A senior manager in Crowe Horwath’s audit practice, Mark Demos, 36, specializes in auditing financial service companies. He’s a bicoastal professional with experience in New York, Los Angeles and Michigan. He’s often on the road. TITLE: Audit Senior Manager FIRM: Crowe Horwath, Sherman Oaks SPECIALTY: Audits for financial service clients HOBBIES: Fly fishing Question: Why accounting? Answer: Accounting is the foundation of business. I realized in college that if I wanted to be successful in business, I needed to understand accounting. The deeper I got into my accounting courses, the more I realized that I really enjoyed it. What defines “star accountants”? The most successful companies today are innovators, and with innovation comes new accounting issues. Even the most experienced partners need to be willing to challenge themselves. When we stop challenging ourselves, we’ve stopped learning. Best part of your job: I love the dynamic nature of public accounting. I’m working with different teams, different clients and different accounting issues. I really enjoy the variety of challenges and people. Biggest misconception about accounting? The accountant stereotype. Most people assume accountants are “bean counters” who sit behind a desk and crunch numbers all day. In reality, public accountants are client-focused and spend time working one-on-one with clients and with the staff serving that client. Your personality at work: Most people would describe me as pretty calm. We work under tight deadlines, and a calming force on the team can really help to keep everyone focused on the task at hand, rather than the difficulty of the task. Time management: I don’t spend all my time behind a desk crunching numbers. Some days I’m in my office taking calls from clients. Other days I’m in meetings in Los Angeles or in other parts of the country, or I’m in the field working directly with different teams and clients. New generation of accountants: My generation of accountants grew up with the hard-working values of the previous generation in a world that was changing. We have been able to leverage both of those worlds to understand the value of getting your hands dirty to really get things done, while using our understanding of the details to innovate new and exciting ways to do things more efficiently. Memorable experience? We work so closely in teams and on the road that there are more funny team moments than I can count. Some of the most rewarding experiences have been working with young startup companies and working with companies that are trying to clean up their books and get audit-ready for the first time. At the end of the audit, it is a great feeling to issue the audit opinion knowing that the audit team and the client put in the hard work to make it happen. How should the profession change? There is a lot going on with cognitive technology with endless possibilities for the industry. Development of new technology can help to make accounting and financial reporting more efficient, as well as help to create a more rewarding experience for those just entering the field. Favorite out-of-the-office activity? I’m an avid fly fisherman. I find it to be a great escape from the high-paced business environment and always return recharged. I also really enjoy finding common ground with clients in the experience. It is really rewarding to find a client or prospect who shares the same passion for the sport. Career advice: Keep an open mind and try to keep the big picture in mind. Some of the greatest value in accounting comes from the new talent in the marketplace. A fresh perspective and fresh suggestions are factors that drive the profession forward. Biggest mistake by clients: My most successful clients view their CPA firms as part of the process, rather than a commodity. Including their CPA firm in the decision-making process can be quite valuable. We have diversified experience and can add value beyond audit and tax services when we’re incorporated early and often. Life during tax season: It is no secret that tax season can be challenging. A vast majority of our work happens in a three- to four-month timespan. Work-life balance can certainly be a challenge during that time. However, it is a great time to further relationships with engagement teams and clients and it certainly is what gives this industry the flexibility of time the rest of the year, which I believe is one of the great perks of this industry. Accounting mentor? I’ve had the opportunity to work with a number of very experienced partners and clients. I’ve taken knowledge from all of them and used that to mold my approach to running engagement teams and offices. That is one of the great aspects of this profession. We get a chance to work with so many talented people and take the pieces that we find work best for us and use that to craft a personal style. – Carol Lawrence
