Happy June Birthday to Senior Tax Accountant Jake Shockley! Jake has been with HKA since 2016 and since that time has progressed from a tax preparer with little experience in the field to a trusted manager of client relationships who oversees the tax notice department. Jake brings a passion for client service, as well as a drive to improve processes and inter-company projects that we value greatly. Whether he is organizing a company activity or reviewing how HKA handles IRS notices, we can always expect him to be present and helpful. We spoke with Jake to get some insight on how he sees his role at HKA and what he looks forward to in the years to come!
Q: How would you describe your role at HKA?
A: My official job as a Senior Tax Team member is to prepare tax returns and manage HKA’s notice department, but I feel that my job is more than what is on paper. As a part of the team, I take time to look through a client’s return and find ways to save them tax, fix a problem that they might be experiencing, or suggest ways to save them time in the future so that they can spend it on activities which are important to them. From that perspective, the “rich relationship” call at the end of our tax returns is what sets my job apart from accountants at other firms.
Q: What do you like about working at HKA?
A: There are a lot of things I like about HKA. The main one is that HKA is not your typical accounting firm. Everything that we do is different and stands out from the rest. I love how HKA is technology-driven and isn’t afraid to embrace change. We are also extremely team-oriented and the company puts the team first, even in difficult situations. This makes everyone feel wanted and important, but also creates an amazing chemistry among team members. I couldn’t imagine a better place to have a career at.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I enjoy spending time with my family, fishing, hunting, and watching baseball and hockey. During the pandemic, I picked up a cooking hobby and when I have the time, I like to try and find new recipes and find ways to make them my own.
