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Name: Andrew Cook
Title: Associate
How did you get started in accounting?
Since middle school, I’d wanted to do something in the business field. Of course, the only business-related class they had in high school was economics. I liked that, but once I got to college-level material, I decided it was way too theoretical. Accounting, on the other hand, is a solid, practical field with directly-observable benefits. I took my first accounting class in freshman year, and never looked back.
What was your first accounting job?
My first job was an internship with Tax-Masters, Inc., a small firm on the border of Rockville and Bethesda. The woman in charge was a self-proclaimed “crazy tax lady,” who insisted she’d make a tax man out of me before the summer was up. I hadn’t even taken a tax class at the time, so I was in a bit over my head. I guess she succeeded, though, because I only do taxes now.
How long have you been doing what you do?
This is my first job out of college, and I started just ten months ago. It won’t be much longer until I get my CPA.
What do you think is the most important aspect of your job?
I think it’s most important to be thorough. As an associate, it’s my job to be on the front-lines and get a general idea of what a client has going on. It’s important to let the folks above me know there is a potential problem before we get too far along.
Where did you go to school?
I went to the College of William and Mary, just a few hours away from here. Got my BBA in the December of 2012, and my Master’s of Accounting in the December of 2013. I graduated early thanks to a bunch of AP credits from high school; the tests were a pain, but they really paid off.
Do you have a nickname? What is it?
My friends call me either Alc or BSD. I really prefer the first nickname, but the second seems to be the one that stuck.
What is your favorite book and why?
My favorite book is Watership Down, by Richard Adams. I really liked how it presented a radically different society and way of life in a structured, believable way. Too bad there aren’t more books like it.
What is something people don’t know about you?
I’m actually an award-winning author on the internet. I do some writing on a little website hidden away in its depths, and I’ve won three different contests there. I guess my fans might have to wait until busy season’s over, though.
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