Her Story
About Kristin
Kristin Bakewell, CPA, CFE, is a seasoned accounting and tax professional with more than 16 years of industry experience, or approximately 18 years when including her early internship experience. She currently serves as Managing Director of 7200 TAX, a tax and accounting firm based in Bethesda, Maryland, where she oversees the firm’s tax operations, staff management, project deadlines, outsourced accounting services, and business development initiatives. Bakewell was recruited to build and establish the tax and accounting practice for a wealth management firm, drawing on her extensive background in financial reporting, auditing, tax services, and client advisory. Throughout her career, Bakewell has developed expertise across tax, accounting, financial reporting, forecasting, budgeting, fraud examination, and outsourced financial management. Her earlier experience includes leadership roles with Your Part-Time Controller, LLC, where she provided accounting and CFO-level services, as well as nearly a decade with General Conference Auditing Service, where she advanced from Audit Intern to Audit Manager. In her current role, she works closely with financial advisors, translates complex financial and tax matters into practical guidance, manages internal teams and deadlines, and remains current on evolving tax regulations and requirements. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Andrews University and maintains professional credentials as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner. Bakewell’s path into accounting began with an initial interest in finance and a recognition that accounting would provide a strong foundation for a long-term career in business. She completed her educational requirements efficiently, allowing her to enter the workforce and begin building professional experience at an early stage. After college, she relocated from Michigan to the Washington, D.C., area in pursuit of broader professional opportunities and the ability to reach her full potential. Her approach to career and life has also been shaped by the loss of her father and a personal commitment to making meaningful choices without regrets. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Bakewell is actively involved with the Greater Washington Society of CPAs (GWSCPA), including its Women’s Leadership Committee, reflecting her commitment to professional leadership, community, and the continued advancement of women in accounting and finance.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kristin
01What do you attribute your success to?
I've always had a strong work ethic, something my parents, especially my dad, instilled in me from an early age. The expectation was simple: work hard, get good grades, and build a successful career. That mindset pushed me to complete five years of college coursework in four years to meet the 150-credit-hour CPA requirement, pass the CPA exam while working full-time as an auditor, and eventually become a Certified Fraud Examiner. That foundation created the discipline and determination that have carried me throughout my career.
However, ambition and hard work can only take you so far. As you advance in your career, the challenges become more complex, and leadership can sometimes be a lonely place. My husband has been my greatest source of support through those moments. As a fellow CPA, he understands the professional challenges I face and offers a perspective that is both practical and personal. More importantly, he has believed in me on the days when I struggled to believe in myself.
I credit my father with teaching me the value of hard work, my mother for always being proud, God for opening windows and doors, and my husband with giving me the encouragement and support to keep going when that hard work is tested.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The advice that changed my life came from a counselor in Michigan. He told me that I hadn't come close to reaching my full potential, and he said it with such certainty that it felt like a fact rather than an opinion. Hearing that from someone with an unbiased perspective was incredibly reassuring because it confirmed something I already knew.
I was living in a small town where career opportunities were limited. He told me I could either recognize those limitations and accept them or go somewhere that would allow me to reach my potential.
Ever since losing my dad to cancer, I've made a conscious effort to live without regrets. So I weighed my options, uprooted my life, and moved to Washington, D.C., to find out what I was capable of.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Live without regrets. That doesn't mean being emotional or reckless with your decisions. It means weighing the pros and cons and then asking yourself which decision you would regret making, or not making, 20 years from now.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Staffing is one of the biggest challenges in accounting right now. The profession isn't necessarily viewed as exciting by younger generations, and we're seeing fewer people pursue careers in accounting.
At the same time, that creates an opportunity. Every business needs an accountant, and there is tremendous demand for qualified professionals. It's a field that offers stability and significant opportunities for those willing to pursue it.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Trust, reliability, and respect. It looks different depending on the relationship, but when I find it I hold on to it.
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