Meet TSCPA Member: Carlos DePaz, CPA
The journey to becoming a CPA can take many paths, as TSCPA member Carlos DePaz, CPA, has proven. “Interestingly, my undergrad is in the sciences. I did not become interested in accounting until I found myself in my first business management role for a nonprofit,” he says. Now working as the business administrator for New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, DePaz says he believes his mid-career transition to accounting was successful because of the work experience and wisdom he gained in his prior profession. “When I set out to become a CPA in my early 40s, what I learned in my courses came to life in ways that I believe wouldn’t have if I had majored in accounting as an undergrad.”
Early Life
Raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, DePaz says of his hometown, “It was a great area in which to grow up since it was a bustling, diverse area – and there was always plenty to do! I grew up in a time when the internet was non-existent, so the pace was different than it is today.”
Career Change
Although he did not pursue accounting in his undergraduate studies, when DePaz started in his first business management role for a nonprofit, he discovered his knack for accounting. “I was always interested in organization management, details and numbers, so this aptitude is what landed me the role,” he says. “The small finance office was a team of two, so the bulk of the accounting fell on me.” DePaz credits this real-world accounting experience with playing a major part in the success of his formal transition to the accounting profession later on.
Meaningful Mentorship
As his career in nonprofit management evolved, DePaz was hired to come onboard with an organization where he was to eventually replace a seasoned CPA who was looking to retire. “His breadth of knowledge, commitment and wisdom proved to be monumental in shaping my path,” DePaz says. “Looking back, being under his mentorship until the time he retired was the best time of my working life, and I am a CPA today as a result of his encouragement.”
On the Future of the Profession
Looking ahead to the future of the accounting profession, DePaz predicts AI and blockchain technology will dramatically change not only accounting but the world of business and finance as a whole. “I believe they will ultimately affect the accounting profession in ways that may not all be entirely understood yet.”
Musically Inclined
Outside of work, DePaz enjoys music and spends his free time playing the guitar. He says, “Most people are surprised when they learn I am an avid guitar player. They assume that, as an accountant, I do not have a sense of humor or that I am not particularly creative. I love jam bands and the jazz genre since being successful in those arenas requires tremendous talent and discipline.”
Best Advice
When asked about the best piece of advice he has ever received, DePaz says, “The best advice I ever received was to celebrate a tremendous achievement but then quickly forget about it. In other words, don’t let it get to your head. This has helped keep me humble, especially after I passed my CPA Exam with flying colors.”
On TSCPA
As a TSCPA member, DePaz says he most enjoys getting the opportunity to meet fellow CPAs at the variety of TSCPA-sponsored events. “The society does an excellent job in the planning and execution of them,” he says. “What a great resource to have to aid CPAs in their journey.”
This article was originally published in the March/April 2024 Tennessee CPA Journal.