Alyssa Chilton

I attribute my success to persistence, a willingness to learn, and stepping into roles that challenge me and allow for growth. My father, who had a long career in project management, was an early influence, providing me with a strong example of structure, discipline, and dedication—qualities that have shaped my approach to my own career.

My expertise lies in project accounting, where I support project managers by managing budgets, handling month-end reconciliations, and ensuring financial accuracy across multiple ongoing projects. Over the years, I have developed a strong analytical skill set through hands-on experience in budget oversight and financial reporting. I entered this field naturally, inspired by my father’s work in project management for a steel company, and I have now been in this field for 4.5 years. I began as a college intern and gradually advanced into higher-level financial roles within the same organization.

Currently, I serve as a Senior Project Accountant. In this role, I review project budgets, prepare reconciliations, monitor financial progress, and provide project teams with accurate financial data. I work closely with project managers to ensure that every number aligns correctly at the end of each month. One of my proudest achievements is my career progression within the company—from intern to front desk receptionist, then equipment coordinator, and ultimately to my current senior accounting position. This progression reflects both my dedication and the trust I have built with my colleagues and leadership over time.

My advice for young women entering the accounting or project management field is to stay open-minded and embrace the learning curve. Every role, no matter how small, provides valuable experience, and being willing to grow within a company can open doors you may not expect.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is staying ahead of constantly changing financial details across multiple projects, particularly during the pressure of month-end close. At the same time, the field offers exciting opportunities to deepen expertise and explore more specialized areas of financial work in the future.

The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are consistency, honesty, and reliability. I take pride in being someone others can depend on—whether it’s meeting deadlines, supporting my team, or navigating new challenges in my career.

Outside of work, I enjoy exploring new interests and am particularly curious about career paths such as forensic accounting. This interest in investigative financial work has shaped how I approach details in my current role, encouraging a careful and analytical mindset.

Looking ahead, my long-term goal is to transition into forensic accounting—a field I find both fascinating and well-suited to my natural curiosity and analytical strengths. While I value my current role and the experience it provides, I see forensic accounting as an exciting and meaningful next chapter in my professional journey.