Stevie Dennis
RSM US LLP
"Be sincere, be you. Everyone has strengths...find ways to play to yours."
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Stevie's work combines: Business, Technology, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
R. Nelson Snider High School
Bachelor's Degree
Accounting
University of Notre Dame
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Accountants and Auditors:
Bachelor's Degree: Accounting
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I thought I would always stay in Indiana, where I grew up, until I met my future husband. After college, I followed him to North Carolina, transferring from an Indiana office to a NC office.
2.
The financial crisis in 2008 led my husband to reconsider his career path. He went back to school to get a PhD, and we moved to Wisconsin. I transferred to an RSM office in WI.
3.
Moving to WI set me back a year in being promoted to manager. I also decided to switch to serving clients in a new industry, hoping for more opportunities.
4.
I had my first child in WI and reduced my hours. I worked more than I expected to that first year and so changed my work arrangement to increase my hours. I still keep that same schedule.
5.
During my last summer in WI prior to my husband's graduation, I did a rotation in RSM's national office and loved it. At the end, they offered me a permanent position.
6.
We moved to Kentucky. RSM didn't have an office there, so I switched to working remotely but increased my air travel. Being in a new city w/o an office to go to was hard, but I found ways to network.
7.
Traveling as the mother of infants has been challenging, but being able to work remotely has been critical for me to taking care of my family and keeping up with my work.
8.
We moved to Florida (noticing a theme? :) ). After years of deciding between the partner or senior director path, I decided that becoming a senior director is the right move for me.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
Working in public accounting is very stressful and requires working a lot of hours. Most people do not last in the profession more than a few years.
How I responded:
I have learned so much from working in public accounting. I have worked with and learned about many different types of companies and often felt in my early days that I was being paid to get an education. I have gained skills in collaborating with others, leading teams, navigating challenging situations, and presenting. In my current role in our national technical office, I optimize use of my writing, design and technology skills—a great fit for me. I love what I do and helping our auditors.