Jennifer Steckly and Ida Colby
Innovation
“Out-of-the-box” thinking has become the norm for
the day-to-day operations of the Colby•Steckly team.
There is a consistent focus on finding solutions to any
frustrations about work process and systems. Flexibility
and adaptability help pave the way. Successes, whether
personal or work-related are shared and celebrated.
Growth
The partners know firsthand about the growth that
happens because of new knowledge, so the learning
never stops at Colby•Steckly. Mentoring takes place
every day as new ideas and information are presented at
work. Outside of work, team members are encouraged
and financially supported to continue their education.
One team member is pursuing an accounting and
administration degree, while the other is working
through the CPA program.
REFLECTIONS
As they reflect on their continued growth, both Ida and
Jennifer acknowledge the differences and challenges in
being female leaders. Traditional business decisions are
often based solely on the logic of ambition, growth and
profit. Women, with their natural instincts for empathy
and nurturing, embrace a larger view. “While we value
what we bring to relationship-building with both staff
and clients, sometimes it interferes with making those
really tough decisions in a timely fashion.”
When asked what it’s like to be in a business
partnership, Jennifer and Ida point to their differences
in personality. “I’m more the extrovert with lots of
passion,” says Jennifer, “where Ida is quiet and very
thoughtful, so we each tend to approach a particular
situation from our unique perspectives.” Because they
have learned about, celebrated, and incorporated each
other’s differences, a strong bond has formed that
has been excellent for business. They have learned
to set defined boundaries and establish firm policies.
Through joint decision-making, they’ve also been able
to create an inviting culture where everyone is engaged
and thrilled to be at work.
In retrospect, neither Ida nor Jennifer has any regrets
about leaving larger firms to start their own business.
It was Jennifer’s passion to either be a partner in a large
firm by age 30 or have her own firm. One naysayer who
told her that was impossible fueled her desire
even further.
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“We looked carefully at the risk vs. reward. There’s
a limited ability to affect change in an established
business. When you have no power to change what
isn’t working, it’s very frustrating. By starting fresh in
the direction that mattered to us, we have been able
to achieve our goals and reward staff for taking the
initiative to help us grow.”
What advice does Colby•Steckly have for budding
accountants?
There’s a perception in the industry that you have to
excel at everything, all at once. In reality, it takes time
to reach your goals. As you build your career, find
opportunities for a sense of accomplishment; keep
adding to your knowledge base, and work on building
solid, fruitful relationships.
Learning how to network is one key to building those
relationships. “I was fortunate to have had networking
opportunities at a young age,” says Jennifer. “I became
known as a good referrer and a good speaker. The
networking we do continues to pay big dividends in
our business.”
A successful accountant in this market needs exposure
to not only numbers, but entrepreneurship. Knowing
what the numbers mean for business growth is crucial.
At some point you will be faced with the choices of
becoming a partner in an established firm, starting your
own business, or joining a business in the accounting
department. The more you understand about your own
abilities and preferences, the easier it will be to find
your niche and thrive.
Of course if you’re not an accountant but a
business owner in need of a great accounting firm,
Colby•Steckly will be delighted to assess your needs
and welcome you aboard!