Zachary Gordon, CPA – 2023 “40 Under 40” Honoree

Career Highlights
This year has been a BIG one, as I started my own accounting and consulting firm, Red Five, to focus on delivering fractional CFO, accounting and tax services to industries including crypto, cannabis, psychedelics, artificial intelligence, and tech. These industries in particular are unique in their challenges and fit in to my history as a volunteer and entrepreneur. I have worked extensively with other entrepreneurs in these industries for many years and now get to really roll my sleeves up and dive in. This was a long time coming and has been an exciting move! It also gave me the flexibility needed to continue serving the community through the AICPA, NYSSCPA, CoFounders Lab, The Bad Joke Accountant, and other endeavors.

What are you doing to make a difference in the profession, your community, the world?
I started The Bad Joke Accountant, focusing on mental health awareness through humor, particularly bad accounting jokes. It serves as a testament to the belief in the power of laughter and community to overcome the mental health challenges present in the accounting industry. In addition to serving as a mentor to new entrepreneurs and serving on multiple Boards and committees at the state and national level, The Bad Joke Accountant has been a rewarding and energizing experience in trying to improve and (pardon the pun) bring balance to the accounting industry.

Current Professional Reading / Listening
I am currently reading Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono and rereading The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney/Sean Covey/Jim Huling (can you sense a theme developing?)

See all of the 2023 “40 Under 40” and “20 Under 40” honorees.