From audit to industry and finding life in between

Throughout her accounting journey, Lindsey Williams, CPA, has always led with her heart. 

During her seven years in audit and assurance management at Arledge & Associates, P.C., and later HoganTaylor, LLP, Williams found great fulfillment in working with nonprofit clients and assisting them through the auditing process. 

"I enjoyed the people—coworkers and clients—and getting to connect with the missions of nonprofit organizations I was working with," she said. "It always felt like we got to play a very small part in their success."

However, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams felt her priorities and career needs begin to shift. 

"I wasn't feeling fulfilled in auditing anymore," she said. "I think it was a number of things that led to this feeling, but less client and colleague interaction during the time of COVID and personal growth and change were the main factors."

Williams sought a new opportunity that would allow for better work-life balance and more consistent hours, while still allowing her to put her heart into her work.

"I felt like life was too short to spend so much time focused on a job," she said. "Some people can do it their entire lives, but I am not that person."

In September 2021, Williams took a position managing financial accounting and reporting with Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS).

"My mindset has always been to connect with the mission or benefactor of what I'm working on," she said. "In this case, it’s the many different children and employees within the school district."

Williams said her experience in public accounting has helped prepare her for a significant portion of her new role reviewing capital asset purchases and expenditures made with bond proceeds.

"I enjoy getting to see the new capital projects and purchases that are in process and being planned to better the school district and enhance the experience for teachers and students," she said.

In her season of transition, Williams also applied her meticulous mind and attention to detail towards launching her travel advising business, GeoDream Travel. 

Williams said she had dreamed of turning her love for travel and planning into a business for years but had pushed the thought away due to doubts of its profitability and feasibility.

"I ultimately came to the decision that I wanted to do something I truly enjoy, not something I felt like I had to do to contribute to my family's well being," she said. "Getting to assist with meticulously planning vacations and helping to make the travel process less stressful has been so fun and rewarding for me."

In addition to managing her work with OKCPS and GeoDream Travel, Williams continues her work as treasurer on the Citizens Caring for Children's Board of Directors. 

Q&A with Lindsey Williams, CPA

Wire: What advice would you have for CPAs weighing the pros and cons between industry and public accounting work? 
Williams:  I would say that what's right for you isn't right for someone else and vice versa. Graciously take in all of the opinions and advice you're offered, but, ultimately, you decide which works for you, your interests, goals and lifestyle. I would also say that you don't have to make a lifetime's worth of career decisions at once and that it's okay to change your mind in the future. When I started in public accounting in 2014, I fully saw myself staying in public accounting until retirement, but people change and so do their interests and goals. 

Wire: What are your career or life goals moving into the future? 
Williams: For my life goals, I just want to enjoy life with my husband and family, love on and spoil our fur babies (Hercules, Hagrid and Nala) and travel as much as possible. While I've been taking the time to settle into this role before I define my future career goals, I can tell I would be happy to stay at OKCPS for a long time and hopefully take on more responsibility in the future. It's been a great place for me so far.

Wire: What has been a highlight moment so far in your work with OKCPS?
Williams: Getting to participate in Junior Achievement of Oklahoma's Finance Park for OKCPS high school students earlier in March was such a fun volunteer experience! We were assigned small groups of high school kids and helped them through a simulation for personal financial planning, where they were assigned certain family and career attributes, developed a budget and determined how to allocate and utilize their income. It was fun to interact with the students, walk them through the process, answer their questions and hear their thoughts about the simulation and how they would use their budget. 

Wire: What inspired you to start GeoDream Travel and what are your goals for it?
Williams: In April 2021, I realized that with the right automation systems and business model, [travel advising] had the potential to still be a profitable industry. I decided to make it official, since I was already advising some friends and family on travel-related matters unofficially. Aside from specific quantitative and qualitative goals, my general goal is to continue to grow my client base, working on family travel, honeymoons, European adventures, anniversary trips, group trips, etc. and see where it may take me. I have been blessed with amazing clients and referrals during this first year of business, and I'm so glad travel is picking up again!

Learn more about how the OSCPA is celebrating Industry Appreciation Month and discover the Society's resources available for CPAs working in industry.