Denise Peterson ('85) - A Leader in the Accounting Profession

Denise Peterson ‘85, began her career at Bethany College in Lindsborg Kansas where she earned an Economics/Business degree and a concentration in Accounting.  While at Bethany she was active in the Business Club and a member of Sigma Phi Omega. She and her husband Corey Peterson ‘84, returned to Lindsborg after 25 years in Topeka, where she worked in accounting for the Hemslojd. Denise became an adjunct professor in the Business Department at Bethany College in 2011 and transitioned to full-time faculty from 2012-2014, while maintaining her ties to the corporate world. She has served as an alumni class agent for the class of 1985 and sponsor to the Business Club. Her ties to the Business Club at Bethany are especially significant to her. While an undergrad, she was a participant in the Business Conference they sponsored, was invited to give the keynote address in 2021, and served on the accounting panel. 

Before finding her way back to Lindsborg, she taught Financial Accounting each semester under the direction of a full professor on campus, while earning a graduate degree at Kansas State University.  Although not eligible to win Teacher of the Year, she was nominated by students for the award.

She moved to CBIZ, where, as President of the Topeka office, she was responsible for all operations in the Topeka and Leavenworth offices (up to 75 employees, depending on the season), plus relationships and coordination with other Presidents in the Midwest Region and nationally under the CBIZ umbrella. The firm exceeded its budget every year and received numerous quarterly awards for highest success across the country. One of Denise's responsibilities was attending and learning from national leadership trainings for all office Presidents. During her time at BCC/CBIZ, she progressed from the position of staff accountant, through manager of clients and jobs, to shareholder in 1992, and then to managing director of the office in 2000. This included opportunities to work in each major department of the firm, including tax, audit, and writeup, as well as to develop supporting services such as recruiting, budgeting, and human resources, among others. Industry specialties ranged from construction to affordable housing, as well as certain government contracts. After nearly eight years managing the office and participating in national meetings and management, as well as year-round client management and tax review work, she transitioned out of management to focus instead on tax review work in the spring, with special due diligence projects on national CBIZ accounting firm acquisitions, only, as needed in the off-season.

Denise began busy season tax review work with SJHL after relocating to Lindsborg to be near their newly acquired Scandinavian import business; at the same time, she was teaching at Bethany College and accounting for the small business' operations. This grew into a full-time, year-round position in 2014. In addition to upper-level tax return review, her responsibilities include tax team leadership, training, and managing others.

Thoughts on being an experienced female leader in the accounting profession: "Accounting is a unique, flexible profession that provides the opportunity for anyone willing to learn and work, while being respectful of others (clients & coworkers), to be a wildly successful leader positively impacting others, regardless of gender. And Every. Business. Needs. Accountants. You can help a variety of companies via the public accounting route, or instead, choose any industry to pursue, preferably one you are passionate about. The sky is the limit!"

Other Roles: Denise currently volunteers for the Smoky Valley Community Foundation (Treasurer and Board Member), Lindsborg Midsummer's Festival Committee (Treasurer and Board Member), Lindsborg Community Hospital (Board Member), Bethany College Accounting Advisory Council, KSU Accounting Advisory Council (Charter member), KSU Accounting & Tech Conference Steering Committee, and

Bethany Lutheran Church Audit Committee.

The Women to Watch are inspirational leaders not only to women but all accountants. Their contributions to accounting keep the profession cutting edge and forward-thinking! They embody the CPA designation through their virtue, wisdom, and drive.