“Competing at the highest level isn’t about winning. It’s about preparation, courage, understanding and nurturing your people, and heart. Winning is the result.” Joe Torre
What makes you get up in the morning, and how does it impact your work style?
There is nothing as gratifying as feeling that I have given my best. I get up in the morning bringing an intense focus to accomplish the task at hand and to exceed yesterday’s abilities.
What is your proudest professional moment, and why?
My proudest professional moments are when I receive comments of thanks from business owners who have read my book, Small Brewery Finance. Writing the book was a labor of love, and I appreciate when someone reaches out to describe how they have used the material in the book to guide their business. The purpose of writing it was to provide a resource for business owners so that they can build a solid foundation for their dream business. I love seeing the purpose fulfilled!
What is your favorite quote that best describes your professional philosophy?
“Competing at the highest level isn’t about winning. It’s about preparation, courage, understanding and nurturing your people, and heart. Winning is the result.” Joe Torre
Where do you see the profession heading, and what innovations can we anticipate?
I think accounting will continue to evolve towards consulting. An advisor’s competitive advantage will be the industry-specific expertise that she or he can provide to clients.
If I weren’t an accountant/consultant, I’d be a _______. Why?
TV news producer. I love the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of the job. It is important to stay up to date and react quickly to your environment, which I find thrilling.
Maria Pearman, CPA, CGMA, is GHJ’s Food and Beverage Practice Leader. She has more than 15 years of public accounting experience providing accounting and advisory services to clients. Maria is an expert in the beverage and alcohol industry specializing in internal accounting processes, financial reviews, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, financial strategy and succession planning.
Prior to joining GHJ in 2021, Maria built a national practice focused on beverage alcohol clients. She helped clients to improve financial results and maximize efficiency of operations and guided them through ownership transitions.
Maria sits on the Finance Committee for the Brewers Association, the nation’s largest industry organization for craft brewers.
Published by the Brewers Association in 2019, Maria wrote a top-rated book, Small Brewery Finance, to help small businesses run more successful breweries. In 2021, the American Distillers Institute released her second book, Distillery Finance.
Maria is also a featured speaker and author on topics in the beverage space, specifically related to craft breweries. She has taught courses at the Business of Craft Beer program at the University of Vermont as well as the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Academy.
Maria graduated from the College of Charleston where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management and minor in French. She received her Post Baccalaureate in Accounting from Linfield College. Maria has been a licensed CPA since 2010.
Fun Facts
Favorite place in the world:
Southern France
Favorite music/band/singer:
So many! At this moment it’s My Morning Jacket
Favorite movie or book of all time:
The World According to Garp
One word that best describes me:
driven
When I’m not working, you’ll catch me doing this:
traveling
