ABOUT BETH

Hi. I’m Beth, CEO and Founder of CPA Dream Team

We are an accounting firm with a unique name, which matches the unique way we do business. Learn more about our pillars and what we value below.

Experienced….

“We learn, not for school, but for life.”  - Seneca

As a lifelong learner, I am always seeking out new experiences and opportunities to learn. I enjoy the process of gaining new knowledge, improving my understanding and connecting dots as much as I enjoy the subject itself. The constant quest for knowledge has served me well and creates the tenacity to lead my clients in the ever-changing accounting and tax world.

My professional and education journey began at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, where I majored in Accounting and German. I chose Accounting, because to me it is the foundation of business.  Whether you own your own company, manage a department budget or are handling your own finances, accounting is at the heart of it all.

During my 20+ years as a CPA, I have had a wide range of professional experiences across a variety of industries. These experiences include accounting, bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, investigations, risk assessments, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, federal contractor compliance, business process improvements, internal audit, and fraud auditing. I will draw on this depth and breadth of experience to quickly gain an understanding of your individual circumstances, identify your needs and collaborate with you to develop customized strategies and solutions to help you.

I am a basketball referee and have been for 20+ years. I referee high school and college basketball, but my real passion is wheelchair basketball. This experience has provided a whole other set of amazing, supplemental skills. Refereeing and Accounting are similar, in that they are both rules-based, require a great deal of accuracy and superficially seem black and white, but contain a lot of gray areas! I seek to apply the basketball rules as written, in an unbiased manner, while ensuring the spirit and intent of the rules is upheld – a tricky venture on the best of nights. After 20+ years of continual rules study, film review, analysis of game situations, the quest for continuous improvement is a way of life, personally and professionally. I am a results-oriented individual who concentrates on goals, rules, and positive outcomes. 

Approachable...

“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.” – Nat Turner

The foundation of any successful relationship is great communication.  Fostering an open, honest, two-way communication channel is what will make our working relationship successful and what differentiates me as a service provider. We can solve any problem and tackle any issue by communicating our way through it. 

As a German major, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Germany and immerse myself in the German language, culture and family life. Being exposed to so much history, different cuisines, cultures and people while traveling taught me at an early age to appreciate different perspectives and about the importance of human connection and belonging that is universal to all of us.

My basketball officiating has made me a better communicator – a little ironic considering I run up and down the basketball court with a whistle in my mouth. 😊 Officiating has taught me how to communicate clearly and concisely, diffuse high-stress situations, and how to listen not only with my ears, but also with my eyes. These lessons have been invaluable and are directly transferable to how I interact with my colleagues and clients. When we work together, you will not only get a grounded and calm demeanor but also someone who is compassionate and cares about your success.

Understanding...

“Seek first to understand, then be understood” – Stephen R. Covey

Learning, teaching and understanding go hand in hand. My goal in working with clients is to understand and meet them where they are, while charting a path for the future. The world of accounting and taxes may be intimidating, confusing or even fear-inspiring at times. Please don’t worry – that’s what you have me for! I am adept at interpreting the complicated and ever-changing accounting and tax rules, simplifying the explanations and educating my clients on what they need to know.  I encourage questions and genuinely want to help clients, so ask away!!  My experience as an auditor provided a great training ground for these skills. I learned how to listen, ask questions, educate and quickly establish rapport with people to put them at ease.

I also understand that there is more to life than your business. Having balance and interests outside of work is important. My philosophy has always been “Work Hard and Play Hard”. We will work hard together to get your finances in order so they will work for you and you are free to go play!