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Scott Spiegel

Chief Financial Officer
AICPA (that's us)
Durham, NC

 

Can you “make it big” and still look back? Scott Spiegel thinks so.

He went from being a dishwasher in a restaurant to being the Chief Financial Officer at the AICPA (with a few steps in between). At his job at the restaurant, Scott gained insight into serving customers, from seating them properly to clearing the tables quickly and ultimately washing dishes—all in an efficient way. “These little lessons still hold true in what I do today—being efficient in responding to member and customer inquiries and approaching work with a positive attitude and outlook,” Scott said.

Now as the Chief Financial Officer for the AICPA, he oversees a key operational function, accounting for corporate transactions as well as helping outline the organization’s future. He currently serves as the treasurer of his kid’s preschool, serves on a board for an organization that promotes the emotional development of children, volunteers time at a history museum that’s in its early development as well as a volunteer member of a CPA committee and he donates time at a local childrens' museum. He’s got a fun office with toys strewn around and sports memorabilia on the walls, lined with happy pictures of his family. How could anyone have reservations about all that?

In truth, Scott doesn’t. But he does have a couple of regrets you can learn from. "I wish I knew how to seek out a mentor as I was entering college,” he admits. “Having someone to give me their insight into what the real world was like, beyond just talking to my parents, would have prepared me better.” He also wishes he had “developed a sense of community/volunteerism” early on.

But those are pretty easy fixes, really. Scott has certainly addressed the volunteerism thing with his childrens’ museum and CPA committee work, and it looks like even without a mentor things have worked out pretty well for him professionally. But it’s even easier to avoid regrets if you’re at the other end of Scott’s career path, and just starting out. Take a tip from him, look for a mentor and give back to your community.

Oh, and become a CPA. “It opens so many possibilities,” he says. “It’s a great foundation for anyone considering a career in the business world.” Especially a super-successful one like Scott’s.

Got questions of your own? Ask a CPA.