Meet Geoff, Accountant for TL;DR: Accountant
Geoff is a fantastic steal for our team, with his experience, knowledge and upbeat attitude. Not to mention he totally is a geek like the rest of us.
Why did you decide to become an accountant?
Ever since I was a kid, I always loved to calculate how to play video games and board games optimally for my chosen play style (some call this “min-maxing”). This led me towards a career field that is all about maximizing efficiency!
When were you hired for TL;DR?
I started at TL;DR on June 10, 2019.
What made you decide to want to work for TL;DR?
The name attracted me at first; I’m a fan of irreverent Internet acronyms. The team is very welcoming and I like the gaming culture. Plus, working remotely means I can travel the world and still pay the bills!
What do you enjoy most about TL;DR?
Can I have two? First, it’s having such a knowledgeable and supportive team of accountants on the team. Second, it’s that feeling when an entire year’s worth of transactions reconciles cleanly!
What is a typical work day like for you?
The day starts off with me checking our chat software (Slack) for any important messages and the occasional hilarious meme. After that I check our task-tracking software (Karbon) to prioritize my work for the day. Then it’s on to the core of my day: using Quickbooks to polish up the books, categorize transactions correctly, reconcile, and all the other wonderful things we do.
What is your favorite tip for small business owners?
Make sure to carefully track the due dates for your local, county, state, and federal taxes, and prioritize paying the government first. Unlike most vendors, government entities might not hesitate to charge late fees, penalties, and interest on the late fees and on the penalties!
How do you stay informed about developments and changes in the accounting world?
I stay in compliance with all the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for my CPA and CMA credentials. Beyond that, I read articles online about new developments and gain a lot of insight talking to all the sharp accountants on our team!
What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?
My biggest professional achievement would be earning my CPA – lots of sweat went into it! My biggest personal achievement was jumping through all the hoops necessary to land a five-month MBA foreign exchange to Bordeaux, France.
What do you do outside of work?
I like to watch documentaries, play with my kids, do yoga, meditate, and play video games in my spare time. My current stand-by games are Magic: The Gathering Arena and Beat Saber VR.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
I’d have to say Tim the Enchanter from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He can explode things at will, and he fears nothing (except for The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog, which is really rather terrifying).
Do you have any advice for those interested in entering the accounting field?
Talk to your classmates, professors, coworkers, and other accountants you know to get a feel for what different kinds of accounting jobs are like. At some point it will behoove you to specialize, and you’ll have done yourself a favor by gathering knowledge and insights early on.
Are there any other random facts you’d like to share?
Sure! I’m a big fan of the band Boards of Canada, and my favorite TV show is a very serious show about anthropomorphic animals: Bojack Horseman. My wife and I are testing out this intermittent fasting phenomenon that’s sweeping the Internet these days. We have two children: Nora and Jack.
