Chris Nelson
Manager, Financial Reporting and Accounting
Chipotle
Irvine, CA USA
“It’s never too late to change what you want to do. If you go down a path and fail, you will only become a better person because of that.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationChris Nelson
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
My dad is a small business owner, so growing up I was heavily impacted by that first-hand exposure to business and entrepreneurship.
I figured out pretty early on that business was a passion of mine and it was something I wanted to pursue.
Attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI) where I earned my bachelor’s degree in business administration.
While in college at UCI, there was a big push towards the field of accounting, which sparked my interest and aligned with my love of numbers and problem-solving.
After graduating, I began working in auditing at Deloitte, but quickly realized that this was not the right fit for me.
I then got an opportunity to work as a senior accounting analyst at an aircraft leasing company.
After a few years of that, I made the transition to working as the manager of financial reporting and accounting at Chipotle.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Certification/License
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
n/a
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
n/a
Career
Manager, Financial Reporting and Accounting
I am a certified public accountant overseeing financial reporting for a fast-casual dining chain.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Numbers
Business
Problem Solving
Day to Day
Accounting is a pretty cyclical process. No day is the same, but every quarter you go through the same process of closing the books. On a daily basis, I answer a lot of emails and do a lot of problem solving. Each of our daily tasks is designed get us closer to the goal of closing the books at the end of each quarter and at the end of the year.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
You don't always need to follow the typical path to get to a particular destination. Focus on the things that interest you and find ways to make those interests work for you when pursuing your goals. Network and talk to as many people as possible!
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Certification/License
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"Being an accountant is too hard. "
Challenges I Overcame
School Stress
