Staff Spotlight: Paul Staples

 A career journey at Keiter

Just over 10 years ago, Paul Staples, now Partner, began his professional journey with Keiter as an intern. Throughout his tenure, he has not only honed his expertise but also established deep-rooted connections within the office and the Richmond community. Paul’s commitment to continuous development of skills and community service has been a cornerstone of his career growth.

Before Keiter

Paul, a Richmond native, was raised in Mechanicsville. After finishing high school, he sought to continue his education in the medical industry. He enrolled at the University of Richmond with a Pre-Med focus. Paul soon discovered chemistry was not his best subject and his career aspirations may lie in a different industry. After some thought and guidance, Paul transferred to the Robins School of Business, where he found his niche in accounting.

Paul’s aptitude for accounting became evident during his coursework, leading him to seek practical experience through internships. His mother, with a career in the accounting industry, offered a recommendation for Keiter. Hearing his mother’s advice, he applied for an internship during the summer before his junior year. The Firm offered him a seat for the internship, marking the start of his journey with Keiter. Paul reflects that he appreciated the rotational structure between the Tax and Audit departments during his Summer Internship. This positive experience culminated in a Tax Busy Season internship during his final undergraduate semester, followed by a full-time offer from Keiter, which he gladly accepted.

Tax career path at Keiter

Paul officially joined Keiter as a full-time team member in August 2014. His prior internships allowed him to seamlessly integrate into the team as he was able to “hit the ground running.” This enabled him to focus on preparing for the CPA exam, which he successfully completed by December that year.

In his early years at Keiter, Paul prioritized hard work and client availability. This approach facilitated the formation of strong client and colleague relationships. He quickly recognized the value of not only technical accounting skills but also the soft skills essential for growing in a career in accounting. He still reminds team members today that it’s important to pick up the phone or have a meeting – sometimes an email “just doesn’t cut it.”

Throughout his career, Paul has progressed in his career path to become a Tax Partner. In this role, he contributes to the Real Estate and Financial Services Industry teams and specializes in Cost Segregation work.

Life outside the office

Outside the office, Paul is deeply committed to his community. He actively supports the Massey Alliance, an organization dedicated to cancer research awareness and fundraising. His involvement with the organization began three years ago as a reference from Mike Gracik, Director at Keiter. He recognizes how cancer has been present in the lives of everyone in some way and hopes to change that reality.

In July, Paul celebrated a significant personal milestone when he was married here in Richmond. Paul and his wife enjoyed a honeymoon in Italy and have since welcomed a yellow lab named Poppy into their family. In their free time you can find them walking around the Museum District or trying out a new restaurant in the city.

Future for Paul

Paul’s career journey with Keiter has been marked by growth and dedication, and he envisions a continued future with the Firm. He is enthusiastic about Keiter’s innovative direction and is committed to contributing to its success. Paul hopes his professional trajectory will inspire up-and-coming staff members to pursue a rewarding career with Keiter. His goal for the next season of his career is to help foster a culture of developing and retaining top talent who view Keiter as a career destination firm, just as he experienced in his own career.

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.