Lara Abrash, CPA – 2024 Most Powerful Women in Accounting

I’ve known from a very young age that I wanted to be an accountant. In middle school, I had a project where we did the books and records for a project called Firehouse 123. More than 30 years later, the accounting and audit profession still energizes me. As all accountants know, accounting is the language of business—that’s something I learned early on with Firehouse 123 and was reinforced throughout my studies and career. But beyond that, accounting is a profession that has allowed me to use problem solving and critical thinking skills every day to make an impact for people, clients, and communities. It’s also a profession that is no stranger to innovation and transformation. Accountants are tech-savvy—leveraging analytics and AI to improve processes and gain valuable insights. Throughout my career in accounting, I have been able to face new challenges and opportunities, team with colleagues to find innovative solutions, and continue to learn and grow.

How have you personally seen the roles of women evolve in the accounting profession?

It used to be that women who rose the ranks in any profession, including accounting, were breaking the glass ceiling. But as I and fellow female colleagues continued to take on new leadership roles in the profession, it has stopped feeling momentous—and that’s a wonderful thing. While there is still more to do to ensure women continue to have a voice and a seat at the metaphorical and physical tables in the profession, we have come a long way. The powerful women on this list are evidence of that. Where I have seen great strides for women in the accounting profession is fostering environments that celebrate their superpowers. Women have a unique way of engaging with and taking the pulse of those around them, which is incredibly powerful to enhance the world of accounting and maintain human centricity. As the profession continues to evolve, it’s important we maintain our focus on inclusive behaviors so people from a variety of diverse backgrounds are represented and can see a path to success in the profession.

What do you anticipate will be the biggest change in the accounting profession in the next 10 years?

In the next 10 years, I expect to see a resurgence in the pipeline of the accounting profession, especially in racially and ethnically diverse professionals. And, as Deloitte has learned and validated through engagement with multiple stakeholder groups, there appears to be a set of interconnected themes driving the decline in accounting enrollment and CPA licensure.. For example, holistically there is a lack of awareness for this amazing profession and the doors it opens. In addition, there are opportunities to reduce structural barriers, augment the use of technology, and enhance recruiting efforts and talent models to grow the profession. In the next 10 years, I look forward to seeing key stakeholders band together and take bold actions to drive change. Not only will we increase the CPA pipeline, but we will get students excited for all a career in accounting entails—making it the career of choice for top talent.

Another prominent change the profession will see is the intersection of technology, human capabilities, and trust. The profession has and will continue to undergo significant transformational change as a result of advanced technologies such as generative AI. With this transformation comes the need to embrace new behaviors and processes while also contemplating the human element. I’m a strong believer that the future of the profession is technology-driven and human-powered. The efficiency and accuracy of technology plus the emotional intelligence and critical thinking of professionals will drive elevated outcomes if contemplated and governed appropriately. While these evolving technologies hold great promise for business, workers, and society at large, risk remains. As a result, technology ethics will also be paramount to safeguard the future of the profession. The profession must commit itself to the use of technology in ways that are trustworthy and ethical – for ourselves and our stakeholders.

What is your favorite professional mobile app, and why?

LinkedIn is my favorite way to connect with clients, prospective clients, my colleagues, and even with students and people I would never have the opportunity to meet. Ever since I started to open up and share my personal stories on LinkedIn, the response has been phenomenal. It brings me incredible joy hearing stories from those willing to share and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to reciprocate. It’s been such a wonderful platform to reach a wide variety of people and have an open dialogue on a variety of personal and professional topics.

What are your favorite podcasts?

Ever since I was a young girl, I have whole-heartedly loved absorbing information. I constantly want to better myself and learn. So generally speaking, my favorite podcasts are the ones I get to learn and understand new perspectives. A podcast episode I listened to recently that really stuck with me was one from Armchair Expert with Maureen Dunne, who is a neurodiversity expert and business leader. The episode discussed the incorrect perceptions people often have of neurodivergent people and how neurodiversity should be seen as an asset. It’s important to learn from others who don’t look, think, or sound like you – the perspectives shared in this podcast episode were incredibly eye-opening and thought-provoking.

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

I recently read Jacob Morgan’s book “Leading with Vulnerability.” There were so many gems in the book related to empathetic and vulnerable leadership—topics incredibly important to who I am as a leader. Over the years, I’ve realized the more vulnerable I am with my teams, the more vulnerable they are with me and with their colleagues—it’s a virtuous cycle. “Leading with Vulnerability” is a fantastic read for all leaders, but especially those who are honing their leadership style.

Read more about the Most Powerful Women in Accounting.