A Day in the Life at Calibre CPA Group-
Mark McClain, Marketing Director
What is your title? Describe what you do.
I serve as firm’s Marketing Director. I’m responsible for managing the day-to-day and strategic marketing and business development function of Calibre CPA Group.
My duties include overseeing the budgeting process, planning of initiatives, proposal development and tracking, website support, CRM maintenance, advertising, seminar/conference coordination, communications, and other aspects of the firm’s growth priorities. I routinely interface with firm management and coordinate activities as liaison with Verasolve, the outsourced marketing company utilized by the firm.
Why did you get into the accounting/audit industry?
I previously worked in financial services/banking as a computer programmer and was assigned to the marketing department to assist with their data/reporting needs. While interfacing with the marketing personnel I learned a lot about advertising, business development, growth planning, “product” development, and more. After the savings & loan crisis of the mid-1980s/early 90’s, I lost my job and found work with a CPA firm.
What are three things you do every day? Do you have any morning “rituals”?
I don’t really have any set daily responsibilities other than keeping up with my workload and emails. My only morning ritual is taking our dog, Murphy, for a stroll around the block.
What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?
Juggling deadlines and deliverables is always a challenge. On the other hand, it’s rewarding to complete assignments and of course, assist with bringing in new clients/business, as well as related projects.
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?
Marketing directors with accounting skills are actually pretty rare – I was only one of perhaps 100 people across the country when I first started working with CPAs in the early 1990s.
Since then, the profession has grown and a peer group was formed, the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM), which has a wealth of resources and serves as a forum for sharing ideas, tips, and strategies in the accounting/audit profession.
What do you like best about Calibre?
I’ve been with the firm for 20+ years so I would have to say I enjoy and respect the environment fostered by the partners and management.
