In this edition of Beyond the Numbers, Bernadette Grattan, Founder & Recruiting Director at The Resource Link, is joined by Colby Ashton. Colby is the Business Controller at Edwards Vacuum, which is a part of Atlas Copco.
The Crucial Importance of Professional Certifications
When asked what advice he would give to his younger self as a staff or senior accountant, Colby didn’t hesitate to emphasize the significance of obtaining professional certifications early in one’s career.
“If I could do one thing differently, I never got my CPA,” Colby said. He recounted his experience, saying, “I gave it a shot once without studying and that didn’t work out very well as you could imagine. And this was a hundred years ago when you had to take all 4 sections.”
Colby stressed the importance of pursuing certifications, stating, “My advice is knuckle down as a staff or a senior, get whatever letters you can after your name. It’s not going to hurt you from a career perspective to have a CMA, CPA, or CFA after your name. Just knuckle down and get those certifications.”
He explained the value of certifications from a hiring manager’s perspective: “Now I, as a manager, those are the type of things that I look for, what kind of certifications, in addition to their work experience and whatnot. But I’m looking for certifications just to help me whittle down the pile.”
The Enduring Value of an Accounting Background
Reflecting on his career path, Colby highlighted the versatility and value of an accounting degree. He shared his journey, saying, “It was interesting when I was making my degree choice. I thought in college I was going to be an electrical engineer. I took a math class that didn’t count toward the degree, and I didn’t do very well. But really, I was looking, it was, I wouldn’t say it was on a whim. But there wasn’t a whole lot of a forethought to what else should I do if I’m not going to be an engineer, except for I realized I enjoyed the analytical side of things. I liked hard numbers. I liked there to be a right answer, not a subjective answer to questions.”
Colby emphasized the flexibility an accounting degree offers: “The biggest benefit by far has been the flexibility of that degree to do so many different things and work for so many different companies. Everybody needs accountants, and it doesn’t matter whether they’re Firestone and making tires or whether they’re the City of Phoenix or a government entity.”
He added, “The degree in accounting from a career perspective has been fantastic from a job security perspective.”
Colby also emphasized how his accounting background has been beneficial in his current role in finance: “Even if you’re on the financial analyst side of the house, that FP&A side, having an understanding of debits and credits and what an accrual does is critical to that role.”
Strategic Career Progression and Job Changes
Offering advice on career moves, Colby cautioned against excessive job-hopping while acknowledging the benefits of strategic changes. “By far and away, my biggest advances in my career have been from company changes, job changes,” Colby said. However, he advised finding a balance: “If you’re hopping every 6 months to a year, eventually a hiring manager is going to look at your resume and say, this candidate is not going to stay here. And if I’m going to invest the time in training this person, I don’t want them gone in 6 months to a year.”
Colby recommended considering internal promotions as well: “Make sure that you work on internal promotions, which are just as good from a learning perspective as an external promotion.” He added, “Always take care of yourself from a career perspective. Make sure that you can support yourself and your family and your pay is good. But be careful and don’t overdo that side of it.”
The Importance of Continuous Learning and Education
Throughout the interview, Colby stressed the importance of ongoing education. He shared his own experience of pursuing an MBA after his accounting undergrad, which helped him transition more into the finance side of business.
“More learning is always better,” Colby said, encouraging professionals to consider further education to enhance their careers. He explained how his MBA has been beneficial: “Now it’s interesting. I’ve got this title of business controller. And I do spend some of my time on the controller side of the house, but really, I’m more of a finance manager. I’m more doing analysis and whatnot. I’m doing monthly close and helping with that, but I’m still on that finance side. And so that MBA has proved to be fruitful from that perspective.”
Balancing Accounting and Finance Skills
Colby’s career trajectory from accounting to finance provides a valuable lesson for aspiring professionals. He explained, “I’m currently hiring a financial analyst. And one of the big things that I looked for is if they had an accounting background. Because no matter if you, even if you’re on the financial analyst side of the house, that FP&A side, having an understanding of debits and credits and what an accrual does and everything, super critical to that role.”
He added, “It’s been super helpful. It’s been, again, a benefit to my career for people to see that I have that accounting undergrad, spent some time in public accounting and in industry closing the books every month, etc., plus the MBA. But the accounting degree has been a critical part of me getting hired and getting good jobs, for sure.”
In conclusion, Colby’s insights provide a comprehensive guide for those starting or advancing in the accounting and finance fields. His emphasis on certifications, the value of an accounting background, strategic career moves, and continuous learning offers a roadmap for success in these dynamic professions. By following Colby’s advice, aspiring professionals can build a strong foundation for a successful and fulfilling career in accounting and finance.
ABOUT Colby Ashton: Colby is a results-driven finance leader with extensive experience in financial management, strategic planning, and operational leadership across multiple industries. He is currently serving as Business Controller at Edwards Vacuum, a division of Atlas Copco. Previously held key roles such as VP of Finance at Vensure Employer Services, Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at Origami Owl, Associate Director – FP&A at Apollo Group, and Director of Finance at Brewer Caldwell Property Management. Colby started his career at Deloitte.
Colby has an MBA and a BS in Accounting from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Learn more, or reach out to Colby at: linkedin.com/in/colbyashton
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 theresourcelink.com or linkedin.com/in/bernadettegrattan
Share this post:
For almost two decades, The Resource Link has strategically placed Accounting, Finance, & Human Resource talent with some of the best companies in Arizona! We consult with our hiring managers and candidates to dive into the best solutions and outcomes and we provide advice and feedback along the way. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or just pick up the phone! We would love to hear from you to help you build the best team or find the best career.
Click the image to learn more about our philosophy from our founder.
