Chalene Gallagher ACA is truly a global citizen who now calls New York home. She somewhat stumbled into becoming a Chartered Accountant - her background being in Business and Management. She values the career options her qualification has presented her, as well as the opportunity to give back to her community and causes she values.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us where are you from?
My name is Chalene Gallagher and I was born in the United States and raised in Antigua & Barbuda. I now live in New York with my husband, Brian, and our pandemic pup, Daisy.
Tell us why you chose to become a Chartered Accountant?
It happened unexpectedly, actually. I was living and working in London back in 2008, and decided it was time to make a change. Several people ranging from family members to one of my Masters professors (who happens to be an FCA) had suggested that I pursue professional accountancy, but I didn’t really take it to heart until then. Also I had visited Dublin a few times before then and always had a lovely time. So when I finally decided to dabble in accounting, I thought, "why not go study there for a while?" I applied to the Dublin Institute of Technology (now the Technology University Dublin) for the one year
Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting, attended a career fair during the first couple weeks and ended up getting a role in PwC. The rest is history.
How you got to where you are today?
When my training contract ended, I wanted to use the natural opportunity that created to change things up again. Although I was born in the States, up until that point I had never lived here. So when a company called Cross Country Consulting was looking for Chartered Accountants to work in the States, I jumped at the opportunity.
Once I got here, I worked as a consultant for a few years in a couple of firms, but really wanted to find a role that balanced accounting with my desire to give back to the community. A friend who worked at the
Federal Reserve suggested that it would be good for my career goals, and I have been working here as a specialist in income statement/balance sheet based regulatory reports ever since.
What do you value most about your membership of the profession and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society?
My training as a CA really helped to strengthen my ability to hit the ground running when dealing with new clients and be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Also Chartered Accountancy is very much focused around a value system that is critical for working in a mission-driven organisation such as the Federal Reserve. I’ve also been able to bring an international perspective to the table.
As a member living in the USA, can you talk to us about how your membership has been of value to you globally and if there is anything you would like to see your Institute do more of to support members overseas?
In addition to the international perspective being a CA reinforced for me, being able to locally tap into a network of such a diverse group of professionals who span a range of tenures and industries has really contributed to my growth personally and professionally. It has been invaluable to me during my time serving on the members Board and now as the chapter head of the greater New York chapter of
Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA.
And finally Chalene, if you weren’t an accountant, what do you think you would you be/have been?
Honestly, a few things but most likely an artist of some kind. I’ve always had a creative streak, and I always look for ways to express it.
Chalene Gallagher