The 2023 Rising Stars of the Profession: Kelsey Campbell

Kelsey is a Senior Manager in Armanino's Business Outsourcing Services practice. Kelsey holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has over 6 years of experience creating efficiencies, cultivating growth, and expanding profitability within companies. Kelsey also has experience in a multitude of client industries, startups through pre-IPO, US & international companies with both privately and publicly held entities.

She currently manages a team of 20 and oversees the firm's Business Outsourcing Professional Services and Entertainment Practice. Kelsey's experience ranges from start-up companies establishing their accounting and internal control procedures to presenting at quarterly board meetings to billionaire investors. Additionally, she has experience working with publicly traded clients and their annual SEC filings. One of the best compliments she has received was from a client that was not very accounting or finance savvy. They mentioned that she has the "unique ability to tell a captivating story surrounding our financial statements and make us feel confident in our numbers and company."

Beyond her client work, Kelsey is currently a member of Armanino's "B Corp Team" which supports the firm's ESG goals as well as the office culture committee in the West LA office. Kelsey is also an avid supporter of Armanino's campus recruiting events, attending multiple meet the firm events and speaking on panels about the accounting and consulting profession at UCLA, USC, UCSB, and CSUN. She has been involved in the firm's recruiting efforts for the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), attending mock interviews and resume workshops.

What would you say has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

The biggest factor for my success has been my drive and determination coupled with the incredible support and mentorship I received along the way. For as long as I can remember, I've been a driven person. This drive is reflected in my constant yearning to learn and grow more in my skills and knowledge of clients, my determination to build and train a team up alongside me so that we can all be successful in our careers, and my competitive spirit that comes out when representing our firm and our "best and only" mentality.

While being driven has been important to my success, I owe most of the credit to the support and mentorship I received throughout my career. I feel fortunate to have been paired with leaders who see the potential in me and who have supported, had confidence in, and advocated for me and my success. Those same leaders and managers have also been there to have the hard conversations with me that helped to shape me throughout my career. Through their support and leadership, I am now in the position I currently am.

What do you enjoy most about your career in the consulting industry?

I enjoy helping my clients most. I get so much satisfaction from clients that truly understand the financial health of their business and feel confident and informed enough to make strategic business decisions for the future. Working with clients also brings its share of challenges. We view ourselves as problem solvers which requires us to think outside the box and develop creative strategies and solutions that fit best for the particular needs of our clients, rather than taking a one size fits all approach. We know that the success of our clients often rides on the work we do, and we therefore take great pride in celebrating our clients' successes. Many of my career highlights have come from client victories, whether they landed a significant client, debuted an innovative project, or hit the revenue goal they've been striving for. Our team always takes the "Christmas party approach" when it comes to our clients. We want them to think of us as an extension of their team so much so that they invite us to their Christmas parties or other significant events. When our clients truly see us as a part of their team, it means we've been successful.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

The achievement I'm most proud of are the relationships I've developed with my clients. One client, which is particularly meaningful to me is a film and television investment company that pairs entertainment with impact events. It was drawn to Armanino for its foundation and involvement in our communities. A year into the relationship, they asked us to start speaking at their quarterly board meetings. Through these board meetings, investors of this company have been exposed to the firm, and its exceptional level of client service. This exposure has led to more than five, distinct new clients and opportunities for the firm. Additionally, it gave me an opportunity to work closely and collaborate with our head of consulting (Ryan Prindiville) on a proposal for another high-profile client (a board member of our film client). I also was invited to attend an important event with the client where we demonstrated to underrepresented students what they could achieve in the world of STEM. I loved being able to be an active member of this client's mission while also living out Armanino's Purpose, Value and Anchors.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

Like everyone, I've been given a lot of great advice throughout my life. The best advice I've received is actually a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, "comparison is the thief of joy." Being a driven person who works in a competitive industry, it is easy to compare yourself to others. You wonder why they got the promotion over you or why they got that new exciting client you wanted, or even why they seem to work fewer hours than you or the bosses seem to like them more. After being reminded (on more than one occasion) that you should be proud of your own success and instead of comparing yourself to what others have achieved, it's important to cheer them on and celebrate their success. This advice has helped me become a better leader and has reminded me it's important to be proud of what you and your team have accomplished together.

What does this recognition mean to you?

Being recognized by my peers and by a pillar in our industry would be an honor. As consultants, we put in a lot of work and a lot of dedication to serve our clients and work toward the best interests of our clients and teams. This recognition serves as validation and praise for all of the dedication and work that our collective team and my colleagues commit toward furthering client goals and purpose.