Partner
Deloitte LLP
New York, NY
Things for Shaun Budnik come in twos and threes. She’s got two decades of experience as a CPA, three kids (and three dogs), two wheels on the motorcycle she rides whenever she can and three main reasons she loves what she does:
“Helping people. Interacting with bright minds on a regular basis. Being challenged and having room to be creative with ideas.” (Technically, that last one was a two-fer, so that would be four reasons, but we’ll let it slide.)
Shaun was promoted to partner at Deloitte in 2000, and in 2006 she became President of the Deloitte Foundation and joined the organization’s Talent division. Now her clients fall into two categories: Universities and the people of Deloitte.
She starts each day by cycling, for a little two-wheel action, then double-times it to the office where she takes three-way calls to brainstorm with both her clients and her colleagues.
Shaun really enjoys finding out how her clients’ businesses work, which she says is “cool,” and she likes the pay that comes with it. “I make more money than I could have imagined in high school.”
But it’s not just perks that make accounting a cool profession for Shaun. As you might have guessed, it’s a two-way street: “Volunteer efforts are numerous for CPAs,” she says. “You can not only help groups with your expertise, but also by working for large companies that give back to the community.”
Doubly cool.
Years as a CPA: 23
Best job: Actress
Worst job: Video rentals
Hobbies outside of work: Cycling
Pets: Dogs