How Shanice Scott Reinvented Her Accounting Career — And Found Her ‘Why’
The accounting pipeline is in flux. After years of decline in new graduates, the AICPA reported that bachelor’s completions fell 7.8% in 2021–22 and master’s fell 6.4%. In Fall 2024, undergraduate accounting enrollment rebounded by about 12%, while graduate enrollment continued to dip, underscoring a profession still recalibrating its talent model. For those building or advancing their accounting careers, leadership, retention, and strategic moves are no longer nice to have; they are operational necessities.
So, what does it really take to pivot from SEC reporting into general ledger operations at a senior level, build a stable team in a tight market, and keep your CPA journey from defining you only by the score on a test?
Welcome to Beyond the Ledger, where host Troy Ashby, CPA, sits down with Shanice E. Scott, the Director of Accounting at J. Hilburn. In this episode, Troy and Shanice delve into her accounting career evolution, moving from financial reporting to GL leadership, and how she navigated a steep on-ramp at a new company. They also discuss the people-first systems that keep teams engaged and growing.
Key Moments from the Episode:
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Growing Up a Longhorn: Faith, Family, Finance – how her family’s UT legacy shaped her values and drive
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Early Career at EY & Corporate Journey – lessons learned from Big Four beginnings to senior leadership
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The Pivot: From Financial Reporting to GL – navigating a rare mid-career shift into operations and execution
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Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Leading with Empathy – developing people-first leadership grounded in care and authenticity
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Building Retention Through Care & Connection – why celebrating wins and personal milestones keeps teams engaged
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The CPA Journey: Four Tries, One Lesson in Resilience – perseverance and integrity through professional challenges
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Purpose, Leadership & Faith – how faith, family, and finance remain her guiding tenets
Shanice Scott is an accomplished Accounting Director with more than two decades of experience leading financial reporting and accounting operations for both public and private companies. She currently serves as Accounting Director at J. Hilburn, where she oversees everything from payroll and budgeting to tax compliance and financial reporting. Before joining J. Hilburn, Shanice led financial reporting at The Container Store, managing SEC filings, consolidations, and major acquisitions.
Her career also includes leadership roles at Pier 1 Imports, Michaels Stores, and Brinker International, as well as early experience with Ernst & Young. Known for her technical expertise and calm leadership, Shanice has built high-performing teams and guided companies through complex accounting challenges with precision and integrity. She’s a CPA and holds both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin.
Connect with:
- Troy Ashby – https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby/
- Shanice Scott – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanicescott/
- J.Hillburn – https://jhilburn.com/
Article written by MarketScale.