Employee Spotlight: Trent Turner – Director of Financial Operations
Our Employee Spotlight is here to help you better understand our people, culture, and what it’s like to work at Bridgepoint Consulting. We believe we have a great balance of challenging work and collaborative people that enables each of us to enjoy being part of #teambridgepoint thoroughly. Today’s featured Employee Spotlight is on Trent Turner, a former CFO of 15 years and our current Director of Financial Operations for Bridgepoint Consulting’s Dallas Office.
Get to know Trent
Trent is a Director of Financial Operations based out of Dallas for Bridgepoint Consulting. Trent has always been a numbers guy, but he knew early on that he didn’t want to be a teacher or scientist. There’s always been a part of him that is driven to people, and he wanted to find a way to blend the relationship-driven element of him along with his passion for numbers. Naturally, he landed in Finance and Accounting. Upon graduating from the University of Texas, Austin, Trent focused his early years in public accounting and was quickly accustomed to working hard, long hours that come with that industry’s nature. He quickly excelled and, as he gained more experience, progressed into the role of CFO. Trent found his niche leading under-resourced companies but brought to the table a “roll up my sleeves and get it done” attitude. Over the next 15 years, Trent gained invaluable CFO experience before making the transition into consulting.
What led you to Consulting?
Working as a CFO for a good portion of my career, I gained a lot of experience. As I was coming to the end of my path as a CFO, I spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on all the work that I had done and the knowledge I had gained. During this time, I realized that if I continued to work for a single company as a CFO, I wouldn’t be able to bring all of me to the table. I wanted to drive more impact at more companies, which wasn’t feasible in a typical CFO role. As I started to explore opportunities, I discovered Bridgepoint.
What attracted you to Bridgepoint?
After some initial discussions with Bridgepoint, I soon realized that I could help people in the same boat as I was in my previous CFO roles – under-resourced but still needed to get the job done. As someone who had spent a lot of time in those situations, I was really excited to guide people in circumstances that I had overcome. I also found that Bridgepoint truly is a relationship-driven organization which was something I really missed from my days working in public accounting. It was easy to see that Bridgepoint prided itself on being a partner with clients rather than providing one-off services, and I knew this was something I wanted to be part of.
How would you describe the culture at Bridgepoint?
It’s hard to say in a single word, but the more I work here, the more I continue to realize what great people we have. Regardless of the project, we have experienced people with a can-do attitude to figure out challenging problems. Everyone here has solid business acumen, and I’m genuinely impressed by this as well as the care that everyone puts into their clients. In addition to the people, the transparency is refreshing. There’s no politics which makes for an awesome environment to work in.
When did you know #teambridgepoint was for you?
I knew #teambridgepoint was for me when I discovered I could truly bring value to multiple clients. I always enjoyed the relationship-building aspect during the public accounting part of my career. When I found out that I could drive both changes and build relationships in my community in such a supportive environment, it was an easy decision for me to come on board with Bridgepoint Consulting. I haven’t looked back since.
What are you excited about in your role at Bridgepoint?
I’m excited to share my experience. I’m very passionate about helping people who may be on their last straw and cannot see a solution. This is where I excel, and I get a lot of enjoyment from providing solutions for people in these situations. Add the supportive and collaborative environment that we have at Bridgepoint
Talk to us about who you are outside of consulting CFOs
Family is really important to me. I’ve been married for 30 years and have three kids, two daughters, and a son. Being husband and dad over the years has been a big focus for me. As the kids move on to college, my wife and I are transitioning into empty nesters, but I look at that as having the opportunity to take more trips together and more time for me to play golf. I’ve been addicted to golf since college, so I’m looking forward to getting more time out on the course, especially as things begin to open up more with COVID-19.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to find out about you?
I once delivered the Sunday morning message, aka “preached the sermon,” at my local Church. I was part of a committee within the Church and found out that the Pastor was leaving for a month to do mission work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Church needed to find some people to fill in while he was away. I’ve always been someone who is looking to serve even if it means going beyond my comfort zone. When this opportunity came up, I knew this was a chance to challenge myself as well as share my message, so I volunteered to speak in front of an audience of 1500 people. And standing on the stage, I was definitely outside my comfort zone!
What advice would you give someone who is considering a career in consulting?
I recommend doing a personal evaluation before making the decision. Consulting is not for everyone. During an engagement, we often find something that’s unexpected so flexibility and adaptability are extremely important. If routine brings you comfort and you struggle with rapid change, consulting probably isn’t for you.
Ready to join #TeamBridgepoint?
If you’re someone who has spent your time in-house throughout your career but are looking to drive more change or looking for new challenges, consider a career in consulting with Bridgepoint. We’re always on the lookout for top talent. We encourage you to browse our current openings and become part of #teambridgepoint!
Check out additional employee stories here or find out what makes Bridgepoint point a great place to work!
