Peyton Keener is an associate with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Taxand practice in Washington, D.C. She earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s of accountancy from West Virginia University (WVU). In the following Q&A, Peyton shares what led her to intern at A&M, what advice she would give to her college self and where she’s looking to travel in the upcoming year. 

What skills or experiences did you gain in college that have been valuable in your career thus far?

During my college career, I juggled various leadership roles in addition to balancing two degrees within two separate schools at West Virginia University. I rarely had free time during the week that was not designated toward student organization meetings or studying, so the weekend was really my only time to do anything hobby related. This required a lot of organization and planning to ensure I didn’t miss any of my obligations. Having that multitasking experience has been very useful in my career, as I’m staffed on a variety of clients throughout the year. This involves being on multiple teams and making sure I stay on top of each one. 

What led you to pursue your chosen field of study?

I initially was only majoring in political science when I started at WVU, which had a lot of room for elective classes. My father majored in accounting, so I figured I’d take the intro-level accounting courses to meet my elective requirements. After taking those, I really enjoyed the foundational concepts and wanted to continue taking more upper-level classes. Since I had started college with some credits, I had room to add an additional major and decided to pursue a dual degree in accounting and political science.

Why did you choose to intern at A&M? 

After adding accounting as a second major later into my college career, I wasn’t exactly sure where to begin when pursuing an internship or which field in accounting I’d like to pursue. I had logged onto my college career portal and started searching around for various accounting internships when I stumbled across A&M. I checked out the website and it seemed like a company where I’d have a vast array of opportunities. A&M also had a meet-and-greet mixer the night before campus interviews, so I was able to meet some of the interviewers beforehand and get a better understanding of both the company culture and internship program. Everyone I spoke to at campus interviews truly represented the company’s motto of “liking what you do and who you do it with.” I was so excited when I got the offer and immediately accepted.

How did you get started in your career, and what were some of the biggest challenges you faced early on?

After interning at A&M the summer after my junior year in 2019, I accepted an offer to come back and intern the following summer after my senior year in 2020. Thankfully, A&M was able to still conduct the internship program virtually that summer amidst Covid. After completing my second internship, I returned to WVU for my master’s degree in accounting and accepted a full-time offer, where I started as an associate in Core Tax for the DC office in August of 2021.

Some of the biggest challenges early on stemmed from being in the hybrid environment. It was a bit of an adjustment to transition to working remotely, as I was excited to be able to work in the office setting in which I was familiar. Learning remote communication norms and which mode you should use and when (e.g., Microsoft Teams messaging, email, phone, video conferencing) took time getting used to with different client teams.

Another challenge early on was understanding when to seek support when I felt overwhelmed. Teams would rather you reach out early on so they can reallocate a task to someone else accordingly or push an internal deadline back than inform them at the last minute that you’ll probably need some extra time to complete the project. I think I initially thought reaching out was a sign of weakness; however, teams will view this the opposite way since you’re communicating effectively and maybe even highlighting some staffing inconsistencies. I also was nervous when requesting feedback on projects but requesting constant and updated feedback on different projects can help you identify areas of improvement and apply those learnings across other client teams. 

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments, and what resources do you rely on for ongoing learning and growth?

The accounting field is incredibly dynamic given the constant change stemming from new laws and regulations. Taxand, especially our National Tax Office, ensures we’re staying on top of industry trends and developments with frequent training and updates. For ongoing learning and growth, I like to revisit foundational concept training to ensure understanding before moving into more niche topics. We’ve made this training a part of the associate learning experience by having two weeklong sessions: one in December and one in June at A&M University (AMU). A&M also does a great job of hosting monthly meetings across Taxand to make sure everyone is up to date on any relevant industry trends or developments that will directly impact the work we do. Creating and presenting internal training on a topic is also an excellent way to increase your knowledge and other skillsets such as public speaking or research. 

What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment so far in your career?

I would say my biggest accomplishment so far would be the roles I’ve been able to play in the campus recruiting, internship and ambassador programs. Meeting new people and being able to help them develop their professional career paths is incredibly rewarding. As someone who has been on the other side as an A&M intern, I can be a mentor for potential candidates and intern hires to leverage for advice and support. Serving as the DC Ambassador for Taxand has been a wonderful way to set up events that reward everyone’s hard work and ensure we’re celebrating our core value of fun. Being able to recruit and tell potential candidates what makes A&M special and why I love working here is amazing, especially when they come to experience it for themselves.

In hindsight, what advice would you give to your college self or to other recent graduates about navigating the transition from school to work?

Navigating the transition from school to work is a bit of a challenge. Even when you have internship experience, working full-time is going to require a bigger shift in your time commitments, roles and responsibilities. Just because you’ve graduated and started full-time doesn’t mean you’ll know everything—and neither will anyone on your teams expect that of you—so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Learn to prioritize your out-of-work hobbies and events on a manageable schedule in order to effectively balance life and work. If you feel overwhelmed, reach out proactively to your teams and performance manager to ask for guidance and solutions. Ask why you’re doing a task and inquire about the technical concepts involved with the process— not just how it should be done.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the next few years in your career?

In the next few years, I would like to pass all four parts of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and become a licensed CPA. I would also like to continue to work with a variety of clients and gain experience with tax specialties in which I’m unfamiliar. As I progress toward the next level in my career, I am excited about the new roles and responsibilities I’ll be able to take on with my various teams and clients. I also would like to continue to serve as our office ambassador, as well as stay involved with our recruiting and internship programs. 

Can you tell us about a mentor or advisor who has been influential in your career development, and what did you learn from them?

During my first internship at A&M, I formed a connection almost instantly with one of the senior associates in the DC office, Olivia Jones. She was someone who always made me feel incredibly comfortable with asking questions, whether they be about specific accounting concepts I was handling on a project, or relative to my future career and school path. Olivia has always looked out for my best interest and wanted to do everything in her power to help me succeed. She’s taught me so much when it comes to navigating career development and is always there when I need advice. One thing she’s always instilled within me is to have confidence and never sell yourself short. 

How do you approach networking and building professional relationships, and what tips would you offer to others who are just starting out?

One of the best parts about working at A&M is the constant opportunity for networking within the firm. AMU is one of my favorite weeks of the year. You get to meet so many different people from various offices within your own sector, as well as people from other business units who you would most likely never meet outside this event. I approach networking and building professional relationships as I do with any other aspect of my job. Forming a meaningful connection goes such a long way, especially with people you may potentially work with in the future. Building and maintaining professional relationships with people at your own professional level will benefit you immensely. I can’t tell you how often I rely on other associates, both within the DC office and around the country, for questions and assistance, and vice versa. When you know someone personally, you have a better understanding of their communication and work styles, which aids collaboration on your client teams.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Being able to fly would be awesome, considering how much I’ve spent this year on plane tickets and gas money. It would also make my commute to and from the office much easier during rush hour. I also would love to be able to time travel.  

What are some fun facts about you?

I’ve been traveling and going to a lot of concerts this year. My sister and I got to attend the Taylor Swift Eras tour in Philadelphia and it was unreal. Our family had tickets to see Celine Dion perform in England next April, but unfortunately, she just cancelled her world tour. We’re hoping to go regardless, since the only European country I’ve visited is Spain and the rest of my family has not been to Europe. My friends and I like to make collaborative playlists for any event in our lives, so we love sharing music with each other. I’m also trying to run a half-marathon this year so I’m hoping to train for that this summer or during the fall.