Accounting firm marketing directors fly into firms from varied routes. Sometimes they’re formerly marketing directors at places like law firms or banks; occasionally they come from the advertising agency side; other times they emerge from within the accounting profession, having performed marketing and/or sales functions at a software company or affiliated supplier—or as an actual accountant. Marketing brain, accounting brain…as different as night and day, you say? Generally speaking, you sure can’t argue that. Occasionally, though, the right person possessing both skill sets breaks through and the stars momentarily align as the speakers start playing “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles.
Delene Taylor is that rare bird coming from both worlds and making it work. Marketing Director (and CPA) at McCauley Nicolas in the Louisville market, Delene (also a former CFO/Controller) is currently immersed in the marketing merger and branding issues mix that many of you have gone through. Three weeks ago, McCauley Nicolas merged with Mountjoy Chilton Medley (MCM), creating a firm 250+ people strong—easily Kentucky’s largest firm.
With offices in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, it will be interesting to see where MCM goes from here. There are plenty of MCM regional types of firms all over the country, but how many of them can say they have marketing people with the breadth of experience of a Delene Taylor? Some, but certainly not most. This brings about the debate that has raged in the profession ever since non-Big Four firms started creating marketing positions: which path is better–turning a CPA into a marketer or bringing in marketing talent that is new to the accounting world? That debate could go on far longer than the presidential debates.
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