In this edition of Beyond the Numbers, Bernadette Grattan, Founder & Recruiting Director at The Resource Link, is joined by Jason Gaston, Consultant and former VP of Accounting and Finance at Rimkus Consulting Group.
Asking The Right Questions and Building Personal Relationships
Jason started by reflecting on his experience at Circle K as a Fuel Accountant. He offered practical advice for newcomers to the field: “It’s important to ask as many questions as possible. Put yourself in front of those people who have the answers.”
He suggested asking the same question to multiple people across different functions to gain varied perspectives and a more comprehensive understanding of company processes.
He added, “You can come back with some of the information you got from other areas of the company and help them learn about what a certain process delivers on the other end of the company. You are asking questions about the functions of your role or the operations of the company.”
He also mentioned building personal relationships early on: “It’s also important to notice things on your colleague’s desk. Ask them about their kids or their school. That helps build personal relationships.” Jason shared an example from his career. “Getting to know the people when I’m new to a company has softened the impression of the finance and accounting group.” He pointed out a specific experience: “I’m thinking of the Director of Maintenance for a trucking company I was with. The person had a rough relationship with the finance and accounting group. As I got to know this individual through time, it became a better working relationship where we could add value.”
Bernadette agreed with Jason: “That’s a great point about noticing the things on their desk. I wouldn’t think about that. For example, do they have Cardinals or Chiefs team memorabilia or pictures of their family? That’s a great way to start the conversation even as you’re young and starting to get to know the people. That’s a good perspective.”
Jason responded, “I’m not the most social and outgoing guy. That’s why I leaned upon desk decorations as conversation starters.” Bernadette commented that it was genius and remarked, “Especially because most accountants are more introverts than extroverts. It might be harder today because more people are working remotely, but that’s great advice. I like that.”
TL;DR: If Jason were to go back as a staff and senior accountant, he advised asking questions to the people who have the answers. In this way, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the company processes. He also shared about building relationships with colleagues by observing personal items on their desks as conversation starters.
Success Without a CPA Certification and Public Accounting Experience
Jason has a degree in accounting and finance and started his career in industry. When asked if he is a CPA and has public accounting experience, he responded, “I’m not a CPA, but you don’t have to become one. I considered it early in my career. I always wanted to spend that time learning more about the company and doing more in my role rather than studying. If I took a break from my career, I would probably consider getting a CPA.”
Bernadette commented that many believe a CPA certification and public accounting experience are essential. Jason replied, “No, I wouldn’t say you need it. As long as you have a curious mind and you’re trying to grow, whether that’s a certification or just on your own, you can still succeed in the field.”
TL;DR: Jason, with a degree in accounting and finance, discussed his decision not to pursue a CPA certification or public accounting experience. He preferred focusing on learning about the company and advancing in his role. While many view a CPA as essential, Jason believes career success in accounting can also come from curiosity and personal growth, regardless of the certification.
Why Jason Loves Accounting
When asked why he loves accounting, Jason highlighted its broad impact on various business areas. He explained, “I love accounting because, in the more general roles within accounting, you can interact with all areas of the business. A sales and marketing team needs your assistance with cost structure and pricing. An HR team wants you to evaluate the impact of PTO, a change of PTO policy, and the availability of people to do the jobs. You get a good breadth of the business. It gives you a wide scope.”
He described himself as an “Excel nerd and numbers nerd” but also focused on understanding the business’s driving factors. “If you are competent, you can bring a lot to the table. You can be well respected as far as ‘This is what we think will happen.’ People will appreciate that and listen to you.”
TL;DR: Jason loves accounting for its broad impact across various business areas. He enjoys interacting with different teams and contributing to decisions like cost structures, policies, and business strategies. Describing himself as an “Excel nerd and numbers nerd,” Jason valued the opportunity to understand and influence key business factors, which can earn you respect and recognition.
Career Progression from A Niche Role to Broad Accounting Opportunities
Bernadette mentioned Jason’s first position at Circle K, “You drilled down into a niche, which is a specialty with fuel accounting. Circle K has retail with food, but the gas is the main part of the business, right?”
Jason answered as he explained his career transition from a niche role at Circle K to broader accounting and FP&A roles, “Yes. It was a very niche role. At that time, I believe fuel was about 50% of their revenue, but it had a very low margin in relation to the rest of the business. Knowing that, I was curious about all the other business areas. I grew out of that role into a more general ledger accountant type of position. I further leveraged that to work in a regional office within Circle K. That gravitated to maybe less of an accounting role and more of an FP&A role.”
Based on this experience, he suggested exploring various opportunities: “Getting your foot in the door at a large company with other opportunities is a very good way to explore. Early on, you may not know exactly what you like and what you want to do. If you can get in somewhere with various opportunities and build your brand as an accountant, it will open doors to different places.”
TL;DR: Jason discussed his career progression from a niche fuel accounting role at Circle K to broader accounting and FP&A positions. He shared how his curiosity about different business areas led him to expand into general accounting and FP&A roles. Jason advised exploring various opportunities within large companies to discover your interests and build a versatile career.
Beyond The Stereotypes and Thriving in Accounting
Jason concluded with his final advice for those considering accounting or currently in a staff or senior accountant role. He addressed the field’s reputation, saying, “When people think about accounting to your point earlier, it might get a bad rap. But it is what you make of it.”
He acknowledged that while few accountants have outgoing personalities, they are still valuable. He said, “You can be an outgoing person in accounting. Maybe there are fewer of them, but it’s valuable in the accounting world. You still need those relationships.”
He reflected on his own experiences, sharing, “I was thinking about our call today and thinking about some of the things that I really enjoyed. Some of it was digging into data and building meaningful reports and information out of it. Sometimes, it is a puzzle or involves problem-solving. Those are the fun things on top of building relationships and having that social component.”
He also advised having patience and openness to diverse experiences: “Be patient. It may not be the exact role that you want. I didn’t dream of being a Fuel Accountant initially. So, learn from those things. There’s a value in all of these roles. I’ve jumped from retail to automotive to a consulting services company and different industries. They have their own jargon, but there are a lot of things that bridge between industries. People in that industry may not think about same-store sales from my Circle K days. But it can certainly be valuable in other areas.”
TL;DR: Jason shared that success in accounting depends on how you approach or shape your career. He acknowledged that there may be a few outgoing people in accounting, but they’re still valuable in the field. He enjoyed the problem-solving and data analysis aspects of accounting and the social component. He advised having patience and openness to diverse experiences, as they can provide valuable learning opportunities, even if the role is not initially what you envisioned.
ABOUT Jason Gaston: Jason is a Finance Consultant and former Vice President of Accounting and Finance at Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc. He brings extensive experience in finance and accounting across engineering services, automotive, logistics, and retail industries.
Jason started his career at Circle K in a niche role as a Fuel Accountant. After a few years, he joined Friedkin Group, where he progressed from Senior Accountant to Financial Planning and Analysis Manager. His expertise spans budgeting, business planning, analytical skills, financial analysis, and accounting, making him a valuable asset in finance and consulting.
He holds a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Finance and Accounting from Portland State University – School of Business.
Learn more, or reach out to Jason at https://linkedin.com/in/jasondgaston
ABOUT Bernadette Grattan: Bernadette is the founder of The Resource Link, a specialty accounting and finance recruiting firm based in the Phoenix area. Since 2002, she has been providing a personalized approach to recruiting and a commitment to making great matches for long-term success. This means taking the time to understand the needs of employers looking to hire and discover career goals with those who may be seeking their next career opportunity. Before recruiting, Bernadette worked in public accounting.
If you are looking to hire or considering what is next, learn more at https://www.theresourcelink.com or https://linkedin.com/in/bernadettegrattan
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