Supervisor Spotlight: Get to Know Kelly Brown
Kelly Brown, CPA, MST, was recently promoted to Tax SALT Supervisor. Let’s learn about Kelly and her perspective on her career, work-life balance, and helping clients.
What are your roles in the firm?
I am the co-leader of the firm’s State and Local Tax (SALT) team, where I oversee monthly meetings to provide opportunities for growth for our SALT professionals. I also oversee our growing sales tax compliance service and provide SALT consulting and nexus analysis. I enjoy working with individuals and businesses with multi-state tax obligations for compliance and tax planning.
Describe your career path.
I joined Yeo & Yeo’s tax team after four years of experience in tax and external and internal audits. I was finishing my Master of Science in Taxation degree at Walsh College and knew I wanted to focus solely on tax, so it was a great opportunity. My journey into the SALT world started with a general interest in sales tax. I had family members involved in e-commerce during the infamous Wayfair case decided in 2018, which piqued my interest. Today, as our clients at Yeo & Yeo continue to grow their businesses and cross state lines, I enjoy the challenge of addressing their questions and finding solutions to navigate the complexities of operating in multiple states.
Are there any causes or charitable organizations you are passionate about and actively support? Why are they important to you?
As a mom, I believe in advocating for the sanctity of life and supporting policies that protect the rights of all children. I believe in fostering a society that values and upholds the dignity and potential of every child, so they each have a chance to live and thrive.
What do you enjoy most about your career?
Every day is different. In my career, it doesn’t get boring because our clients are continually pulling us in to help navigate whatever is new in their world.
How do you balance your career, personal life, and passions?
A while back, I heard it isn’t “work-life balance” but “work-life harmony.” There are some times at work when we’re putting in more hours to meet regulatory deadlines and then times at home when we’re dealing with family demands – so there isn’t a set balance. It ebbs and flows with the needs of each. I’m blessed that my husband and children can roll with it all, with my husband stepping up to do whatever needs to be done during my busiest times. As a mother of seven, I enjoy the flexibility in my schedule that allows me to be there for both work and my family.
What do you enjoy most about working with clients?
I love helping our clients. It’s rewarding when you’re working with a client, and they share that they’re not worried about something because they know you have it covered. Business owners don’t go into business because they think dabbling in accounting is fun. They go into business to harness their passion and offer their customers their products, skills, and specialties. Having us focus on the accounting angle frees our clients to focus on whatever drives them and their business.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of accounting?
Spending time with my family motivates and recharges me. Last year, we fell in love with a wonderful home on Crooked Lake in Curran, Michigan. Our youngest is nearly two now, and he loves to go up and down all 57 steps from the lake to the garage over and over again – so lately, I’m taking turns chasing him! Sooner or later, he’ll play in the sand long enough for me to crack open a book, but we’re just taking it one day at a time.