Jacobson Jarvis & Co (JJCo) is made up of a team of awesome individuals with their own particular strengths and passions, and we want to start highlighting them so you can see the people behind the name.
We’ve taken a moment to chat with CPA and new partner, Matt Cyr about the company, the clients, and what advice he has for others looking to advance in their career.
How long have you worked for Jacobson Jarvis & Co?
I started at Jacobson Jarvis in October 2013, and I’ve been in public accounting since May 2007.
What made you join the team at JJCo?
I was pretty disenchanted with public accounting. I had been in it for just over five years, and I didn’t think it was that good of a fit for me anymore.
But I gave JJCo a chance and I applied. It has truly been an enjoyable experience ever since. We have a really fun and lively culture. [JJCo is] very understanding and supportive of our employees, so that’s pretty neat.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
Every day is unique, so I’m never bored. I’m not repeating tasks, I’m getting to work with different clients, and manage different projects. So [I enjoy that] it’s not repetitive by any means.
What advice would you give to other CPAs looking to advance their career and become a partner?
The number one thing is that you are only going to be as successful as your team. So the biggest [and most] important thing is for you to be a cheerleader and coach for your team, and then if they succeed, you’re going to be great. It’s not “The Matt Show,” it’s “The JJCo Show.”
You guys work with a lot of really cool clients, like KEXP, MOHAI, and Lifelong. Who are some other fun clients you like working with?
I can only speak to the clients that I work with, but here are just a few: Lifelong, Tacoma Art Museum, Child Care Resources, Seattle Humane Society, KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Multi-Service Center, and Parent Trust for Washington Children.
So it’s safe to say a lot of the ones Jacobson Jarvis works with in general are all about helping the community around them, and JJCo aligns itself with those values as well, right?
Yes, Jacobson Jarvis thrives on serving nonprofits of all sizes and missions.
What do you think is so special about Jacobson Jarvis?
When I think about other CPA firms, they don’t specialize. They service lots of different industries. [Being a firm that serves nonprofits] allows us to be very focused and experts in the industry that we serve. Everybody who works here is dedicated to having a high competency with respect to understanding nonprofit accounting, and working as a resource for our clients.
About Matt Cyr:
Matt Cyr, CPA, has been an auditor since 2007. As a Partner in the audit department, Matt focuses on providing attestation services that include nonprofit audits, reviews, and compliance audits for not-for-profit organizations ranging in size and mission. Financial analysis, budget work, and GAAP research are just some of the areas of accounting that Matt performs. Matt also has an extensive background with employee benefit plan audits. In addition to his involvement with not-for-profit audits, Matt assists clients with complex accounting and accounting needs.
Consulting with clients on internal control questions and concerns is an area which Matt is passionate. He has several years of public accounting experience working with clients and networking with colleagues on complex accounting issues and the challenges facing the not-for-profit sector.
