What is it like to be the CFO of a smaller organization? In this episode of Life In Accounting: The Where Accountants Go podcast, Ryan Bartholomee, CPA shares his insights and experiences as the CFO of Shenandoah Petroleum Corporation.
Early Career Decisions
Following his dad’s career path, Ryan knew early on that he wanted to pursue his CPA. Ryan attended and graduated from Abilene Christian University. His undergraduate degree was actually pre-med, but then he decided to sit for the CPA exam quickly after graduating. His original thought was to possibly work in the medical industry as a financial professional, but after college he ended up selecting a public accounting auditing position instead with Elms, Faris & Company LLC. While all the organizations that offered him positions were attractive, location was a big factor for Ryan. He wanted to work near his family and therefore chose Elms.
Character Displays Early
After about three years, he was recruited to become the CFO of Shenandoah Petroleum Corporation. What is interesting about this is that he was sought out due to the traits he displayed as a young man. His piano teacher’s husband remembered Ryan when he was looking for someone for a CFO role. It’s truly a strong testimony that our character is remembered long after we have moved on.
CFO Life in a Smaller Organization
Shenandoah Petroleum Corporation is a diverse organization with many holdings. In addition to the traditional CFO duties such as treasury tasks, financial reporting, and strategic planning, working in a small company requires that Ryan wear many hats. It is not uncommon for him to help with IT or HR depending on what is going on at any given time.
Volunteering
Ryan believes that volunteering with TSCPA has been critical in his development. He serves or has served in numerous positions, and while his volunteer efforts take up some of his free time Ryan could never imagine his life without volunteering. Ryan’s philosophy is that you always gain more from volunteering than you can ever give. At the end of one’s life, we never say we wish we had volunteered less!
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