What I’d say to me back then – build relationships before you need them, says BlackLine’s Tammy Coley

Tammy Coley is very aware that some people think of accounting as boring, but she has always absolutely loved it. Her passion for numbers started from a young age, growing up with parents who ran a family photography business, and watching her dad handling all the accounting for the business. She went on to study accounting at college, and started her career with EY as an auditor.

She was them asked by EY customer Sloan Financial Group to join as its controller. As a newer company, Coley relished the opportunity to help set up its entire control environment:

What was really cool is, I was the only CPA on their staff at the time. And so everybody looked to me to really drive setting up this business in a way that has strong controls and that all the financial statements are going to be accurate here.

A family move then ...