Partner
WellsColeman, Richmond
AICPA Peer Review Board member, VSCPA Peer Review Committee member and technical reviewer
After passing the CPA Exam, Becky began her career at Clifton Gunderson, working on Medicaid contract compliance. She ended up moving to WellsColeman in 2006, where she has remained for the rest of her career.
She finds fulfillment in working closely with small businesses and their proprietors, gaining insight into their operations and fostering meaningful relationships along the way. “What drives me as a CPA is my interest in helping others, whether it’s coaching or mentoring younger CPAs or helping clients with complicated problems.” She’s also keenly interested in developing successors in the profession and enjoys sharing her experiences with others and encouraging students to enter the accounting field.
Becky and her husband have three grown sons and enjoy spending time in the Outer Banks. Depending on the time of year, she spends her free time with her husband working around their house, relaxing on the beach, or running along Kitty Hawk Bay. Becky cites the flexibility of the CPA profession for her success, too. When she began at WellsColeman, she was pregnant with her youngest son. “I’ve never missed an important event for him or any of my boys because I have the flexibility to work whenever and wherever I need to.“
“Part of my inclination towards the accounting field stemmed from a desire for job security and the cultivation of a marketable skill. Given my propensity for problem-solving, accounting appeared to be a natural fit.” As Becky began to be concerned about the workload associated with accounting, she received encouragement that kept her going. In his CPA Exam review course, Joe Hoyle convinced Becky of her capability to succeed.
Becky believes it’s important for smaller firms to be represented at the national level. She took her talents to the Peer Review Board because she wanted to offer her perspective as a practitioner, a member of the VSCPA Peer Review Committee (where she is also a technical reviewer), and as a peer reviewer. “I want to be able to offer other peer reviewers (current and prospective) the opportunity to learn and be heard. It has been an amazing experience so far.”
Becky serves on the Peer Review Board’s Education and Communication Task Force. One of its major initiatives is to expand the peer reviewer pool. “I’m excited to be involved with this initiative and hope to inspire other CPAs to become peer reviewers,” Becky said.
“I think it’s safe to say that all firms are struggling with pipeline issues and the ability to find and retain staff … A lot of students do not understand that accounting can be a dynamic and exciting profession. We must make these introductions early on (prior to students entering college) and explain that accounting is not a ‘back office’ job.”
Becky believes new accountants should seek out a mentor. “I've been fortunate on my own journey to have had supportive mentors who have motivated me to consistently strive for growth and development.”
New CPAs should remain open to learning and enhancing skills continuously, she says. “Recognize that the road ahead may not always be straightforward, and the journey is seldom smooth sailing — it often presents challenges and obstacles to overcome.”
Becky has served on the College of Business & Economics Alumni Advisory Board at Longwood University and the Accounting Advisory Council at VCU. “In these capacities, I've often found myself simply lending an ear and offering guidance, occasionally facilitating connections with professionals in the business realm. Witnessing the growth of these students during their college years and beyond is extremely fulfilling.”
