Sarah Elliott, CPA, PCC – 2022 Most Powerful Women in Accounting

TRAITS OF AWARD WINNERS

1. She has been the driving force to create a culture of excellence, innovation, and inclusion. If she is a vendor, she has helped to develop the technologies and solutions that will empower organizations to be more productive and profitable.
2. She is one of the top leaders in the accounting profession and her leadership has had a demonstrable effect upon the accomplishments of the organization with which she is associated.
3. She is a mentor, sponsor, and a role model, someone who stands out in her ability to encourage and help those around her thrive and flourish.
4. The work she does is influential and is having a positive impact on the accounting profession as a whole.

PERSPECTIVES

What do you feel is the most important issue facing the accounting profession today?

The global pandemic has highlighted challenges that already existed – our deep, human longing for more meaning and connection in our lives. The physical disconnection has highlighted a disconnection that we’ve felt for many years before the pandemic – a disconnection from not only one another but from our true selves.

The traditional accounting model (and most business models in general) is based on outdated notions of “human productivity,” where our value is measured by the hours we put in, our output and increases to the bottom line. We are not machines, and profit is not purpose. We must find and reconnect with that which makes us human – purpose, meaning, creativity, and connection. We must take better care of ourselves, so we don’t sacrifice our own well-being for the sake of another dollar. We must release the pressure, take more risks with each another and let go of trying to get it all right or perfect. We must seek to understand one another as human beings, rather than workhorses or profit centers. Only then can we create a true sense of belonging and purpose in this profession. If we can’t, people will leave to find it elsewhere. 

What one thing would you recommend accountants do to prepare for the future?

In an environment of ambiguity and ever accelerating change, we must be more human-centric leaders. The authoritarian, ego-based leadership model has long passed its expiration date. It’s time to fully embrace a more conscious, evolved form of leadership – to cultivate this in yourself and others. We need leaders who:

• Genuinely care about others and demonstrate compassion and respect for all.
• Put the well-being of others before their own ego and personal comfort.
• Are humble and acknowledge they don’t have all the answers.
• Want to learn and are always evolving.
• Can let go of what they think they know to find new solutions.  
• Listen first, with a desire to understand other perspectives, so they can continuously expand their own perspective and make wiser decisions. 
• Lead with their minds and their hearts, seeking to collaborate and unite, rather than compete or divide.
• Help others find their power, rather than hold power over others.
• Take care of themselves, so they can show up more fully for others.

Each of us can consciously choose to be this kind of leader each and every day, and organizations can consciously choose to invest in creating a coaching culture that cultivates the leaders we need.

What one skill or experience would you recommend that young women getting started in the accounting profession master?

We need bold women to model what it means to be a more conscious, human-centric leader. Never stop learning. Always be open to new perspectives. Be bravely kind – use your voice to speak your truth and be willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of doing what is right.

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Read more about the 2022 Most Powerful Women in Accounting Winners.