Her Story
About Christina
Christina Baker is a Senior Accounting Analyst with approximately 15 years of progressive accounting experience across private equity-backed and large-scale financial services organizations. Currently with Colibri Group, she specializes in financial accounting, month-end close, general ledger activities, revenue review, reconciliations, accruals, royalty and commission calculations, variance analysis, audit support, and process improvement. Known for her analytical approach and attention to detail, Christina works to translate financial information into clear explanations while identifying opportunities to improve reporting accuracy and operational efficiency.
Christina's path into accounting was unexpected. After initially pursuing pharmacy studies, she discovered an interest in accounting through an introductory course at community college. That experience prompted her to reconsider her career direction and pursue accounting instead. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Lindenwood University and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University. Her professional career includes more than a decade with Stifel Financial Corp., followed by her current role at Colibri Group. She is also continuing her professional development by pursuing her Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential through Becker.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Christina values curiosity, personal growth, honesty, analytical thinking, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She encourages young women to consider accounting as a versatile career where their perspectives and contributions can be valued, while also emphasizing the importance of trusting one's instincts and seeking one's own answers. Outside of work, she is an avid reader who averages approximately 100–150 books per year, enjoys St. Louis Blues hockey, live music, and travel, and particularly appreciates experiencing different cultures through food, architecture, and everyday life. She also supports The Love Mission, an organization assisting women and children in need, reflecting her broader commitment to using her experiences and stability to make a positive difference.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christina
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Follow your gut. If your gut tells you that your job is not for you anymore, or if your gut tells you that something you're doing in your role, it doesn't feel right, maybe you were questioning something you were told, follow it, and look it up, and get your own answers, and not just believe what you're told.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's a good field to get into as a female, because you're valued in this area. Your opinions are taken into account, your thoughts are taken into account, and it's a really good almost female-dominated field. And in the business world, that is very hard to find. If you have even the slightest inkling that accounting might be your niche, I would take it.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Some of the biggest challenges, for a lot of us, it's monotony. Accounting can be very month-over-month monotonous, and trying to find excitement or difference or challenge in your role once you've been doing it a while can be difficult. But one of the benefits of accounting is, if you ask, you will receive. So if you need more challenging work or need a change, most companies have that in their back pocket for you... It is a very open field. It is a field that's always got work available, so it's very easy to trade up or move on.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value honesty. If I'm doing something incorrectly or correctly. Just be honest with me and tell me that I'm doing a good job, and if I'm not, tell me that. I can't make improvements if I don't know. I also value critical and analytical thought... and I value my personal time, like, I want work-life balance, and I appreciate a company that also values that... work-life balance is way more important than being paid the most for your role.
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