Jennifer Wilson – 2024 Most Powerful Women in Accounting

The people! Such earnest, smart, committed people work within this profession. And I’ve made so many life-long friends within the profession, people that I’d do anything to help, and I feel confident they’d do the same for me, too. One thing you can count on – people within the accounting profession pull together to solve problems or achieve shared goals and it’s very, very gratifying.

How have you personally seen the roles of women evolve in the accounting profession? Happily, we’ve grown in number, so our importance to employers is at least equal to our male counterparts. More women have ascended to leadership, and they’re doing their best to elevate other women and bring them along, too. Happily, next generation male team members naturally take on more at home, which has also created a shared empathy in the workplace with male colleagues for the important home roles women have traditionally played, normalizing parental leave, flexibility and so many other benefits that make holding a “big job” easier for women.

What do you anticipate will be the biggest change in the accounting profession in the next 10 years? The rise of Millennial and Gen Z leaders and the retirement of Baby Boomers will drive the most meaningful change in the face of firms and finance departments, driving cultural changes including more inclusivity, more flexibility, modern technology advancement, and more opportunity for all.

What is your favorite professional mobile app, and why?

I still love Snapchat! I have streaks with my three daughters and husband Brian that are THOUSANDS of days – it is a wonderful way to connect quickly and visually, and the video and filters are awesome! I stay in touch with my nieces and nephews, co-workers, some clients, and others who live away from me almost daily in a fun way. Yesterday, I snap-videoed with a nephew and his two young sons who sang happy birthday to my dad, turning 94. He loved it!

What are your favorite podcasts?

Glennon Doyle’s We Do Hard Things; Dan Hood’s Accounting Today On the Air; J of A podcasts; Randy Crabtree’s The Unique CPA

What books have you read recently that you would like to recommend?

Joey Havens’ Leading with Significance, Adam Grant’s Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know (wonderful on distinguishing when you’re entrenched or stuck)

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