Senior Manager Spotlight: Get to Know Chelsea Meyer

Chelsea Meyer, CPA, was recently promoted to senior manager. Let’s learn about Chelsea and her perspective on her career, her keys to success, and what is changing in public accounting.

What are your roles in the firm?

I am a member of the Tax & Consulting Service Line, and I specialize in tax planning and preparation for individuals, businesses, and trusts and estates, as well as business advisory services and financial statement compilations and reviews. As a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor, I also assist clients with the implementation and efficient use of their accounting systems. I am a member of the firm’s Nonprofit Services Group and the Trust & Estate Services Group. I serve as a career advocate and mentor for staff across multiple Yeo & Yeo locations, and I also help plan and coordinate the Kalamazoo office’s fun activities.

Tell us about your career path.

I graduated with my Master of Science in accounting from Grand Valley State University in 2013. Shortly after, I joined Yeo & Yeo’s Ann Arbor office full-time as a staff accountant. I worked on a wide variety of clients and projects in my first few years at the firm, and after taking more trust and estate training, I began to develop a focus on the industry. In May 2019, I transferred to the Kalamazoo office to be closer to family as my husband and I were looking to start our own. Once there, I continued to increase my knowledge in trust and estates, as well as complex tax and financial statement projects. Now, as a senior manager, I’m excited to continue managing client engagements and helping staff develop in their careers.

What do you enjoy most about your career?

I enjoy helping people. On the trust and estate side, we are often called in during stressful times. To be the person who can help clients break down a seemingly large mountain of tasks into actionable steps is very rewarding.

How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions?

I strive to maintain a consistent schedule. On days I extend my hours in the office, I will make a point to dedicate extra time in the morning with my kids and family. I also make it a priority to have days that I disconnect to focus on family and do what I need to do at home. I work closely with my supervisors and peers to balance the firm’s needs while satisfying family needs, too.

What is the biggest factor that has helped you be successful?

My dad owned a restaurant, and I worked in restaurants from the time I was in middle school through high school and college. This gave me the baseline skills I needed to interact with a wide variety of personalities. Early in my career, I was open to working on anything, which helped me become well-rounded and learn what I wanted to specialize in. It also gave me the opportunity to apply my people skills to a professional environment, working with many different types of clients.

How is public accounting changing?

Some exciting things are happening with AI and the accounting process. Some companies are developing programs that automate a lot of daily transaction entry, allowing both internal and external accountants to focus more on the high-level info decision makers really want and need. At the same time, there are security and privacy concerns to consider. Too, staffing and work-life balance in public accounting are seeing a shift. More and more firms, including Yeo & Yeo, are exploring ways to offer more flexibility to staff. I think these shifts present a lot of opportunities for companies that are open to change. It’ll be interesting to see how this continues to evolve over the next few years.

What makes being an accountant fun? 

Every day is different. Things are constantly changing, which gives you opportunities to learn and grow. We’re constantly talking to clients and other professionals, helping solve problems and overcome challenges. I also work on many special projects, streamlining processes, implementing new processes, or conducting research. I always look forward to these types of engagements, where I can really dive into a client’s business and help them succeed.