In this interview, Griselle M. Álvarez, RSM Puerto Rico Tax Partner, talks about her career path to partnership, keeping things fresh, and the future of taxes: automation and advisors. 

 

Could you start by telling us a little bit more about yourself? 

First and foremost, I live and die by my children. I have two: one is in college and the other one in 7th grade. None of them want to be accountants, though (laughs). I guess it may be because they saw me working long hours when they were younger, even during the weekends. Now I have more time, but I think most mothers would agree with me that it’s difficult to grow your career to an executive level while raising your kids. 

At 21, I was already a CPA. I was fortunate that back then you could take the CPA test prior to graduating if you had a certain GPA. I must have been in a hurry to get out of college (laughs) because I took the test and passed it. By the time my final grades arrived, I was already a CPA. A small firm hired me and when I received the CPA certificate, I asked to work in taxes…and that’s what I’ve been doing basically all my life.

Two years after starting in that firm, I went to work for EY, where I worked for seven years. While I think I could have advanced my career further (I left when I was manager), the first year and a half was hard. Nevertheless, it’s an experience from which I learned a lot and I am grateful for it. From there I went to another firm and that’s when I started studying Law because I had more time than in the previous firm.

Afterwards, I went to work for a private company, which is something I had always wanted to do. I had an amazing experience at [Banco] Popular, but I realized there that what I really liked was public accounting.

Tell us the story of how you came to work in the firm and your career path to partnership.

I was working at Popular when Rafa (De Rojas, Tax Partner & Division Director) called me and told me that there was an opportunity here, at RSM. I had worked at the firm previously and saw potential to grow here, but there were other things I wanted to achieve and learn as well. By the time we talked, I was set on my career goal to become a partner, so the opportunity to grow into a partner was part of my conversation with Rafa. 

In 2015, I came back to RSM as a senior manager, with an opportunity (not a promise) to grow into a partner. I think every experience I had prepared me for that moment. I was putting in the work and was on track for partnership in 2018…but then Hurricane Maria hit in 2017. There was a lot of uncertainty for a while, and sometimes I wondered if this partnership would happen for me as I had planned, but I kept working hard and I took every chance I could to demonstrate what I could do, until I was appointed as Tax Partner in June 2018.

In the past few years, RSM Puerto Rico has managed to overcome three natural disasters, two hurricanes (María and Fiona) and an earthquake—all of which devastated the island—and a pandemic that changed the way business is done. What has been your strategy to lead your team through such challenging times? 

It was very difficult for everyone after Hurricane Maria. Back then, as mentioned above, I was a senior manager and I remember that the partners were very supportive. Although it was very difficult to work under the circumstances at the time, such as intermittent internet signal, it was beautiful to work as a team and in collaboration with our clients during those times. In terms of the pandemic, we re-lived the uncertainty experienced before. However, we learned as a team to be supportive while we were all learning to work in new ways. I reached out to my colleagues during those first months to talk about the challenges they were facing and share mine as well so they knew we were all facing similar circumstances.

What do you uniquely contribute to the team of partners?

I try to be open to new ideas and always speak my mind. I like to maintain an open communication style and think back to when I was an employee and what that feels like, to be empathic. Also, I’m always looking for ways to keep the firm dynamic, introducing changes with that in mind. 

How are things changing in the practice of your specialization that is reshaping businesses?

Well, anyone who says that taxes is boring has clearly never worked in taxes. (Laughs.) The truth is that our industry is constantly evolving along with legislation. I think that many things will be automated in the future, so we are focusing on our role as advisors. People will always need an advisor to guide them through tax legislation. The only certainties in life are death and taxes! (Laughs.) 

How do you envision the future of the firm?

I believe that we have the potential to become the first local accounting firm in Puerto Rico, not only related to client service but also as a top employer, a place where employees can grow their careers and have a fulfilling life. We have high caliber professionals to get there, and people is what make the firm. The sky is the limit! 

And what about you as a person outside of work – what do you like to do in your free time?

One of the things I most enjoy is going on the boat. My sons love it, and we have beautiful moments each time. I enjoy family time, in general, whether it’s traveling, eating, or going to boy scout activities on the weekends with my youngest one. Sometimes I simply like to stay home, especially after an intense work week. Oh, I loooove to read too. 

This is the sixth delivery in a series of interviews to our partners and leadership, in lieu of the firm’s 45th anniversary celebration and inspired by an internal communication initiative by RSM International.