Her Story
About Kaycee
Kaycee Buckalew serves as President of Stone Ridge Accounting, a firm she founded after purchasing and rebranding a prior company where she had performed contract bookkeeping work. She has five years in her current role and seven years overall in the accounting field, providing remote and contract-based financial support with expertise in bookkeeping, monthly accounting, transactional-based accounting, fractional CFO advisory, and complex balance sheet cleanups. Buckalew earned an associate's degree in accounting from Utah State University before completing her bachelor's degree in accounting at Western Governors University in 2019. She also holds QuickBooks Pro Advisor Level 1, Level 2, and Payroll certifications. Her path began with contract work that expanded into client acquisition, leading to the buyout and growth of the firm, which now includes her husband as a full-time team member and three additional employees.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kaycee
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a strong work ethic taught by my parents from a young age, and especially to my husband who supported me during the early years when I was learning the ropes and making very little income. He held down the fort with his job so I could focus on building my skills and the business. Now the roles have switched as he joined full-time after finishing his own accounting degree.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You can do it, even when it feels like you're an imposter or not smart enough. Everyone has those moments, especially fresh out of school. Don't be afraid to ask for help and reach out for consultations from other professionals rather than struggling alone. Nobody expects you to know everything, and being willing to seek guidance will help you succeed much faster.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The field is highly male-dominated, which can bring nuances like feeling like an imposter or needing to double-verify work with men. Seasonal busyness with tax season makes it hard to balance workload without turning away clients. On the opportunity side, AI is a powerful tool rather than something to fear - using it to streamline tasks opens up new possibilities while still checking for mistakes.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is number one - doing things the right way even when it means hard conversations, because taking advantage of people who don't know better is not fair. Work-life balance and putting family first is equally critical for us and our employees. We are task-based rather than time-based, and if there's a family emergency or need for balance, we support that fully because nobody is replaceable at home.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.