The Intersection of Accounting and Education: Matt Sutorius' Approach

Matt Sutorius always knew he wanted to be at the center of Seattle’s thriving tech ecosystem.?

Now, after 17 years in public accounting, he has found himself at the unique intersection of accounting and education.?

Matt’s journey took an unexpected turn when he was presented with the opportunity to teach in Seattle University’s Leadership Executive MBA program. Reflecting on the transition, Matt explains, “I'm good at communicating accounting information to people who are not accountants because I do that every day for my clients. I figured, if I can do that for clients, I should be able to do it for students as well.”

Professional Evolution: From Intern to Partner in the Land of Technology Startups

Matt’s journey into accounting began at the age of 14 when a family friend, a CPA, recommended the career path. Matt recalls the family friend saying, “Being a CPA is a great job if you like talking to people or if you want to get out and see what a lot of different companies are doing. You will learn a lot about business, and remember, you don't have to be an accountant forever.” Matt took that advice to heart, embarking on a journey that surpassed just a “trial” career.

Matt was always fascinated with Seattle’s tech startup landscape and wanted to work with emerging companies. That desire drove him through college and ended in a whirlwind two months during which Matt graduated from the University of Missouri, tied the knot, attained his CPA certification, and relocated from his home state to Seattle. In Seattle, Matt joined one of the nation’s largest CPA firms Clark Nuber as an audit intern and immersed himself in the dynamic nature of tech companies.?

Matt describes his fascination, stating, “Accounting for accountants can sometimes be boring. So working with companies that are video games, green technology, or biotech – it's much more interesting to learn about what they do.”

Matt on the Rewarding Side of a Career in Accounting

Today, as a partner at the very same firm where he started his career, Matt continues to be driven by that same passion for his field. “I want to work with founders of companies, but not in an adversarial way.? I give them business advice, we talk about different issues they're seeing. At my level, you almost do more consulting as an auditor in a lot of ways.”

Matt encourages anyone unsure of their career path to consider accounting. “People think it's like bookkeeping, but I don't do any of that. Today, there are systems that do that. Instead, I operate in the advisory space. I’ve worked with nonprofit companies, real estate companies, hotels, and global NGOs that have a worldwide reach. I’ve supported small startups that are doing really cool things and figuring out how to harness energy in new ways. In accounting, you get a lot of exposure to different ideas.”

Bridging Theory with Practice

Today, Matt balances his full-time role with teaching in SeattleU’s Leadership Executive MBA program (LEMBA), integrating real-world insights into his financial and managerial accounting lectures. By frequently updating his curriculum with current financial accounting issues and audit firm controversies, Matt fosters a collaborative environment where students contribute their experience to enrich classroom discussions. He emphasizes the importance of drawing on real-life experiences to connect classroom concepts and practical applications in the business world.?

“In the LEMBA program, you're really drawing on the experience you've already had as a successful business person. You can take all of that context and make connections between what you're doing in real life and what you learn in the classroom.”

Drawing from his experience working with a wide variety of companies, Matt highlights their unique challenges, particularly regarding financial literacy. He sees his role as bridging this gap, equipping entrepreneurs with the financial acumen necessary for navigating the complexities of running a successful business.?

Matt aspires to combat these deficiencies of financial literacy through his teaching. His goal is for students to walk away with the ability to make informed business decisions regardless of their position within the company. Additionally, he aims for them to comprehend the financial impacts of their decisions backed by an understanding of their companies’ financial statements.

“If our students come out of my class knowing enough about accounting to be able to include that in their tool belt, saying ‘I need to make a decision. What's the accounting impact going to be?’ Then I'll know I've done my job correctly.”

Embracing New Horizons

Beyond his professional endeavors, Matt finds comfort in the simple pleasures, cherishing moments with his wife and three children. He enjoys indulging in hockey games and cheering on the Seattle Kraken as a devoted season ticket holder. When Matt needs a moment to decompress he jumps on his bike and goes for a long-distance ride.

Matt reflects, “When I get on a bike for 6 or 12 hours, I can't be on my phone. I'm not thinking about work. It's like meditating. I can't just sit down and meditate, but I can pedal for 4 hours straight.”

Matt is a person always looking for further evolution in his professional journey. “I'm a partner at the firm, which means I'm kind of done with promotions. While the job is always presenting new challenges, there is no ‘next level’, which personality-wise kind of bothers me. I like looking forward to and driving toward the next thing.”

Which is part of why he started teaching. For Matt, the next chapter is the continuation of his journey as a professor and a deeper exploration of business operations.?

Matt’s advice for professionals of all levels? Seek diverse experiences and periodically reassess your career paths. “Every 5 years I check in with myself and ask: do I still like doing this? So far, the answer has always been yes.”

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