Rosalind W. Sutch, CPA, MT

Shareholder
Drucker & Scaccetti, PC
Philadelphia, PA
www.taxwarriors.com

Q&A:

Aside from the accounting websites, which blog/website do you consider a must-read?

Honestly, most blogs I read are accounting/tax related and a few are fitness related. Also I’m an avid reader of the Wall Street Journal. Here is my must-read list:

Tax – Anything Tony Nitti or Kelly Phillips Erb Writes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonynitti/#563f3162466f http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/#dc008ec3dbaf

Fitness/Well being:

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/

https://www.t-nation.com/blogs

General Business:

www.wsj.com

In what ways have you contributed to your firm/company to make it better?

As one of our youngest Shareholders, I believe I add an important form of diversity to firm leadership. Our firm does a great job of making decisions not only for those sitting at the table, but with the long view of planning for those not yet there. I believe having younger Shareholders at the table now helps our firm leadership continue to focus on this mentality.

I co-founded the Drucker & Scaccetti Business Academy (“DSBA”) with one of my business partners, Geoff Mesko. We created the DSBA to provide a structured method of engaging and educating our Associates on various business and leadership related curriculum not focused on technical tax issues, including soft skills important to their professional growth. Included as part of this program is a book club which I have led since inception three years ago.

In what ways do you participate in the professional community to change/improve the accounting profession?

I was very active with the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) committees early in my career and continue to participate in their events. I recently was part of a motivational and educational panel discussion, hosted by the Greater Philadelphia Women of the PICPA Committee, providing tips, insights, and guidance for driven women accountants to apply to their careers.

I have made numerous presentations (in person or via webinar) to practitioners about the practical aspects of representing unmarried cohabitating couples and tax and financial planning issues affecting the LGBTQ community. As marriage equality laws have changed over the past few years, it was important to reach practitioners and provide education so that the members of the LGBTQ community can have competent representation to address their sometimes unique tax and financial planning needs.

In what ways do you participate in your local community to help others?

I participate in various boards and committees, usually where my business acumen and accounting skills can be useful. My current active involvement includes :

Current Board Member & Finance Committee Member – Nutritional Development Services
Current Finance Committee Member – Catholic Social Services
Current Board Member of Independence Business Alliance
Current Fall Festival Committee Member & Liturgical Minister– Our Mother of Good Counsel
Current Volunteer – Council of Presidents Associates – LaSalle University
Current Committee Member – Young Leadership Committee – JDRF, Philadelphia

I am most passionate about issues revolving around nutrition/hunger, civil rights and Type 1 Diabetes and participate in events benefiting these causes regularly.

What changes do you foresee in the accounting profession of the near future (3-5 years)?

Technology is going to have a huge impact on the accounting profession soon and beyond. I recently read select chapters of “The Future of the Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts” by Richard & Daniel Susskind and I would recommend it for anyone in the accounting profession concerned about the rapidly changing pace of technology and how it will affect our profession. New products, software and automation opportunities will continue to grow in the coming years, and it is imperative we focus on how to best implement these tools in our firms to create efficiency while not losing the personal touch that our clients look for in their trusted advisors. Put another way, the deliverables we create for clients will continue to be commoditized so we must find more creative ways to add value to our clients with our consulting services.

How do you see yourself participating in shaping the future of the accounting profession?

I participate in the shaping of the future of the accounting profession every day! My daily interactions, including technical and soft skills “teaching moments”, with my firm’s Associates are the most important investment I can make in the future of the accounting profession.

I am an active alumna in the accounting department and business school of my alma mater, LaSalle University. I speak to students about choosing tax and public accounting as a career. I have a formal mentor relationship with fellow alum and have advised him through the early stages of his career.

I plan on continuing to be part of the PICPA and their efforts to shape the future of our profession.

What is your career philosophy?

My career and life philosophy are very similar. One of the most important skills we need to succeed in personal and business relationships is the ability to communicate clearly. Whether you are communicating with your spouse, your peers, your staff, or your clients, clear communication is imperative to successful relationships.

I’m particular about direct communication. While softening a message can be important, most of the time communicating a point clear and concise is more effective. Communicating or clarifying expectations is an important form of communication from a business perspective.

Describe one person who has been an important mentor to you and how that person helped change your life.

I have had several mentors inside and outside of my firm. Mentors outside of your firm are important to keep a clear perspective on certain career issues. However having at least one mentor internal to your organization is also important so someone is looking for opportunities for you to learn and grow personally and professionally.

I have been blessed with two such mentors. The first I’ve known nearly my entire life. Bob Dunne (Tax Services Partner at Grant Thornton) is a long time family friend and hired me for my first internship in tax. He has modeled hard work and perseverance, provided me with a template for success in taxation and continues to be a willing sound board for career decisions and feedback. The second, Jane Scaccetti (co-founder, CEO and Shareholder at Drucker & Scaccetti) has provided wise counsel about nearly everything in my life (personal and professional) since I joined the firm in 2002. Jane’s leadership and commitment to our community is inspiring and I have been lucky to have her counsel for my entire full-time career.

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Learn more about this year’s 40 Under 40 Honorees.