spend a day working closely with an audit team to get a report out ahead of a tight dealine, a day golfing with the CFO of a major client to discuss his business needs and determine how I can help and a day networking with referral sources while working together on a committee of a community-based organization." Must be rough.

Justin likes to challenge himself in a variety of ways off-the-clock as well. “When I'm not working, I try to play as much golf as I can. And I'm teaching myself how to play the guitar.” He’s also into fitness, and has travelled extensively, thanks in part to the freedom and financial stability his CPA career has brought him.

Sometimes “bad” advice works out pretty well.

Got questions of your own? Ask a CPA.