With over 800 locations nationwide, BDO Alliance USA is among the industry’s most significant associations of accounting and professional service firms. Hayes & Associates, an independent member of the BDO Alliance USA, is proud to share that President and Shareholder, Frank Hayes, was recognized by BDO Alliance for his decades of knowledge and experience during Black History Month. Keep reading for his reflection on what it has taken, as a professional of color, to overcome obstacles and find success.
Tell us about your professional role and career path to date.
“I am licensed as a CPA in the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, and Missouri. As founder and president of Hayes & Associates, I’m proud to be celebrating 38 years in business. Previously, I worked as an agent with the IRS and as head of the tax division with another local CPA firm. As a strong believer in people and our inherent potential, I strive to create a welcoming environment at Hayes & Associates that provides opportunities for highly motivated individuals to succeed, regardless of background. I believe in giving back, actively engaging in the Omaha community in various capacities. I’ve been fortunate to be recognized by my peers over the years, including being inducted into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame. I’ve had a fantastic life to date, and from my standpoint, the best is yet to come.”
Historically and currently, Black people are under-represented in the accounting profession. How has this impacted you?
“Early on, I considered another career since it appeared I wouldn’t be given an opportunity to work in public accounting. My academic training, passing the CPA exam during my senior year in college and my work history prepared me well, I thought, for an opportunity to work with a local public accounting firm. Unfortunately, after nine months, I didn’t receive an offer. I’m convinced that the reason was the color of my skin. Eventually, I was offered an interview with a small firm in Omaha. This gave me a chance to show my value, but I determined I was never going to be a partner there. These two factors led me to start Hayes & Associates. I wanted to start a company that would give people who looked like me a chance to succeed.”
Who or what inspires you?
“My mother, though she has passed, inspires me every day. She was the strongest person I’ve ever known. She taught me the value of education and that no matter what others try to do to you, they’ll never be able to take away your knowledge. I wouldn’t say that people who suggest that I can’t do something inspire me, but they motivate me to prove them wrong. I’m inspired by the success of others through the opportunities offered by Hayes & Associates and the thought that I can lay down a path for those who want to be successful in life. I’m inspired by the thought that no matter what we choose to do as a profession, we can approach it with creativity. I’m inspired by the love from my children and family and the support of clients who’ve been with me throughout my career.”
This year’s Black History Month theme is health and wellness. Knowing there are disparities in healthcare equity, what does this year’s theme mean to you?
“I have always tried to take care of myself health-wise. I try to encourage good health habits where I have influence. Like the public accounting profession, we need more Black individuals in healthcare. I encourage as many people as I can to become involved in the healthcare field. I believe that good healthcare and having food to eat are basic human rights, not privileges. I would like to see our country move more in that direction, and I plan on doing what I can do to help with that.”
What’s something about yourself that might surprise others?
“Most people who know me might be surprised to know some of my background — I’m the second youngest in a family of 11 children, raised on a farm in rural Mississippi, who picked cotton, among other things, and attended segregated schools. I became the first sibling to attend and graduate college, receiving a full, four-year academic scholarship to attend Creighton University. I was the first Black person to become a licensed CPA in the state of Nebraska, the first Black person to chair the Nebraska State Board of Accountancy, and I founded the first Black CPA firm in Nebraska. And even though I am in what is considered a “conservative” profession, I love to have fun.”
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