Her Story
About Melita
I've dedicated over 10 years to the accounting profession, building a career that spans two continents. In Albania, where I spent 28 years, I worked as an accountant in a corporation before advancing to a position with the Albanian tax authority, where I specialized in double taxation and tax treaties between Albania and other countries. I primarily handled International Monetary Fund projects and also served as a part-time lecturer in accounting, sharing my knowledge with the next generation. I earned both my Bachelor's and Master of Science in Accounting from the Agriculture University of Tirana. In 2023, I immigrated to the United States, which was a significant transition. Coming from a position as head of double taxation in Albania to starting from scratch here was a true challenge, but I didn't come just for a job or salary. I came to achieve way more than the opportunities I had in my country. Currently, I work as a senior accountant and am pursuing my CPA certification, having already passed three of the four exams. I'm committed to being a role model for my associates, leading them with compassion and motivating them not just to do their work, but to find meaning in it. My goal is to become a partner at my current firm while also giving back to the community, particularly by helping children who have lost their parents, inspired by losing my father in 2008.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melita
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the partners I work with told me that you can reach the sky. You just have to wish for it, and you have to work for it, because you can reach the sky. I think that if you truly put work into accounting and public accounting, and you truly invest yourself, your time, and you put your thoughts in tax research, you can achieve a lot. I believe there are many challenges and opportunities that not even AI can replace what the human brain can do.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them to pursue their CPA as soon as they can, because I think that opens many, many doors for them, and to enjoy and love their role with whatever they do. I say to my associates, even when you're scanning, you can learn from that piece of paper that you have in your hand. When I first started, I knew nothing about W2, W3, or many of these tax forms like 1040 or 1065. On my first day, I was scanning stuff, just going through them, and you learn so much just by that piece of information that you have in your hands. So take whatever is given to you regarding accounting, and take your CPA as soon as you can, because I feel like that's the thing that opens you many, many doors, at least in public accounting.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would start with the biggest challenges for me as an immigrant, which was the culture shock. I didn't have time to breathe because I was just trying to achieve and adjust with everything that was going on in my life. I was the head of double taxation in Albania, and coming here, starting from scratch, was a true challenge. It was a true challenge for me as a woman, and as an immigrant trying to achieve at least as much as I had achieved in my country. I mentioned in my job interviews when I first started that if I came here, I didn't come here just for a job or just for a salary, but I came here to do way more than the opportunities I had in my country. As for opportunities, I believe you can reach the sky if you truly put work into accounting and public accounting, and you truly invest yourself, your time, and your thoughts in tax research. There are many challenges and opportunities that not even AI can replace what the human brain can do.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
For sure, I have compassion, and I do truly care about being a true role model for my associates. I'm a senior accountant currently, so I want to lead them and give them motivation to come day to day to work and to do whatever they're supposed to do, but more than that, to have them as friends and to influence them in the right path. Beyond my professional values, my personal goal is to help children who have lost their fathers or mothers. I lost my father in 2008, and my goal is, as soon as I get my CPA, to help children in similar situations because I have the backup and support of my firm. That's my goal in the next 5 years.
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