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2018 Trusted Advisers Up-and-Comer: Michelle Vespa

KPM CPAs PC

Posted online

Michelle Vespa is quickly moving through the ranks at KPM CPAs PC. She earned a promotion to senior accountant just two years into her career.

“I am always willing to take on new challenges and perform necessary research or tackle projects that can help our clients improve their businesses,” she says. “I continually strive to better my work environment whether it be working with clients, training new team members, gaining additional professional skills or lending a hand in the community.”

Now in her third year with the accounting firm, Vespa devotes her time to client financial statements compliance, financial operations assessments, data and document reviews, consulting services for financial institutions, and regulatory compliance oversight.

“She is very well versed on all technical matters and is in high demand given her skill set and business acumen,” says Gary Wells, shareholder at KPM. “Her strengths include her ability to effectively communicate and quickly pick up new concepts.

“Michelle also is always willing to lend a hand to her team members and within the community.”

Vespa worked as a credit analyst for Central Bank of the Ozarks for nearly two years before joining KPM in 2015.

Now, Vespa says she maximizes accuracy and effectiveness by helping clients set up templates to obtain the information they need to manage their companies.

“Auditing financial statements requires you to review items from the past but also entails analyzing important trends to detect potential problems and glean information that might help clients improve their operations,” Vespa says. “After listening to their needs, I make appropriate recommendations to allow for more effective and accurate processes.”

She also works with employee benefit plans to make sure they are compliant with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and provides consulting services for community banks and credit unions.

“I advise these clients on their processes to help determine if they are in compliance with regulations before bank examiners conduct their audits,” she says.

Vespa is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of CPAs, serving on the group’s young professionals committee.

“The purpose of this committee is to encourage individuals to enter the profession and helps us engage young accountants,” Vespa says. “I have had the opportunity to speak at conferences and with students at local universities to educate them and interest them in the accounting profession.”

She will be published in the upcoming edition of The Asset, the trade publication of Missouri Society of CPAs.

Vespa also devotes her time to serving on the board of directors for Springfield Ballet Inc. and Moxie Cinema LLC, along with being a member of the Betty and Bobby Allison Ozarks Counseling Center’s Young Professionals Volunteer Board and The Junior League of Springfield, Missouri Inc.

She also serves as a Day of Caring volunteer for the United Way of the Ozarks and a Cents of Pride volunteer for Springfield Public Schools.

“I am passionate about enriching the community through arts and culture, as these programs bring incredible opportunities to Springfield,” she says.

Vespa graduated from Drury University in 2012 with a bachelor’s in biology and minors in business administration, chemistry and global studies. She earned her bachelor’s in accounting from Missouri State University in 2015.

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