Stacy I. Kildal, ACQB – 2016 Most Powerful Women in Accounting

Q&A:

What would you suggest to accounting firms that are interested in retaining and advancing more qualified female staff?

​ ​I’m going to copy and paste my answer from last year, because it hasn’t changed: I would rather encourage more women to start their own practices – whether they are CPA firms, bookkeeping firms or consulting practices – and tell them to not to be afraid to invest put some money into education, hiring and technology.

Why did you choose to work in – and stay in – the accounting field?

I was working as an office manager right after I graduated high school and assisted with QuickBooks, then took an accounting class ​and just fell in love with it. I stay in it because 23 years later, I still love it.  

What are you currently reading?

​ The Lost Star of Myth & Time

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

I share what we’ve found working for Kildal Services with other accounting professionals via StacyKAcademy.com. I’ve found a way to take a hobby – finding and testing apps – into a resource (AppasaurusRex.com) for my peers; the ones that may not be comfortable doing it, or have time/interest in exploring them. And I’m always going to be that early adopter and shout from the rooftops about software and hardware that I love and helps me run my business and my life, whether it’s QuickBooks Online or a new Ringly ring.

Describe one person who has been an important mentor to you and how that person helped shape the direction or focus of your professional life.

​My dad. As a small business owner, he showed me that hard work ​ and the best advice he gave me was: “Before you do something, think about it. And before you do it, think about it again.” It really clicked for me after I started out on my own.

Please share a personal rule or principle that you follow.

I’m a firm believer that there is no such thing as a bookkeeping emergency; no one’s life depends on me getting that bank rec done.​
 

 

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See the other recipients of the 2016 Most Powerful Women in Accounting award.