Susan Coffey, CPA, CGMA, has labored for the Affiliation of Worldwide Licensed Skilled Accountants (the Affiliation) for greater than 30 years, however she by no means will get bored. Coffey has held many management roles on the Affiliation through the years, and her latest function is probably a fruits of her experience and expertise. In January 2021, Coffey was promoted to the brand new place of CEO of public accounting for the Affiliation. Beforehand, she was govt vp of public apply.
“It’s been a fantastic expertise as a result of I’ve had so many alternatives to develop and check out various things all through the course of my profession,” Coffey mentioned.
The Affiliation is probably probably the most influential physique {of professional} accountants, because it combines the strengths of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Administration Accountants (CIMA), which symbolize practically 700,000 members, college students and professionals in public and administration accounting. The Affiliation’s mission is to assist a dynamic accounting career that’s ready to satisfy the calls for of a continuously altering world.
In her new function, Coffey units technique for, strengthens and advances the worldwide accountancy career with a give attention to the worth of public accounting. Regardless of the novelty of her place and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Coffey is making a coordinated effort to attach with as many members as doable throughout the Affiliation.
“I miss tremendously that in-person connection, so I’m actually trying ahead to getting again on the street. It’s not fairly the identical just about,” Coffey mentioned.
For Coffey, making connections with colleagues is of paramount significance to being a profitable chief. Each ladies and men who’ve aspirations of changing into a pacesetter within the area ought to hunt down advocates who will assist them, Coffey mentioned.
“All of us want advocates, and we’re very fortunate if we get sponsors. Each women and men could be nice advocates and nice sponsors. Girls don’t need to sponsor ladies, and vice versa. Advocacy and sponsorship contain quite a lot of belief, each gaining and conserving it,” Coffey mentioned.
Coffey additionally really useful searching for progress alternatives and going outdoors of 1’s consolation zone, as each have served her nicely alongside her profession. When Coffey graduated from Fairfield College in Fairfield, Connecticut, with a level in accounting, she wasn’t certain what she needed to do as a profession, so she joined PricewaterhouseCoopers’ accounting and auditing apply earlier than finally touchdown a job on the Affiliation.
“I knew I needed to work for one of many largest companies due to the chance it will afford me later,” Coffey mentioned.
Certainly, after a number of years with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Coffey joined the Affiliation, the place she has been ever since. Coffey beloved her first job with the Affiliation, particularly her teammates, who she mentioned displayed, “wonderful ardour for the career.” This, in flip, made her extra keen about her work.
“Whenever you couple that with dedication and conscientiousness and inclusivity, folks discover that, and that creates a pathway for management for your self,” Coffey mentioned.
Though Coffey has labored predominantly in a “man’s world,” she mentioned she has witnessed many wonderful ladies emerge as leaders all through her profession and that her expertise has been very constructive.
“I need to emphasize the significance of getting ardour and realizing learn how to handle folks, as a result of leaders are going to note that, each women and men, and they’re going to advocate for you and make it easier to succeed,” Coffey mentioned.
Regardless of the apparent challenges of the pandemic, Coffey mentioned there could also be a silver lining, as CPA companies and different companies are actually permitting extra flexibility for workers, significantly those that have to steadiness their careers with elevating a household.
“The factor I’m most pleased with is I raised two sons who’re profitable, and the rationale I used to be in a position to do this is I’ve flexibility in my job and labored for individuals who inspired me to design that flexibility,” Coffey mentioned.
