MACPA Chair Savedra Scott on redefining the profession for a new generation

When Savedra Scott looks at the accounting profession, she doesn’t see a field defined by spreadsheets and compliance. She sees a profession built on relationships, strategy, trust, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

That perspective has shaped her career from the very beginning. After starting in traditional public accounting, Scott discovered a passion for helping non-profits, service organizations, and small businesses use financial information to advance their missions. Today, as founder of an outsourced accounting and advisory firm, she works closely with organizations that rely on her not simply to report the numbers, but to help them make better decisions.

Now, Scott brings that same mindset to her new role as chair of the Maryland Association of CPAs Board of Directors.

She begins her term at a pivotal moment for the profession. Artificial intelligence is transforming how accounting work gets done. Firms continue to wrestle with talent shortages and burnout. Long-held stereotypes about CPAs remain stubbornly persistent, even as the work itself has evolved dramatically.

For Scott, those challenges also represent tremendous opportunities. She believes the profession must do a better job of telling its story — showing students, young professionals, and even experienced accountants that today’s CPA can pursue countless career paths while serving as a trusted advisor to clients and organizations.

In this conversation, Scott discusses her unconventional journey into entrepreneurship, why volunteer leadership matters, the future of advisory services, and the message she hopes to share during her year as MACPA chair: Accounting isn’t just about recording history. It’s about helping shape the future.

Q: You grew up in Maryland. Tell us a little about yourself and how you found your way into accounting.

Savedra Scott: I was born and raised in Prince George’s County before moving to Montgomery County, and now I live in Frederick County.

I’m technically an only child, although I have a half-sister from my dad’s previous marriage. We were each raised in separate households, so we both joke that we’re siblings — but we’re also both only children. It’s an unusual dynamic, but it fits.

As for accounting, I always tell the story about my grandfather asking me when I was three or four years old what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told him, “I want to write checks.”

He asked, “Who’s going to give you the money?”

I said, “My dad.”

Somehow, that conversation turned into reality. Today I write checks for myself and for clients, and I still think it’s kind of funny how life works out.

Q: What has kept you passionate about the profession over the years?

Scott: I started with a traditional audit and tax background in public accounting, and at first I thought those were really the only career options available.

But once I began working with clients, I realized how many different directions an accounting career could take. That opened my eyes to the flexibility of the profession.

I especially enjoyed working with nonp-rofits because I was able to connect financial expertise with organizations that were making a real difference in their communities. That experience led me toward the work I do today, serving non-profits, service-based businesses, and houses of worship.

For me, accounting has always been about helping organizations fulfill their missions. That’s what keeps me motivated.

Q: You eventually launched your own firm. How did that happen?

Scott: It wasn’t exactly part of a master plan.

I had taken a position as an assistant controller with a virtual company, and after about six months I was let go. Like anyone else, I had to figure out what came next.

A former colleague who was doing outsourced accounting and advisory work handed me one of his clients and said, “Start working with them, and let me know when you need more work.”

The client relationship grew, and before long I began reconnecting with former clients, partners, and colleagues. One opportunity led to another, and eventually the business built itself.

From the beginning, though, I knew exactly what kind of practice I wanted.

I didn’t want to spend my career commuting between offices and client sites. I wanted a virtual practice that would give me flexibility while allowing me to deliver exceptional service.

Building that business wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

I’ve always been someone who sets a goal and goes after it. I also wanted to determine my own value instead of waiting for someone else to decide what I was worth through raises or bonuses. Owning my own business gave me that opportunity.

Q: Your career also illustrates just how many different paths exist within accounting today.

Scott: Absolutely.vPublic accounting is a wonderful place to build your foundation. You learn so much, and it gives you skills you’ll carry throughout your career. But once you have that foundation, there are so many possibilities.

You can work in industry. You can start your own firm. You can specialize in non-profits, advisory services, technology, consulting — there are countless ways to build a rewarding career.

That’s one of the messages I hope we continue sharing with students and young professionals. Accounting isn’t one career path. It’s hundreds of career paths.

Q: As you begin your year as MACPA chair, what are your biggest priorities?

Scott: I believe our profession has to continue evolving while remaining grounded in the trust we’ve earned from clients and the public.

We’re no longer simply historians of financial information. Today, we’re strategic advisors. We interpret data. We help organizations make decisions. We’re learning how to incorporate technologies like AI while maintaining the ethics, judgment, and professionalism that define the CPA credential.

At the same time, we have to make the profession more approachable.

We need young people to understand what accountants actually do today. We also need accountants who may feel stuck in their current roles to recognize that there are other paths available.

If I can help broaden people’s view of what this profession can be, I’ll consider that a success.

Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the profession today?

Scott: Technology is certainly one of them because we’re still figuring out exactly how AI will reshape our work.

Burnout remains a major issue. We also continue to face pipeline challenges, and I think we sometimes unintentionally reinforce those problems by sharing too many “war stories” about long hours and busy seasons.

Meanwhile, clients expect faster responses and more strategic guidance.

As AI automates more routine work, we’ll need to continue moving toward advisory services while making sure clients understand the unique value that human judgment, ethics, and professional experience provide.

Those are significant challenges, but they’re also opportunities.

Q: Where do you see the greatest opportunities?

Scott: The biggest opportunity is helping people understand what accountants really do.

Technology will absolutely make us more efficient, but it won’t replace trusted advisors. For my non-profit clients, I’m not simply preparing reports. I’m helping them think through grants, financial strategy, and how they can better accomplish their missions.

With business clients, we’re looking at trends, identifying opportunities, discussing what’s working and what isn’t, and helping them make smarter decisions. That’s where our value continues to grow.

The better we communicate that message, the stronger our profession will become.

Q: Many outdated stereotypes about accountants still exist. How do we change those perceptions?

Scott: We have to tell a better story.

People still picture accountants as bean counters sitting behind spreadsheets all day. Yes, spreadsheets are part of what we do, but that’s not who we are. We’re advisors. We’re communicators. We’re advocates. We’re problem-solvers.

I always want my clients to feel comfortable calling me — not intimidated because they’re talking to their CPA.

One of my personal goals is making accounting understandable. Everything I explain should make sense to the client.

At the end of the day, regardless of whether you’re an auditor, tax professional, outsourced accountant, or CFO, you’re helping organizations make better decisions based on financial information. That’s the real story of our profession.

Q: Volunteer leadership has been an important part of your career. Why does that matter so much to you?

Scott: Volunteerism has had a tremendous impact on my life and career.

Honestly, my involvement with the MACPA started because I attended an event, met someone, and simply said I was interested in getting involved. It really can be that simple.

The MACPA is incredibly welcoming, and if there’s something you’re passionate about, there’s a place for you.

I’ve loved serving on the Foundation Board, visiting Morgan State University, and talking with students about what accounting really looks like today. I’d also like to spend more time visiting schools and introducing younger students to the profession before stereotypes take hold.

Personally, volunteerism is part of how I want to leave my mark. I’m involved with the MACPA, the AICPA, a women’s business network, and even my homeowners association because I want to make a positive impact wherever I can.

Everyone’s motivation is different, but I encourage people to find the cause that matters to them and get involved.

Q: What are you most looking forward to during your year as chair?

Scott: I’m looking forward to listening. Sometimes listening is more important than speaking. I want our members to feel heard, valued, and connected.

I want to encourage more conversations about the future of the profession, inspire more accountants to become CPAs, attract more young people into accounting, and help members become more engaged with the association.

Obviously, none of those goals will be fully accomplished in one year. But if I can help move those conversations forward and continue doing so after my term as chair, that will be meaningful.

Q: When you picture the future of the profession, what do you see?

Scott: I see more flexibility in career paths.

I see accountants spending even more time serving clients in meaningful ways instead of simply producing deliverables.

I see advisory services becoming an even larger part of what we do.

Technology will continue changing the profession, but our responsibility will be helping clients understand that trusted human judgment remains essential.

Most importantly, I hope we finally succeed in clearly communicating who CPAs are and why our work matters.

Everyone understands what doctors do. People generally understand what architects do. Our profession deserves that same level of understanding.

If we can better explain our value, strengthen the pipeline, and continue evolving, I believe the future for CPAs is incredibly bright.