Today we’d like to introduce you to Eduardo Devia.
Hi Eduardo, We are so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey has been one of hard work and perseverance, from washing cars and dishes for neighbors to becoming a Consultant in the Banking Industry.
- The Beginning: The Wonderful Years
I was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, 58 years ago, and I am a soccer fan who is enthusiastic about other sports as well. When I was 8, my parents divorced, and I grew closer to my two incredible sisters, Claudia (the oldest) and Sandra (the youngest). In 1976, I began my education at a Catholic school. Later, I attended a public high school, and in 1983, I graduated. At 13, I had to step up and become the leader at home, taking on household responsibilities such as washing cars for neighbors, doing dishes for my mom’s friends, and cleaning windows in the condo where we lived. Despite the demands of everyday life, I managed to navigate through various seasonal roles such as Packaging and Boy Office and even as a server in an Argentinian restaurant. Through these experiences, I learned the importance of hard work and perseverance. After a long break, I embarked on my bachelor’s degree journey in 1987; balancing my day-to-day responsibilities at home was challenging, but I persevered. I worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and studied from 6 to 10 p.m. for almost six years. Finally, in 1995, I graduated with an accounting degree and obtained a CPA license in my country.
- Work, Work, Work
I started working in the banking sector, where numbers and finance meet. I initially worked as an Auditor Assistant at a small bank. However, my position was eliminated when a larger company acquired the bank. This led me to explore job opportunities in other areas of Colombia’s banking sector. Despite the limited options and lack of experience, I was determined to find my place and make a significant impact. In 1991, my professional life finally started to come together, and the difficult times were becoming a thing of the past. Every day brought new improvements, and I was thrilled with how my career was progressing; my talented sisters Claudia and Sandra were graduating in their respective fields. Claudia became an Economist, and Sandra entered the Hospitality sector. I ventured into diverse fields, such as insurance companies, investment banking, and project analysis. My hard work paid off as I became a sought-after professional in multiple departments of a prominent bank. I achieved tangible milestones each year, which helped me expand my horizons.
- Collapse
Sometime later, I received a call from Arthur Andersen, one of the big five auditing firms, inviting me to collaborate as a financial auditor. It was hard to believe! I was now in the big leagues, starting in an excellent position working as a Financial Auditor in two of the largest banks in the country. Two years of hard work I followed, filled with significant challenges, long nights, and exhausting weekends. However, these experiences provided excellent professional growth and many personal satisfactions. Just when everything seemed to be going as planned, a bombshell hit – on June 15, 2002, Andersen was convicted of obstruction of justice for shredding documents related to its audit of Enron. Although the Supreme Court reversed the firm’s conviction, the impact of the scandal, combined with the findings of criminal conspiracy, destroyed the firm. The Enron scandal was a series of events involving dubious accounting practices that resulted in the 2001 bankruptcy of the energy, commodities, and services company Enron Corporation and the subsequent dissolution of the accounting firm.
- Andrea
After I began a relationship with my future wife, Andrea, I found myself needing a job and trying to figure out what to do next. While finding a new job may seem like the obvious solution, it is more complicated. At 36 years old, I am considered old in my country regardless of my experience, and my former co-workers and employees are now my competition in the job market. I need to figure out where to begin. Andrea was my support during this time of darkness. She was my guide and strength when things seemed like they couldn’t get any worse and my spirits collapsed; she always had a kind word, a gesture of affection, and a look that made me understand everything would be fine. We got married in a beautiful ceremony in Bogota in June 2004, and our plans for the immediate future began to change. Three years before this, immigrating to the United States was a dream. But now, it has become our top priority. With my wife by my side, we are planning a new life in the USA. And now what? We arrived in the United States in July of 2004, one month after the wedding, and I immediately began working as a Financial Director for a marketing company. There was much to learn, but I was excited to take on new challenges and share my expertise. Being an immigrant in the USA has been a rewarding experience for me. As I settled into my new life, I returned to my profession. However, this required me to learn a new system and methodology. I enrolled in QuickBooks training, which was necessary but also quite demanding. Adjusting to the American system and workload was initially tricky but only a temporary hurdle.
- My son was born.
The birth of my only son, Esteban, is a significant event in my life. He came into our lives in August 2007 and became the driving force for us to move forward and achieve as much as possible. As a father, I realized that being a role model for my child is one of the most critical responsibilities I’ll ever undertake. It’s an opportunity to influence and shape a new human development. When you realize that you’re your child’s example and they will copy you in many ways, it can be an eye-opening experience. Understanding your impact on your child’s life may lead you to analyze yourself and even make a new determination to improve yourself, both before and during fatherhood. I started asking myself many questions, and you might, too. Would I be a good dad? Could I handle the responsibility? What impact would it have on me and my wife? Would we both be good parents? What challenges lay ahead for him? And who would he become? My son has become the most important reason for us as parents to move forward, and he has opened my mind to a new world of fatherhood.
- Get back to work!
I obtained certifications for all levels and versions of QuickBooks. During this learning process, I realized there was an excellent opportunity for growth in doing the same job for multiple clients independently. With the support of my wife, I started a new adventure: Becoming an independent worker. I began to gain clients from small and medium-sized companies who needed an accountant. As they heard about my work, new clients arrived, and I eventually opened my office. We started offering just Accounting Services, but later, we added another range of services, such as corporate taxes, personal taxes, sales taxes, franchise taxes, payroll payments, payroll taxes, and consulting, among others. Slowly, I began to see the growth of the company and the need to hire help to support the many new clients who arrived each day. Our policy of personalized service with our clients has allowed us to understand the needs of each of them to provide the best possible service. Our clients know their professionals and vice versa, which makes for a very close relationship.
- Here we are!
We have worked hard with motivation, dedication, commitment, and trust in God to build a company that employs eight professionals. They are now an integral part of our great project, and together, we have managed the finances of over 200 clients. Despite the pandemic, we have continued to attend to the needs of all our clients. While some had to close their businesses due to the lack of clients and the hard impact on their finances, we supported others in obtaining government aid and keeping their finances up to date. We even made concessions with some clients to collect our fees only when their finances had recovered. It has been 20 years since we immigrated to this country, and we feel like we belong here now. Although we still cherish our memories of our homeland and our Colombian roots, we are an essential part of this country.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Creating a business in the United States, even for us as a foreign, is a relatively simple process if you have clear objectives and persevere with them from the beginning.
However, some severe aspects need to be considered. For instance:
- Accounting firms often face challenges related to staff management, such as staffing shortages, skill gaps, and workload distribution.
- The accounting industry undergoes frequent regulatory and technological changes. As a result, Accounting, Bookkeeping, and CPA firms must stay current on regulations.
- Tax season can be challenging due to the high volume of work, which can lead to potential errors and difficulty meeting deadlines; that’s why we try to keep trained in most of the day-to-day business.
- Oh boy: Attracting and retaining clients while exploring new revenue streams can be challenging in the competitive accounting industry. This could be the number one on my list; it’s not just about finding the right client but also about keeping it.
- As an accounting firm, achieving growth objectives while keeping up with high-quality client service can be daunting. Balancing these two is crucial to ensuring your firm’s success.
As you know, we’re big fans of Enterprise Solution Systems Inc. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Starting a business is an exciting process and adventure, but it can also be complicated and stressful for the owners of the new corporation. Enterprise is here to help you and your business thrive and rise beyond the competition. Enterprise Bookkeeping is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and Financial and Business Consulting firm committed to helping its clients achieve their financial goals. We teach you how to improve your business processes and make the best tax strategy for your financial operations.
We offer packages ranging from essential services to comprehensive business solutions. For more flexibility, we also provide custom packages that meet the client’s needs. We can customize our services, especially for you. Our pricing is determined by the scope of our work and the specific services rendered.
Our firm stands out from others due to our ability to speak English and Spanish fluently. Additionally, we have received more 5-star reviews on the official QuickBooks page. However, what truly sets us apart is our personalized approach to interacting with each of our clients. At our firm, every staff member knows each of our clients personally. This enables us to establish a quick and effective relationship and deliver accurate and timely reports. We take pride in our excellent customer service. We prioritize answering calls and requests from our clients on the same day we receive them. This ensures that our clients receive the support they need on time.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Although it may sound like a cliche, the support of my family has been crucial on my journey. The hours I spend studying, learning, and practicing my profession in a foreign country require a solid foundation in our family relationship. Sometimes, the time I invest in my clients comes at the expense of spending less time with my family, but they have seen positive results day after day. Equally important are the people who made my arrival in the United States possible and provided us with opportunities to experience this new culture.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.entsolusa.com
