June 28, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Eide Bailly LLP.

From his early days at Washington High School, it started to become clear that he could be a fit for an accounting career.

Now, Kellen Garrison is among the newest partners in Eide Bailly’s Sioux Falls office, where the USD grad has more than a decade of experience.

“Kellen has been a tremendous resource on the technical side not only for our office but also nationwide across Eide Bailly,” partner Aaron Clayton said. “Kellen’s dedication to our team members and clients has propelled him to many leadership roles within the firm. We’re proud of Kellen and excited for his new role as a partner at Eide Bailly.”

We caught up with Garrison to learn what led him to the firm – and what keeps him here.

What drew you to the field of accounting?

I helped manage the school store in high school, including doing some of the accounting. I hadn’t taken any accounting classes but was able to learn how to record the transactions and found the accounting process to actually be interesting. Doing the accounting gave me insight into how decisions like what to purchase and how to price those items affected the store’s financial results. Then in college, I enjoyed the accounting courses and decided to purse accounting as my degree.

What connected you with Eide Bailly, and what do you like about the firm?

I was first introduced to Eide Bailly through some meet-the-firm events through the University of South Dakota and the South Dakota CPA Society. After that, I attended one of the meet Eide Bailly events and was able to tour the office and learn about everything the firm does. The people and culture were wonderful, and I knew that it was the type of firm I wanted to work for.

What’s the best part about your job?

I love working at Eide Bailly because of the people. I get to work with a passionate and knowledgeable team who are focused on being great advisers and providing the highest level of service. Our clients bring a similar passion to their products and services, and they inspire me to be innovative, so I can better help them overcome challenges and continue to grow.

Is there any area of accounting you consider your specialty?

I work in the assurance practice providing audit, accounting and consulting services. The clients I serve are primarily in the commercial and utility industries.

How do you connect to the Sioux Falls community? Are there organizations or causes you’re drawn to support?

Locally, I have been involved with Junior Achievement and Susan G. Komen Great Plains. For Junior Achievement, I have been a classroom volunteer for a number of years and serve as a Sioux Falls Area Champion. I was a board member for Susan G. Komen Great Plains. From an industry perspective, I serve on some South Dakota CPA Society committees and serve on the AICPA’s auditing and attestation exam subcommittee.

What can we find you doing for fun when you’re not working?

During college football season, you can find me posted up on a couch attempting to watch multiple games at the same time. I also enjoy getting together with family and friends or sitting back and getting a little reading time in.

What advice would you give to a young person pursuing a career in accounting?

I would recommend starting your career in public accounting and getting your CPA. In public accounting, you’ll get to work with a ton of different clients across different industries, and that experience will open up numerous doors for you. Public accounting also gives you an opportunity to see all of the different paths that are available within the profession. I think students often think of accounting paths as audit or tax within public accounting or working within private industry, but there are numerous different industries or specializations that you can choose to work in.

To learn more about building your accounting career with Eide Bailly, click here.