Employee Spotlight: David Schmunk, Financial Consultant
Welcome to another edition of our Employee Spotlight blog series. In today’s interview, we’re shining a spotlight on David Schmunk, one of our Financial Consultants. I recently sat down with David to learn what he finds both exciting and challenging about his job, his favorite hobbies and why space is his ultimate destination.
GETTING TO KNOW…
- Name: David Schmunk
- Title: Consultant
- Department/Practice Area: Financial Consulting
- Time at Bridgepoint: 1 year, 2 months
- Hometown: Beaverton, Oregon
- Education and Certifications: Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Finance, Oregon State University, CPA
What is your role at Bridgepoint?
As a financial operations consultant, I support our clients with special projects and help to fill various tactical accounting needs and unexpected resource gaps.
How did you decide upon a career in consulting? And what attracted you to Bridgepoint? After leaving PwC I was catapulted into a Controller position at a fast growing, international, dysfunctional company. It provided invaluable exposure to nearly the full spectrum of accounting, but left me wanting to know more about how to do it the right way. Consulting provides a unique opportunity to see in a short time how many companies operate, the challenges they face and how they overcome those challenges. Bridgepoint captured my interest because it has a reputation for delivering the highest quality consultants in town. It’s also well known for valuing its consultants and helping with professional development.
What’s your favorite aspect of your job? My favorite thing about being a consultant is also what I find the toughest. It is the first few weeks in a new position where you don’t know where to find anything, all the reports look strange and even the client may not be able to explain what exactly you need to do. That is when I feel like I am growing my skillset and becoming a more experienced and valuable accountant.
What has been your favorite memory/achievement working at Bridgepoint? My favorite time as a consultant is the end of an engagement. That’s when I document what I have done and train the staff who will take my place. Every time I finish an engagement, I am surprised by how much I have learned, and it’s a great opportunity to demonstrate how I have left the organization better than I found it.
What would people never guess you do in your role? I think people would be most surprised that so much work goes into defining my role at a new client. My experience has been that I walk into a department where there has been a lot of turnover, system changes and insufficient documentation. Everyone knows that something is wrong, but it’s up to us to figure out what, how to fix it and help implement that solution effectively.
What gets you excited about going to work each day? The exciting thing about consulting is that we aren’t simply performing our predefined role. We are at a site for a defined period, so there is an impetus to push through as much improvement as possible in that time.
What do you like to do in your spare time? What are some of your hobbies? I guess the secret is out that my main hobby is running. Unfortunately, my dream of a sub three hour Austin marathon was dashed when I pulled a hamstring just before the race this year. Rehab is now taking much of my spare time. I am also trying to learn Swedish and am proud of a 333 day streak that I have going in my language learning app.
What’s the craziest thing on your bucket list? Going to space. I know it sounds a little far-fetched, but I’m hopeful that the developments we’re seeing now will bring the cost down substantially. Getting a view of earth, while experiencing weightlessness would be an experience of a lifetime!
What is one fun fact that would surprise people? I actually met my wife while I was studying abroad in Sweden. And after dating long distance (across nine time zones) for four years, we got married in Oregon.
Check out additional Bridgepoint Employee Spotlight stories here.
