In this edition of Beyond the Numbers, Bernadette Grattan, Founder & Recruiting Director at The Resource Link, is joined by Heather Krupa, Vice President, Controller at EPCOR.
Our conversation with Heather was so insightful and packed with valuable advice that we couldn’t contain it in one session – we’ve split this episode into two parts to ensure we capture all of Heather’s wisdom and experiences.
*We also met her cute little son Sebastian!
Advice for Young Accountants
Heather emphasized three key pieces of advice for those starting their accounting careers:
She stressed the importance of accuracy over speed: “You don’t have to be the first one done. Accuracy holds a little bit more value than not.”
Heather also highlighted the value of perseverance, especially when facing challenges early in one’s career: “When you first come out of college, you don’t have all the answers. And sometimes you’re afraid you should have them. And it’s tough, it’s hard, right?”
The Value of Challenging Experiences
Reflecting on her time in Big 4 accounting firms, Heather noted how these challenging experiences prepare accountants for future success:
“It really does groom you for when you do things hard, you can go to things that are easier. But if you’ve had it easy your whole life, it’s really hard to do hard things.”
Embracing Feedback
Heather shared her personal growth in accepting constructive feedback:
“Review comments are a good thing, not a bad thing. Stop thinking and taking them so personally. I took every review comment personally… It took me a while to figure out too. I mean, I was probably 6, 7 years into my career before I was like, review comments are a good thing, not a bad thing.”
The Versatility of an Accounting Career
One of the aspects Heather loves most about accounting is its versatility. She explained:
“Accounting is probably one of the most diverse careers that you can have. It sets you up with a foundation that, do you want to go run your own business? Great, you know how to. You know exactly what it takes to make good money. Do you want to go be a CFO and guide other people’s money, great. You could do that too.”
She also highlighted some unexpected career paths for accountants:
“The FBI hires accountants, right? Like you want the cool job where you get to carry a gun every day. Like you can be an FBI agent, right? Because accounting, like you ever hear, I mean, I watch all the crime shows, totally guilty of that, right? But what do they always say? Follow the money. And who’s following the money, right? It’s the accountant.”
ABOUT Heather Krupa: Heather is Vice President, Controller at EPCOR, bringing over 15 years of experience in accounting and finance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from DePaul University and is a licensed CPA. Heather’s career includes leadership roles at Embark, SimonMed Imaging, Global Water Resources, FTD Companies, and Richardson Electronics. She began her journey at Ernst & Young as an auditor, gaining strong expertise in GAAP, SEC reporting, and financial strategy. Heather has achieved career success while balancing a personal life and being a dedicated working mom.
For her full profile go to: https://linkedin.com/in/heather-krupa-cpa-a53b9216
ABOUT Bernadette Grattan: Bernadette is the Founder and Accounting & Finance Recruiting Director of The Resource Link, Inc., a specialty search firm she started in 2002. Bernadette takes a personalized approach to understanding the hiring manager and job seeker’s needs. This enables her to make long-term placements in accounting, finance, and executive roles. The Resource Link distinguishes itself through high-touch customer service, candid insights, and ensuring an excellent match by connecting top talent with companies aligned with their career passions.
If you are looking to hire or considering what is next, learn more at theresourcelink.com or linkedin.com/in/bernadettegrattan
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