This CPA's pet project ensures every dog has its day

How did you get into accounting? 

I was studying marketing, and wanted something clearer, data-driven and verifiable. Back in the CMA times they talked about creative accounting in the workplace. That seemed like something I could do to solve a problem rather than just make money. 

When did pet therapy enter the picture? 

I've seen therapy dog sessions because my grandparents are at a care home and we have volunteers that go there. This isn't a person going to talk to someone, this is just a dog. It might be someone who's not super-mobile, or who doesn’t speak a lot, but most of these people's eyes light up. They start smiling and the dog will come to their lap and there's so much love. I get emotional about it because it's so powerful. 

What makes a good therapy dog? 

When I started with Pets and Friends, I had a different dog. He was the perfect example of what an in-office dog would be and also what a good therapy dog is, which is a dog that can put up with a lot of petting. You don't think that would be a problem, but some dogs don't like that. A good pet therapy dog is also very interested in responding to new people. 

What about a good office dog? 

The perfect office dog is the one that nobody knows about, because they never bark. They never pee on things. They're never a problem. The only dogs that should be in the office should be extremely well-behaved. If I were to bring my crazy dog to the office, it would be a problem. 

What are some of your challenges? 

The most confusing thing that I have to explain to others on the board is the difference between our bank balance and our reported cash flow versus our revenue. I have to explain timing, recognition and different ways we look at that dollar in the accounting world. It's helping them see the statements rather than seeing just money in and out. 

What’s the most important quality of a CPA? 

Being decisive as a CPA is so valuable. People want it as well as recommendations that are well-supported. If you are in front of a board, and you're waffling between alternatives, that's not good financial sense. You need to be committed and able to support your ideas. It's very black and white for me.  

What are some of your strategies for success? 

Diversifying our revenue stream is one of the biggest challenges. For the longest time we were solely supported by grant funding, a bit of individual donations and our membership. Grant funding can be unpredictable, especially if there are numerous other applicants. When we diversified into getting more business donations and increasing our membership base, that helped us have more stability and afford a part-time employee. 

What is some advice you can offer CPAs? 

Being on the volunteer board has helped my career because I get to do things that aren’t in my regular day job. I recommend CPAs to make time to do the same because it's only going to benefit you, especially as a new CPA. You're going to get better at defending your point, making recommendations and understanding and communicating finance to people