2019 Trusted Advisers Accountant: Amanda Kastler

SBJ photo by Jessica Rosa

Resume Highlights

• Bachelor’s in accounting, Drury University

• Named the first female partner at Elliott, Robinson and Co. LLP in 2014

• Founding member of the firm’s women’s initiative

• Annual billings of $539,700 in 2018, up from $485,495 in 2017

Amanda Kastler is striving to set a positive path for businesswomen like herself, while she helps her clients solve their accounting struggles.

In her role as a partner at Elliott, Robinson and Co. LLP, she says being a trusted adviser comes down to being a source for requests, opportunities, solving problems and being a client advocate. It doesn’t matter how large or small the company or nonprofit.

“My favorite question to ask clients I work with is, ‘What keeps you up at night?’” she says. “The answers to this question provide the insight and path to make an enormous positive impact with a client.”

According to Kastler, her annual billings in 2018 were $539,700, and she manages 76 clients.

As a founding member of The Women’s Initiative at Elliott, Robinson and Co., she actively participates in helping to empower women. Kastler was named the firm’s first female partner in 2014.

“More and more females are graduating from college with accounting degrees and looking for employment at public accounting firms,” Kastler says.

Out of the 52 employees at Elliott, Robinson and Co., 40 are female staff members. 

“With 40 female staff members, I feel a personal responsibility to help each and every one of them meet their definition of success, whatever that may be,” she says. “I am an example to each of them that you can have a successful career and still feel like you are a ‘good mom.’”

Kastler says the role of mom is her favorite title. She has two boys, Oliver and Thatcher.

The Women’s Initiative holds a luncheon every month for female employees to discuss topics relevant to working women. She calls it a “forum for comfortable conversation, self-improvement and advice.”

Kastler also is part of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of CPAs.

In the community, she is a current board member, past treasurer and past board chairwoman for Harmony House.

“During my tenure as board chair, I led the organization to develop a financial sustainability task force designed to develop policies and procedures surrounding operating reserves, maintenance reserves and sound investment strategies,” she says.

Kastler says she still assists in Harmony House’s annual audit, monthly financial statement and bookkeeping while also helping to prepare the organization’s annual tax-filing requirements.

She also serves on the Arvest Bank Board of Directors, on the Breech Business Week Advisory Committee, and as an advisory board member to the Drury University Breech School of Business Administration.

Leah Ann Iaguessa, chief financial officer at Penmac Staffing Serivces Inc., says she has worked with Kastler for 14 years.

“Over the years, I have relied on Amanda for more than basic audit and tax services. If I need an opinion on any business matter, Amanda is the person I call,” she says. “On a personal note, I am very proud of Amanda’s accomplishments in being an outstanding role model for other women in the workforce. … Our business world needs a lot more people like Amanda Kastler in it.”