Interview with Chelsea Meyer
In celebration of our many women leaders who have been instrumental in Yeo & Yeo’s success, we are proud to feature one of our remarkable leaders, Chelsea Meyer, CPA.
For years, we have provided our professionals with a healthy work-life balance, supporting them in their efforts to effectively balance a growing career and fulfilling home life. Our total workforce is over 54% female, and those in leadership positions exceed 50%. We are incredibly proud of our family-friendly culture and our ability to attract and retain women.
This is Chelsea’s perspective on her career, leadership, and work-life balance.
Q: Tell me about your career and role at Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Advisors.
I’m a manager in the Consulting Service Line. I’ve been with Yeo & Yeo since 2013 and am a member of the firm’s Client Accounting Software Team, the Nonprofit Services Group, and the Trust & Estate Services Group. My areas of expertise include tax planning and preparation for individuals, businesses, and trusts and estates, as well as business advisory services and financial statement compilations and reviews. In a nutshell, if it’s not an audit, I probably do (or have done) it. I focus most heavily on trust and estate work as well as closely held businesses and their owners. As a manager, I also train and mentor staff, and I enjoy seeing those “aha moments” when something clicks.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your career?
I enjoy helping staff and clients, and I can see an impact in the trust and estate and closely held business work I do. When it comes to trusts and estates, we come in at times that can be very stressful for families, such as when a loved one has passed. I help my clients break a seemingly huge number of tasks into actionable bits, create a checklist, and make sense of something that can sometimes be very challenging.
Likewise, for closely held businesses, we can come in when someone needs help with the financial aspects of running a business. They may have started the business because it’s what they love to do and what they’re good at, but the numbers aren’t clicking. I enjoy coming into these kinds of engagements, helping clients understand the numbers behind their businesses and how they relate to what they are trying to accomplish overall.
Q: When you began your career, did you ever imagine that you would have a leadership role?
There have been many intelligent, strong women that I have learned from and looked up to at Yeo & Yeo. Now as a manager, to be that mentor for others is surreal. I still have a long way to go, but I am proud of the growth and opportunities I’ve had along the way.
Q: What was the best advice you ever received?
Determine what is most important to you and structure your schedule accordingly.
Q: How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions?
I worked closely with leadership to determine what would work for the firm and office while satisfying my family’s needs. Especially during busy season, it can be a challenge to balance both. I found that having a set schedule is very helpful. I have later nights that I work, and on those nights, my family knows I won’t be home right away. When I’m not working late, I leave for home when the office closes. On those home nights, I disconnect and focus on spending quality time with family.
Q: What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Learn to set boundaries in work and life now. Before I was a mom, it was easy to let everything be more fluid. Even if being a parent isn’t part of your plan, boundaries from day one are invaluable. You don’t want to be ten years into your career and trying to set them for the first time.