A Day in the Life at Calibre CPA Group-
James Poulos, Senior Manager
What is your title? Describe what you do.
Title – Senior Manager
Department – Audit
I am a senior manager in the audit department. I oversee the audit team and audit process and help facilitate the completion of tax returns and any other required filings. I serve as one of the primary contacts for my clients in helping to meet their goals, all while strengthening the business relationship between the client and Calibre.
Why did you get into the accounting/audit industry?
I knew I wanted to study somewhere in the business field in school but wasn’t sure exactly what focus. When I kept hearing accounting referred to as “the language of business,” I decided what better way to learn the business world than becoming a master of the language.
What are three things you do every day? Do you have any morning “rituals”?
I don’t know if I have any specific morning rituals, but there are definitely a few things I like to try and do each day at some point in the day:
- Get outside – I think fresh air is so important to mental health. I don’t care if it’s raining or snowing or anything in between; you will find me outside.
- Making time for the things you value – Outside of work. I think it’s important to take some personal time and connect with the people and things/hobbies that you love. I think sprinkling those into your daily routine is important to help ground yourself when you’ve had a tough day or are stressed.
- Unplug – In this day and age, it’s so easy to stay connected. And so, I think it takes some intention to try and disconnect a bit at the end of the day. You will rarely find me texting, on the phone, or responding to emails in the evening, as I typically like to try and disconnect as a way to clear my head and relax.
What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is answering to so many people. With 60+ clients and many partners, it can be mentally exhausting at times to be pulled in so many directions. In a twist of irony, it also is one of the most rewarding parts of my job – working with so many different people with different backgrounds. The amount of knowledge gained combined with a vast amount of industry, cultural and personal exposure is unrivaled.
What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a role like yours? Are there specific character traits or skills/certifications they should possess?
I would say the few most important pieces of advice I typically give people are:
- Challenge Yourself – They call the comfort zone the career killer, and I couldn’t agree more. You will never grow if you don’t push yourself outside your comfort zone.
- Hold Yourself Accountable – In this industry, you are granted supervision and oversight of staff members pretty quickly, just a couple of years into your career. Holding them accountable is very important, but in no way can you hold people accountable if you don’t first hold yourself accountable.
- Be a Leader – You don’t have to be in a supervisor or management role to be a leader. You can be a leader starting on your first day of employment, even amongst your peers, by leading by example. And don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo or speak up, as long as you do it in the right way.
