219: Stephen Westbrook – CPA & Not-For-Profit CEO

Where Accountants Go - The Accounting Careers Podcast

Stephen Westbrook, a CPA that has served a few non-profits as their CEO, joined us for this episode of Where Accountants Go, the Accounting Careers Podcast. Steve’s career started as many do. He initially worked for a couple accounting firms, and then moved on to one of his audit clients. In this case however, it was with a small non-profit that had recently lost their CFO. Steve approached them about the opportunity because the purpose of the organization was a great match for his own interests, and suddenly he had his first opportunity in industry – at the CFO level! Fast forward over a decade and a few other positions in both the non-profit and for-profit world, and he once again was presented with an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. That opportunity was to be the Chief Executive Officer of a gospel rescue mission that served the homeless and hungry. This was an area that Steve had always cared about, so it was a natural fit for him to move into this role. Steve has been with ECM, or Erie City Mission, since 2016, and the organization has over 500 employees, operates both a men’s and women’s shelter, and distributes over 130,000 meals per year. It’s a role that is fulfilling from both the career and personal standpoint. And on top of it, he is able to serve additional organizations as a contract or fractional CFO on the side as his schedule permits. He has the best of both worlds. If you want to find out more about ECM, please visit Erie City Mission | Erie, PA. Steve’s consulting company can be found at www.westbrookinnovative.com For other episodes you may enjoy, check out 123: From the Commercial World to Local United Way CEO – Lyndon Herridge CPA | MGR Accounting Recruiters (mgrar.com) or 112: New Year Special – Revisiting Our Conversation With Harriet Helmle, CPA and Founder of SA Youth Literacy | MGR Accounting Recruiters (mgrar.com) To listen in on this interview with Stephen Westbrook, please use the player below: