News

Name
David Marks

Employer
University of Texas at Tyler

Work LocationTyler

LinkedIn Profile URL
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-marks-cpa-mpa-3634a1/

High School Attended
Spring Valley Senior High School, Spring Valley, New York

University Attended
SUNY College at Brockport (B.S.), UT Arlington (MPA)

What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting and obtain your CPA license? My interest in accounting began while I was working as a broker for Merrill Lynch in Dallas. At the time, I started taking night classes to better understand investment prospectuses and the financial information behind them. As I progressed through those courses, I realized that I enjoyed my accounting classes far more than my work as a retail broker. That realization prompted me to return to school full time to pursue a degree in accounting. Knowing that I wanted to work in public accounting, I focused my educational path on meeting the requirements to obtain my CPA license and pursue a career in the accounting profession.

What excites you most about working in accounting?
What excites me most about working in accounting is the breadth of experience the profession offers. Few careers provide exposure to such a wide range of organizations and industries. While working on the KPMG audit staff, I had the opportunity to work on a diverse set of engagements, including insurance companies, banks, governmental agencies, a Fortune 500 company, real estate entities, a family trust, and retirement plans. Seeing how different organizations operate, both what works well and what does not, has been invaluable. Those experiences gave me foundational, practical, and actionable solutions during my 23-year career at JCPenney/Transamerica. Over time, I built a tool chest of best practices that I continue to draw on as an educator, bringing those best practices and passion for the profession to the classroom. That is what keeps the profession engaging for me.

What aspects of your TXCPA/TXCPA East Texas membership do you find most valuable? What I value most about my TXCPA/TXCPA East Texas membership is the relationships I have developed within the membership of TXCPA East Texas. Through chapter meetings, committee work, and events, those connections have led to great conversations, idea sharing, and a sense of community within the profession. Being able to stay engaged with the accounting community is what makes TXCPA such a valuable part of my professional life.