Pursuing what she’s passionate about defines Cara Aaron. And that is true of her life and career. Be it traveling to Guatemala on a mission trip with her church or helping organizations maintain financial statements that mirror stringent accounting principles, Cara listens to her heart and relies on her expertise to make her mark in this world.
But why accounting? It’s simple. She enjoys it. “I took an accounting class in high school and fell in love with it. I knew from that point on that accounting was my calling,” says Cara.
She graduated from Evangel University with a BBA in Accounting and has worked in public accounting for the past 29 years, including a twelve-year tenure with the accounting firm, Ernst & Young.
But Cara has found her home here locally at KraftCPAs, one of Nashville’s largest CPA firms. As a senior manager in the assurance services department, Cara performs audits, reviews, and compilations for her clients to ensure their financial statements comply with accounting principles. Her work is essential to Companies looking to secure additional funding, as banks may require audited financial statements in lieu of a grantor to validate the company’s financial position and establish credit worthiness.
“I enjoy what I do, and that makes a difference.”
Cara Aaron
While Cara works with existing clients, she is also responsible for introducing new prospects to KraftCPAs. And yet, while successful, she admits that she struggles with the sales aspect of her job. “I have to admit that I still struggle with that. Personality wise, that’s not one of my strengths,” says Cara as she expresses her discomfort with engaging in sales conversations. Growing up, Cara was extremely shy, so convincing senior level executives to turn over their financial documents took a little getting used to.
But over the years, Cara has learned to rely on her knowledge and expertise in accounting and the reputation she has built over the years to fortify her confidence. “People feel like they can trust me and that’s important because you want a financial advisor that you don’t have to second guess,” says Cara. “And it’s not about the money for me. It’s about taking care of other’s people’s needs, which so happens to come along with a paycheck.”
Her biggest challenge over the years has been learning how to manage the ebbs and flows of an industry that can be very cyclical. “In accounting, you have busy times and slow times. Trying to balance your personal life with work during those busy times if difficult. It’s a struggle to get everything done without wearing yourself out, “says Cara.
Cara draws from her well of great co-workers, thriving faith, and love of her field to keep going when the scales threaten to tip over. “It sounds cliché, but I truly enjoy what I do and look forward to coming into work every day.”
She credits her direct supervisor, Lucy Carter, as a mentor and friend who has greatly influenced her career trajectory. “Lucy’s genuine concern for her clients is so rare. And it’s not just clients, but the people who work under her and engage with her daily,” Cara says of Lucy. “I want to be that way. From the CFO to the janitor, it’s my mission to treat everyone the same.”
But Cara is no stranger to mentoring. She, herself, indirectly mentors other women and team members. She enjoys taking people under her wing and maintains an open-door policy at the office.
For women business owners, Cara offers this advice: “Do what you love to do. If you don’t love it, then change it. Be true to yourself.”
And for those looking to connect with a women’s group, Cara recommends NAWBO. “When I joined, I found everyone very easy to talk to. It was easy to make friends because NAWBO is not so big that you can’t really meet people and cultivate real relationships.”
At NAWBO, you can do that and more.