Her Story
About Kayla
Kayla Springer, MS-FFE, CFE, ICBP, is the Founder of ABC Guidance, LLC, an accounting, bookkeeping, and consulting firm focused primarily on supporting nonprofit organizations. She specializes in nonprofit financial management, accounting, tax preparation, grant management, fraud examination, financial operations, and business consulting. Through ABC Guidance, Kayla provides financial oversight and strategic guidance that can often function at an outsourced CFO level, helping organizations manage their financial operations and make informed decisions. She also works part-time as a Team Lead with Intuit, bringing additional experience in bookkeeping and financial technology.
Kayla’s professional journey reflects persistence, continued education, and a commitment to developing practical expertise. She began working in taxes at age 18 and went on to build experience across accounting, tax management, financial operations, and nonprofit consulting. Her educational journey eventually led her to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business/Management from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination from West Virginia University. She is also a Certified Fraud Examiner, an Intuit Certified Bookkeeping Professional, and a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. A former coworker and mentor, Tammy, played an important role in encouraging Kayla to return to school and recognize her own capabilities.
Beyond her professional work, Kayla is actively involved in organizations serving her community and professional field. She serves as Treasurer of the West Virginia Forestry Association, Second Vice President of the West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame, and a board member of the West Virginia Center for Independent Living. She attributes her success to organization, preparation, persistence, and genuinely enjoying her work, while emphasizing integrity, service, independence, and accountability as guiding values. Looking ahead, she intends to continue growing ABC Guidance while remaining open to further education and professional development. She is also closely following the evolution of artificial intelligence in accounting, recognizing its potential while emphasizing that technology must be balanced with professional judgment and human expertise.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kayla
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to organization, preparation, persistence, and genuinely enjoying the work I do. I believe entrepreneurship cannot be driven solely by money. Building a successful business requires passion for the work, attention to detail, and a willingness to take on the less glamorous responsibilities that come with owning and operating a business. I have learned that staying organized, preparing thoroughly, remaining persistent through challenges, and finding genuine purpose in my work are essential to building something sustainable.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received came from my former coworker and mentor, Tammy. She encouraged me to return to school and continue my education despite the challenges I had experienced earlier in life. Her encouragement helped me recognize my own capabilities and showed me that my past circumstances did not have to determine my future. Her belief in me played an important role in the professional path I ultimately created for myself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to women who are considering entrepreneurship is to get organized before you begin and make sure you genuinely enjoy the work you are pursuing. Preparation is essential to building a sustainable business. Before starting ABC Guidance, I made sure I had the appropriate business licenses in multiple states, the necessary insurance, and the operational requirements in place. Entrepreneurship should be about more than financial opportunity; you need passion for what you do and the willingness to prepare for and manage all aspects of running a business.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest developments affecting accounting and bookkeeping right now is artificial intelligence. I recognize that AI has the potential to automate more routine financial tasks and transform the way financial professionals work. At the same time, I do not believe the technology is fully ready to replace the knowledge, professional judgment, accuracy, and oversight that experienced financial professionals provide. Some organizations may be moving faster with AI implementation than the technology currently warrants. I believe the opportunity is for financial professionals to understand and effectively use emerging technologies while continuing to protect accuracy, accountability, and human expertise.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are integrity, organization, independence, preparation, service, and doing work for the right reasons. I believe financial professionals have an important responsibility to help organizations remain financially sound and compliant while providing leaders with the information they need to make informed decisions. I also value persistence and taking pride in the work I do, because meaningful results require both commitment and a genuine desire to serve others.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.