Staff Spotlight: Elizabeth Lewis

Audit partner shares insights for women in accounting

Learn about Business Assurance & Advisory Services Partner, Elizabeth Lewis’s career path and her dedication to supporting women in accounting.

Balancing career and personal life

Elizabeth’s career path from associate to partner was not without challenges. Transitioning from a career in education, she was older than the traditional first-year associate when she joined the Keiter team and was ready to start a family with her husband. Her colleagues and department leaders at the time were predominantly male and not in primary caregiver roles. Although she felt she may be a little too ‘untraditional’ for a role in public accounting, she decided to just commit fully and approach it one day at a time.

As she progressed to a manager role and was now a mother to two children, she was finding it increasingly difficult to balance work and family responsibilities. Elizabeth, a self-professed overachiever, set out to build her career in a way that worked for her unique situation. She developed an alternative work arrangement that would afford reduced hours at certain times of the year while maintaining the level of client service and career development she desired. She now enjoys being able to align her work schedule to maximize quality family time without sacrificing firm needs or client service goals.

The appeal of real estate

Elizabeth’s interest in the real estate industry was fueled early on from an investment property she and her husband owned in Charlottesville. She appreciates the tangible nature of real estate and its importance to all aspects of life. When she began her career as an Audit Associate at Keiter, Elizabeth had the opportunity to pursue her interest in real estate in new ways by working with the Firm’s real estate clients, including investment funds and developers. Her specialization in real estate also introduced her to a network of female peers that made a positive impact on her career growth.

Building a business network

From the beginning of her career at Keiter, Elizabeth focused on building strong professional connections both inside and outside of the firm. By building a broad network, Elizabeth found access to a variety of people who had been through similar experiences and could provide helpful advice. Elizabeth’s involvement with Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) played a significant role in her networking journey. During a CREW meeting, Elizabeth won a drawing to attend the global CREW convention in Miami. Taking advantage of this opportunity was a turning point, leading to deeper involvement with the organization, including a serving as President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chair of the Philanthropy Committee. She truly appreciates her network as her connections have developed into friendships that provide support and a listening ear during demanding professional and personal times.

Mentorship and development programs

Elizabeth valued the ability to select a mentor at Keiter who she not only looked up to and respected but was accessible and invested in helping her develop her career. Her mentor provided support not only over topics like technical accounting or networking skills but also provided advice around being a mother and balancing workload. These conversations helped enhance Elizabeth’s experiences and provided invaluable support that Elizabeth continues to pass along to others at the firm.

Supporting women in accounting

Now, in her role as Audit Partner, Elizabeth is committed to supporting all of her colleagues in their accounting career paths and specifically, serving as a mentor and advocate for women in accounting.

Elizabeth believes that women offer unique skill sets to the accounting profession. Women typically are known for possessing empathy and nurturing characteristics as well as having strong multi-tasking and communication skills. Integrating these features with accounting expertise can provide women with a considerable advantage, enabling them to forge trusting relationships with colleagues and clients, lead with empathy, and communicate and collaborate effectively to address challenges and identify opportunities. These are qualities she has learned to embrace and hopes to encourage other women to use to build networks and career opportunities.

The unique challenges Elizabeth faced during her career have provided her with a great deal of empathy for her colleagues and their individual hurdles. She strives to cultivate trust within her team, ensuring they feel at ease discussing both professional and personal challenges with her. Elizabeth aims to offer advice and support so they can navigate challenges, stay resilient, and succeed.

“My philosophy centers around building relationships. I want to facilitate honest conversations so our team members can openly share challenges, and we can design creative solutions. The goal is to achieve a happy, fulfilling career without sacrificing personal goals. A great employee experience fosters exceptional client service and trickles positivity through our community.” – Elizabeth K. Lewis, CPA

Conclusion

Elizabeth Lewis‘s career journey in accounting is a testament to the power of networking, mentorship, and finding a balance between career and personal life. Her dedication to the profession, supporting women in the field, and her proactive approach to building relationships serve as an inspiration to her colleagues and peers.

Keiter is your firm for career development and relationship building. To learn more about a career at Keiter, view our current entry-level and experienced positions.