Her Story
About Monica
I've been passionate about accounting since 1991, and it's been an incredible 34-year journey. I currently work at Dallas International University as an accounts payable and payroll administrator, a role I've been in for almost two years now, since June 2023. Before joining DIU, I spent seven and a half years working in the finance department at the Archdiocese of San Francisco. My main area of expertise is accounts payable, and I handle critical responsibilities like making sure bills are paid on time and managing payroll for everyone from the top administrators down to the janitors. When I'm doing payroll, everyone at the office knows not to talk to me because it's such an important responsibility. One of my proudest moments was receiving the Part-Time Staff of the Year Award from the president of the university. I have that plaque sitting on my island at home, and I need to hang it up so I can see it every day and feel that motivation and appreciation. My journey into accounting started at United Business College in Los Angeles, where I really learned about debits and credits and fell in love with the field. I went on to earn my Associate's degree in Accounting from community college in 1986. I was fascinated by how the general accounting principles work, the debits and credits, and just working with numbers. My next career goal is to become an AP Manager at a nice mid-sized company, and I'm also thinking about opening up my own bookkeeping business again to build my own brand.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Monica
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being passionate about accounting and being passionate about what I do. I love to see a job finished and well done. That passion for the work itself, for the numbers, for making sure everything is accurate and complete, that's what drives me. It's not just about getting through the tasks, it's about taking pride in doing excellent work and seeing it through to completion.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was: do not leave a job because of money. Do not leave your job because of a high-paying job. Stay where you are if you have growth potential there, if you have seniority there. You just don't jump. You don't leave that position. You have to really think about it before you make that decision, because I made that decision before, and it kind of blew up in my face. That lesson taught me the value of stability, seniority, and growth opportunities over just chasing a bigger paycheck.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering accounting is: always do your best. When you do your best, you're going to make your employer look good, you're going to make your supervisor look good, and they will always reward you for that. I truly believe that. If you're in the right company, you will get rewarded. Even when no one's looking, still do your best. That dedication and commitment to excellence, regardless of who's watching, is what will set you apart and lead to recognition and success in this field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is that I have to learn AI. It's something new that's becoming a major part of our work, and while it can feel intimidating, I understand it's a tool that can help make things easier and faster. It's about learning to use it properly without over-depending on it, and finding that balance between leveraging technology and still contributing my own expertise and knowledge to the work.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
First of all, my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the most important value to me, because I know without Him, I wouldn't be where I am today. Beyond that, I believe in being dedicated to what you do. Just be dedicated. That dedication, combined with my faith, guides everything I do both professionally and personally. It's about showing up, doing excellent work, and recognizing that my abilities and opportunities are blessings that I need to honor through my commitment and effort.
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