JULIE H. GUSTAVSSON | Partner and chief operating officer, Keiter

When Julie H. Gustavsson made partner at Keiter in 2015, she was the first nonpracticing accountant to hold that role since the firm was founded in 1978. At Keiter, Gustavsson oversees the firm’s day-to-day operations and the development, planning and execution of its strategic plan. She manages Keiter’s information technology, marketing, human resources and office services departments.

From 2015 until now, Keiter went from $20 million in annual revenue to nearly $50 million.

“I can’t take all the credit for that growth, but many of the areas that I manage have helped make that growth possible,” Gustavsson says.

One of her proudest accomplishments at the firm, she says, was launching a top-down audit of internal systems, which resulted in new automated reporting, budgeting and vendor management as well as improvements in billings and collections. These efficiencies saved the firm more than $1.5 million annually on average.

Additionally, under Gustavsson’s guidance, the HR department was restructured to increase talent retention and recruitment, which included revamping compensation and benefit programs to include flexible work arrangements, paternity leave and other benefits, she says.

After joining Keiter in 2005 as a software support specialist, Gustavsson was promoted to IT manager the following year. She became chief operating officer in 2011.

Named among the 2018 Most Powerful Women in Accounting by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and CPA Practice Advisor magazine, Gustavsson earned an accounting information systems degree from Virginia Tech.

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