Title: Sole Proprietor and Certified Public Accountant
Company: Debra J. Engberg CPA
Location: San Antonio, Texas, United States
Debra Patterson-Engberg, sole proprietor and certified public accountant at Debra J. Engberg CPA, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in accounting.
With four decades of experience, Ms. Patterson-Engberg has built a distinguished career in accounting, specializing in tax accounting, trusts and estates, and writing tax law related to trusts and estates. She currently serves as the sole proprietor and certified public accountant of Debra J. Engberg CPA, a role she has held since 1994. Her professional involvement also includes active participation with the fiduciary income tax subcommittee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and serving on the editorial board of Today CPA Magazine in the 1990s. In light of her impressive undertakings, she has been recognized with an award for her contributions to the silent auction of the CPA, banker, and attorney committee. She laid a solid educational foundation for her career, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Texas Tech University in 1978, and has achieved certified public accountant (CPA) status.
Reflecting on her path, Ms. Patterson-Engberg comes from a family of certified public accountants, a legacy that inspired her own career path. She founded her practice with the goal of dedicating more time to each client and providing them with the level of service typically reserved for clients of large CPA firms. Originally, she planned to purchase a practice, but discovering she was pregnant led her to reassess her timing. Instead, she chose to establish her own office and rely on referrals from previous colleagues. Her business grew quickly, surpassing her expectations, prompting her to move into a private office and hire additional staff.
Ms. Patterson-Engberg’s most notable accomplishment was her appointment with the AICPA in the early 1990s. The AICPA, which oversees accounting and tax laws and monitors specific IRS codes, provides nationwide tax advisory services. She served two terms in this role, where she contributed significantly to simplifying instructions for CPAs, particularly for Form 1041, and offered free consulting advice to CPAs across the U.S. Another achievement she takes pride in is her service on the AICPA’s Fiduciary Income Tax Subcommittee, a position she held for several years during a period when few women were involved at that level. Her dedication and expertise earned her a second three-year term. Through her work, she has also consistently supported her peers, assisting CPAs nationwide with complex tax queries and fostering a collaborative environment in the field.
Ms. Patterson-Engberg attributes her success to her faith, feeling blessed by the opportunities that have come her way. In the coming years, she hopes to grow her business by hiring someone who is passionate about their work, nurturing their development to eventually take over the practice, as her children have chosen different career paths outside of accounting. Her advice to the next generation entering the field is to develop strong research skills, as the fast-changing landscape of laws and specialties demands constant learning. She emphasizes that the ability to research and find answers to complex questions is invaluable for career advancement in accounting. This commitment to continuous learning, she believes, will empower young professionals to thrive in an evolving profession.
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