Stefanie Bassaragh, Senior Associate on Influential Women

Influential Woman · Accounting

Stefanie Bassaragh

CPA

Senior Associate, PwC

Saint Albans, NY

5Years experience

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Master's in Risk and Financial Advisory Degree St. John's University Degree Archbishop Molloy High School Cert CPA Member ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) Member NABA (National Association of Black Accountants)

Her Story

About Stefanie

I started in accounting in 2021 after completing my graduate year at St. John's University, where I earned my Master's in Risk and Financial Advisory. I joined PwC right after graduation and have been with the firm ever since. As a senior associate, I oversee multiple engagements, primarily working with traditional REITs and alternative investments including private equity, real estate funds, and debt investments. My role involves overseeing these audits and guiding the team to get an audit to the finish line while coaching them along the way. I became a CPA a year or two ago, which was an important milestone in my career. I'm currently working toward a promotion, though the current industry climate makes that challenging. Beyond my technical work, what I'm most proud of is remaining true to myself in the corporate world. I believe that when you come as yourself to the workplace, that's when you make the best connections, meet the most people, and make the most impact. I'm a member of ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) and NABA (National Association of Black Accountants), though I'd like to become more involved when time permits. Outside of work, my biggest hat is being a mother to my four-year-old daughter, who is my pride and joy.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Stefanie

01What do you attribute your success to?

To me, success looks like having time with my family and being able to have the freedom and flexibility to explore, travel, and have the time to do exactly what I want in life. I would measure my success based on how much freedom I have. Money's great, but it's not everything, right? It's about having that freedom and flexibility to live the life I want.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've received is that growth happens when responsibility exceeds comfort. I'm paraphrasing because I can't remember exactly how this person said it to me, but that's the core idea, and it's really stuck with me throughout my career.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say to take risks and to follow your dream. You can put your mind to anything that you set out to do.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

Right now, there's a lot of AI that we're leveraging in our day-to-day work. AI can be challenging, but AI can also produce the most benefits, especially if you find the best way to incorporate it in your processes. So I would definitely say AI is both a challenge and an opportunity in the field right now.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

The values most important to me are honesty, integrity, family, and being a kind person. These guide both my work and personal life.

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