The view from Maryann Chitseko ACCA

I decided that I wanted to be an accountant when I was 18 because I have always had an affinity for numbers and was curious about how the corporate world works. After university in Johannesburg, South Africa, I started my career in a small local accounting practice. In 2015, I moved to EY, working for four years in the tax service line.

It was during this time that I qualified with ACCA. l also successfully led teams in various tax assignments and was promoted at every annual appraisal.

In 2019 l took the plunge and left EY to move to the US where I opened my own practice. Leaving the safety net of a Big Four firm to venture out on my own on another continent took me right out of my comfort zone. It’s been challenging but a fulfilling experience.

Accounting has provided me with opportunities to work in three different countries: South Africa, Malawi and now the US. This exposure has allowed me to develop a diverse international network and grow as a professional.

My mother’s influence has been huge. The values she instilled in me have significantly shaped the woman l am today. At work, I’ve had several mentors who have helped shape my career, in particular the EY partner who asked me to head the transfer pricing function; that challenging platform allowed me to distinguish myself as a tax professional.

In the US, I have also been inspired by professional women like Kimberly Ellison-Taylor and Cathy Engelbert. They have shattered the proverbial glass ceiling by becoming respectively the first person of colour to be chairman of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the first female CEO of a Big Four firm in the US (Deloitte).

Starting in practice gave me the experience I needed to build a strong foundation for my career. I gained diverse exposure by working with various types of business operations. I still love working in practice.

I really enjoy being able to work with numbers to identify and solve problems for clients. It makes me proud when I know that l’ve added value to a business.

Starting my own practice and making it successful has been a huge achievement. As a millennial, a woman, an immigrant and a person of colour, there are unique challenges that come with running a practice in a predominantly male industry.

I’m an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusivity. If I could put laws in place to dismantle inequality, promote gender equality, combat discrimination and expand economic opportunity to all, I would.

If I wasn’t an accountant, I would be a marine biologist. As a child I was fascinated by life in the ocean; one of my best travel experiences involved snorkelling in the Indian Ocean.

I’m an avid reader, travel enthusiast and amateur chef; I make great lasagne! I also volunteer at the Tulsa Dream community centre and with the US Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counselling for the Elderly programmes.