Today we’d like to introduce you to Blaire Campbell.
Hi Blaire; thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
After completing high school, I found myself supporting myself through retail jobs and living paycheck to paycheck. While I did not have any strong female role models growing up, I was fortunate to meet a supportive friend and coworker in my early 20s who became like the big sister I never had. She encouraged me to pursue higher education and enroll at 26, which I did.
I began my academic journey at a community college, taking various courses to explore my options. When I enrolled in my first accounting class, I found my true calling. The subject matter resonated with me, and I excelled in the coursework. It also seemed natural because my birthday is on tax day. With the help of my friend and mentor, I secured a job at an accounting firm and worked there throughout my college years.
I was newly married, pregnant with my first child, and now the first in my family with a college degree. Driven by my passion and strong work ethic, I completed my associate’s degree in just a year and a half, achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA. Shortly after that, I transferred to a state university, where I continued my studies and, in just another year and a half, earned my bachelor’s degree in accounting with the highest academic honors – Summa Cum Laude.
To become a licensed CPA, I knew I needed to work under the guidance of a licensed CPA. I landed a job with a small CPA firm, where I began the challenging journey of self-studying for the CPA exam while working full-time and raising a family. I was pregnant with my second baby when I passed all four parts of the exam on my first attempt, a feat I am immensely proud of. I finally became a licensed CPA in January 2018.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, my family and I decided to move from our home state of New Jersey to the south. The relocation provided the perfect opportunity to pursue my lifelong dream of starting my own company. With years of experience, strong credentials, and a deep passion for accounting, I am now the proud owner of my accounting firm.
My journey has been filled with challenges and triumphs, but through it all, I remained committed to my goals and never lost sight of my dreams. My story inspires others to pursue their passions, no matter how daunting the obstacles seem.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The greatest challenge that I have faced was starting this business in a new state where I had no friends or family. Most people looking for an accountant turn to those they know for recommendations, so getting my name out has been difficult. I have made some connections, though, and the support they have provided to me has been amazing. I am very grateful to have some wonderful ladies on my side and for the clients that have trusted me to handle their accounts. Also, being a working mom is challenging! We welcomed our 4th baby last year, and finding someone to care for her while I work regularly has been a huge challenge.
As you know, we’re big fans of BC Accounting Services LLC. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
I specialize in small business bookkeeping and taxes. My goal is to provide peace of mind for small business owners. I want them to know that their books are accurate and that they should have nothing to fear if they ever find themselves in an audit. I pay a lot of attention to detail and pride myself on accuracy. I also do my best to let my clients know why their taxes are coming up higher/lower and if there is something they can do to reduce them in the future. I also provide free reviews of the prior year’s taxes/books. I will do this and tell prospective clients how I could help them or let them know their current accountant is doing a great job. If I find errors that can be fixed and result in a refund, I give them the option of hiring me to fix them, always letting them know if it would be cost-effective. In my short time in business, I have corrected errors that resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in refunds.
Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
Vacation! We all work so much and hard; we should be sure that we are enjoying life and each other. Also, planning for the future and knowing that my kids will have an easier start to life than I did.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bcpaservices.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072469393291
