Degrees of Success: Local CPAs find that a law degree enhances ability to serve clients - Business First of Louisville:

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Loyd, a member of the Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC law firm in became an accountant in 1991 afte r graduating summa cum laude fromin 1989. He started out doing tax work forCoopers & Lybrand, now part of and then moved on to work for Brow n & Williamson Tobacco Corp. in the mid-90s. Therer he managed their state and local tax reviewed tax returns filed in several statesd and local jurisdictions and managed revenue auditz from variousdepartments nationwide. He also earned his MBA from thein 1996. But Loyd wasn'rt finished.
He attended night school at the Universityu of Louisville to earn his law degree in andin 2003, left Brown & Williamsonh for his current position with Greenebaum Doll & where he works in tax litigation such as when a clienrt protests a tax assessment. "Instead of doin g tax returns, now I represent many differenyt kinds of clients before the and the Kentuckt Department of Revenue or the Indiana Departmengtof Revenue," Loyd said. He also strivesd to be active in professional groups for both as a member of the board of the Kentuckty Society of Certified Public Accountantxsand chairman-elect of the tax sectiojn of the .
Although Loyd isn't alone in holdintg dual accounting andlaw designations, it still is a somewhag unusual and difficult path because both professions requirs specialized degrees and participation in continuing-educationb programs. However, those who hold both a CPA designationm and a law degree said it makes them more marketabled as a professional becausd they have education and experience inboth specialties. Tim Kimmel, a partner in Ernst & Young'ss state and local tax practice in leads the state and local tax practice forthe firm'sz Ohio Valley Cluster, which also includez Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, Ohio.
He's been with the firm for 10 after first working as a tax preparefr at another firm upon graduatingfrom college. Kimmekl earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from the in 1986 and passee his CPA examin 1988. While working in accounting by day, he attended night school at the Universithy of Louisville and graduatef with a law degree inMay 1992. In all, he spenrt six years working inpublic accounting, and aftere earning his law degree, he speny five years working as an attorney with a law firm.
Kimmek said that by having both degrees, he can not only deciphefr financial statements but also is able to delve into tax determining why they do or do not apply to The law degree also gives him insights into relate legal ramifications oftax decisions. "Irt really opened up a few more doors for me bein able to see the law side of things as well as theaccountinf side," he said. Vickj Buster, a tax partner with for the past10 years, took a differentr path to reach her dual profession. Currently she performs tax complianceand planning, advisiny clients on business and tax matters, estate planninfg and trusts.
Buster graduated from the in 1979 with a degredin communications, followed by a law degree from the Universitg of Louisville in 1983. "When I got to law my favorite class wastax class," she So Buster took a job at the former Cooper s and Lybrand, working for 13 years as a membet of its tax department staff. But, she to be promoted at a CPA firm she had to becomdea CPA. So while working full time and as the pregnantf mother ofa 2-year-old, she attended Bellarmine University at night to earn her accounting later passing the CPA exam.
These days, most of her clienr referrals comefrom attorneys, which givesw her an edge since she knows many local lawyers from her days in law