Get to know Alison Pearl, Partner with our Calgary Private Enterprise team

Alison joined the MNP team in 2020. Learn more about her experiences, what she enjoys about her role, and how she helps clients in this Q&A.

1. Did you always want to be an accountant?

I think deep down I always wanted to be an accountant (yes, I am that nerdy). I took my first accounting course in high school and enjoyed it, so I pursued it as my career and have not looked back. There is more to the profession than I was aware of in my younger days. Accountants are much more than just number crunchers and having the CPA designation has provided a lot of opportunities.

2. What do you love most about your role at MNP?

The people! I enjoy interacting with people that have different backgrounds and experiences both within the office and with clients.

I love listening to clients to learn about their businesses so that I can help them realize their goals.

3. What’s your role at MNP and what drives you?

I’m a Partner in MNP’s Private Enterprise team. I’m driven to help clients to achieve their goals. It makes me feel like I am making a difference in their lives and in their businesses. Whether that consists of saving them tax or planning for the succession of their company, I find it very rewarding to work with entrepreneurs as they navigate through their life transitions.

4. Why did you choose to work in Private Enterprise?

I like the variety of clients and different personalities, as well as the range of industries I work with daily. Being able to come up with creative plans for them to save tax and meet their needs for the future means no day is the same. My ultimate goal is to become a client’s trusted advisor and to build long-term relationships that can help my clients with their successes.

5. What’s the question you get the most from clients?

Clients are always asking “how do I pay less tax?” Ultimately, I find most clients really just want someone to listen to their needs and come up with a plan to get those needs met and hopefully save tax along the way.

6. What impact has COVID-19 had on you?

On the professional side, coming to MNP in the middle of the pandemic has been a bright spot for me. MNP’s culture and the focus on clients needs while ensuring our employees are given the opportunities to have fun along the way makes me happy to be a part of the team.

On the personal side, the biggest impact was that I was able to take a slow-down from the kids’ activities to spend quality time as a family. We spent the summer camping and hiking and socially distancing in nature.

7. You’ve helped many entrepreneurs grow their businesses. What do you think makes a successful entrepreneur?

The common traits I have seen are that entrepreneurs are goal-oriented, driven individuals. You have to think outside the box to successfully operate a business and approaching the inevitable challenges that come up along the way. There are many different ways to achieve success, but these are the core competencies I see amongst successful business owners.

Contact

To learn more, contact Alison Pearl, CPA, CA, Partner, Assurance and Accounting, at [email protected] or 403.537.7609.