Christopher Hamilton, MBA – 2016 20 Under 40 Superstar Honoree

 

Q&A:

Aside from the accounting websites, which blog/website do you consider a must-read?

I enjoy reading The Economist to catch up on the latest news globally. I’m also passionate about technology and have a number of tech blogs in my daily rotation, including Stratechery which dives deeply into tech topics of the day.

In what ways have you contributed to your firm/company to make it better?

Intuit is a wonderful place with amazing people who are always looking to make a difference. I’ve given back to Intuit by participating in the mentorship program and serving as a mentor to several product managers. I’ve also been an active participant in helping recruit talent to the company — and have made an effort to help recruit and interview for functions outside of product management. And I’ve been part of a group that is dedicated to teaching product management skills across the broader organization.

In what ways do you participate in the professional community to change/improve the accounting profession?

I enjoy participating in events hosted by ProAdvisors, where I’m able to connect with accountants and learn from them. I also love to share with them the work we are doing as part of the ProAdvisor Program to help accountants grow their practice and serve as a trusted advisor to their clients.

In what ways do you participate in your local community to help others?

Throughout the year I enjoy volunteering at community events in the city where I live and also at my children’s school and local church. During the holidays, I appreciate the opportunity to give back by volunteering time with non-profit organizations and participating in holiday giving programs to sponsor families in need.

What changes do you foresee in the accounting profession of the near future (3-5 years)?

In the future, our profession will be less about taking data in and reconciling, and more about the use of automation and machine learning. We’re going to be able to use data to do a lot of the work, but this will not be able to replace the wisdom, experience, advice and counsel accounting professionals provide. That’s going to be the profession of the future.

How do you see yourself participating in shaping the future of the accounting profession?

I want to do everything possible to empower accounting practices to become “firms of the future” so that they can transform their practice to fuel growth. The ProAdvisor Program is heavily invested in making it easier to make the jump to the cloud, facilitating the adoption of value pricing and encouraging firms grow their practice and attract new clients through digital marketing.

What is your career philosophy?

Simply put, pursue opportunities that make you excited to get out of bed every morning. Approach every day with a positive attitude, passion and a strong work ethic — and most importantly, have fun. Lean hard into opportunities that stretch your thinking and involve continuous learning.

Describe one person who has been an important mentor to you and how that person helped change your life.

My father. He has always encouraged me to pursue my passions throughout life, whether they were extracurriculars at school or career related. He also has emphasized the importance of devoting and enjoying time with family and friends — and finding the proper balance when life gets hectic. And last but not least, he’s taught me life is a lot more fun when you have a healthy sense of humor!

 

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Learn more about this year’s 40 Under 40, and 20 Under 40 Honorees.