Get to know Chris Duncan

You want to do business with people you know, like and trust. In this Q&A, get to know Chris Duncan and how leading our forestry niche is a story of family work coming full circle.

Q: Did you always want to become an accountant? 

Accounting was a progression from learning what I didn’t want to do. I started off in engineering in university and realized I didn’t want to be an engineer after two years. I learned that accountants deal with dollars and cents all day, it’s nice and simple compared to calculating the load on a bolt on a bridge. I was also a welder part time and knew that isn’t how I wanted to spend my life. My mind is set up for the financial work.

Q: What is your role with MNP? 

My role is to be the quarterback for my clients and help them be more successful. They’re expecting me to help them in the day-to-day operation of their business. From filing their tax return to running their business more efficiently, my role is to create solutions to their challenges. I’m a team member on the client’s team. If they have a business question, the first call they make is to me.

Q: Why did you choose to specialize in forestry?

I grew up in a forestry family. My dad was a forestry contractor on Vancouver Island. There were times that I would take a day off in high school, work with him and see how hard the work is. 

When I started articling, my first supervisor was the leader of the forestry niche at the time and the second he found out that I knew about forestry, he pulled me into his team, and I started to learn more about our work. Since then, it's been a really good fit.

Q: How would you characterize your professional self?

I am approachable. I'm going to show up to your job site with work boots and blue jeans, not a suit and tie. If you've got an issue and you call me, I'll work to explain the solution in plain English. I work hard to ensure clients feel comfortable discussing their business with me because that will lead to the best results.

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not at work? 

I'm an outdoors guy. When you're behind a desk in an office as much as I am, you want to get outside. I like to garden a bit and love fishing, hunting, canoeing, hiking, camping. It's a blessing to get out and breathe that fresh air.

Finish this sentence: If I bought a new motorcycle, it would be…

Dual sport Kawasaki KLR 650. I'd hop on it and drive it straight to South America.