My Interview with a CPA Comedian! [PODCAST] with Greg Kyte, Blogger, Podcaster, Controller

Greg Kyte
Personal Website (Best way to get in touch)
Going Concern
Going Concern
Certified Public Agnostic Blog

UPDATE: Greg recently launched Accounting Comedy CPE, check it out here.

Note: We went off the rocker on this one and covered a lot of great topics. Here are the questions I planned on asking, but as you’ll see the podcast is longer than its typical length and there is much more information packed inside. I really enjoyed Greg Kyte – he is a hilarious guy! Enjoy!

Tell us a little bit about your background.

• Part of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting in 2012
• CPA Comedian
• Blogger
• Podcaster
• Controller at Utah Valley Medical Offices
• Started his accounting career as a Staff Accountant, Squire and Co.
• Math teacher before going back to school for accounting

Tell us about one experience in your current position that just blew you away and that you were really excited about.

When he started his most recent position, Greg liked the job and he was valued. On the podcast Greg talks us through his journey from math teacher to accounting student. Subsequent to getting his accounting degree, Greg failed to find his place at the public accounting firm by which he was hired. Greg details how he was able to find a position that he loves and that gives him the freedom to do all the other things in which he’s involved.

What was your biggest, or one of your biggest, failure(s) in getting to where you are today?

The clearest failure for Greg was working at his first accounting job. He feels like he did not meet the expectations of the firm. He would take longer than expected to perform the tasks that were required. Greg sees that position as a failure; however, he wouldn’t have been able to perform his current job had he not gone through that experience. Greg has an awesome story of how he was able to make the transition from working in a CPA firm to being a client. Have a listen if you’re thinking of leaving your current position.

Tell us a challenge you met and how you overcame it.

Greg has met success at every turn and there haven’t been any challenges.

But in all seriousness, it has been hard for him to “fit in” to the prim and proper accounting profession. For example, Greg was doing a CPE event and the title he proposed was “How to cheat your way to the highest levels of professional ethics.” While he was asked to change the title prior to the event, he stuck to it!

What is a great resource you used along the way that helped you to get where you are today?

Wood. Yes, he literally responded “wood.” Not wood.com or something similar to that, but the wood that builds houses and fires. Have a listen…

What is you advice for someone starting out in his or her career?

Get in the game. Get out there to your local AICPA chapters. While Greg was in undergrad he showed up for the luncheons for the Utah Association of CPAs. He compares it to being like a kid who goes to his grandma’s quilting bee. Everyone is just so excited that a young person is there–they ask all about him and why he’s there.