Aaron Muhs

What is your favorite part of working at GHJ?

The people. We have an amazing culture in our firm, and to management's credit, this is clearly not by accident. Our people are committed and passionate, and everyone does their utmost to provide the best services possible.

How does GHJ help you #BeMore?

Part of our culture is the recognition that everyone has different priorities and realizes personal fulfillment in different ways outside of work. With two little girls at home, the flexibility that that firm affords me allows me to advance my career without having to sacrifice spending as much time with my family as possible. For me, the firm helps me to #BeMore by helping me to #BeThere.

What’s your role in the firm, and how do you make a difference?

I lead GHJ's finance department. What I think makes me a little unique is that in addition to standard responsibilities in internal accounting, tax preparation and financial reporting, I also have a fairly deep understanding of financial systems and data. The ability to be bilingual in these two areas (i.e., proficient in finance and accounting matters as well as conversational in technology) allows me to understand issues from multiple perspectives. It also affords me the opportunity to help drive efficiency and add value through a holistic analysis of operations and the integration of any otherwise disparate sections of the firm.

Describe the best thing about GHJ and why it matters to you.

The best thing about GHJ for me are the people who work here. We have a diverse group of talented and genuinely nice people who are all committed to the concept of collaboration. Our people understand the essence of what it means to be a t.e.a.m. - that (T)ogether (E)veryone (A)chieves (M)ore.

What makes you get up in the morning, and how does it impact your work style?

Learning new things. Everyday for me is an opportunity to learn something new. Whether it is insights gained through an analysis of operations, a new technical skill or a new perspective or understanding from a different viewpoint, learning something that I did not know before is the most rewarding part of my job and the primary way in which I measure growth ─ if I have learned something new then the day was a success.

What is your favorite quote that best describes your professional philosophy?

It can and has been phrased in many ways, but my professional philosophy is in essence: "Work smarter, not harder." I always try to understand things in a broader context, to grasp the various influences or inputs and then to craft an answer or approach that focuses on efficacy in the desired result.

Where do you see the profession heading, and what innovations can we anticipate?

Technology is evolving fast and will only accelerate going forward. Automation, big data, machine learning and neural networks ─ all these advancements will significantly change the traditional value-add proposition that has characterized the profession historically. The one area that technology always lags is in the more humanistic aspects. For this reason, a consultative approach that combines technical proficiency with an ability to understand the individual (be it a client or colleague), to understand their goals and challenges and to communicate complex ideas in a meaningful way will become increasingly central to success.