2018 Trusted Advisers Up-and-Comer: Mia Young

SBJ photo by Wes Hamilton

Resume Highlights

• Bachelor’s in accounting, Drury University

• Intern at Elliot, Robinson & Co. LLP before being hired as a staff accountant in September 2015

• Promoted to senior accountant in January

Mia Young knows trust is earned – and throughout her accounting career so far, her convictions of integrity show in interactions with both clients and co-workers. It’s one of the reasons partners at Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP have trusted her with various recruiting efforts and to handle some work with their own clients.

“The partners have already given me contact with their clients and allowed me to field questions and solve problems for them,” says Young, who started as an intern in 2014 and was promoted in January to senior accountant. “I have been able to start building that relationship with them by answering the day-to-day questions. It has allowed them the chance to trust me as one of the team members so they can focus on doing what they do best.”

Young works with 13 core clients with annual billings in 2017 at $137,670 – up $129,744 in 2016.

Young is early on in her career, and she works hard to absorb all the information, mentorship and education she can. Learning new things, she says, makes her excited for the future.

“The amount of information incoming is probably more than the amount going back out to others, but that excites me about what I will have to offer as my career progresses,” she says.

Young says it’s never too early and never a bad time to build solid relationships and gain the trust of those around her. She’s made it a priority.

“My role as a senior accountant in public accounting is to start building strong working relationships with clients while maintaining the technical knowledge required of the position,” Young says.

Some of this technical knowledge imparted upon clients includes training them how to utilize QuickBooks, working through red flags in audits and helping firm partners analyze clients’ taxes year-round.

“I’ve helped the clients I work with feel more comfortable about their accounting by increasing their understanding of it,” Young says.

Young also keeps her own skills sharpened by staying up to date with industry changes as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Young’s head for numbers and heart for service isn’t just utilized in the office, however.

“I feel professionals, like myself, have a responsibility to strengthen our community by utilizing our skills and talents outside of the workplace,” Young says.

She is treasurer for the Springfield Mid-America Singers; treasurer-elect of Junior League of Springfield, Missouri Inc.; member of the Drury University Mentoring Network; treasurer for the Missouri Gamma Chapter of Pi Beta Phi House at Drury; and member of the Young Professionals Volunteer Board for the Betty and Bobby Allison Ozarks Counseling Center.

“Not only is Mia professional and a delight to work with, she accepted the treasurer’s role for the Singers and has been a trusted board member and resource from the first meeting,” says Denise McIntosh, past president of Springfield Mid-America Singers and CEO at Custom Powder Systems LLC. “We are fortunate to have her on the board of directors.”