When facing a financially complex divorce, business partnership separation or business dissolution, clients turn to Jackie Adams-Ings, 47. She specializes in forensic accounting for family law litigation. Her work involves valuing businesses and analyzing standards of living, cash flow and income available for support, community property balance sheets, community/separate property, reimbursements, asset tracing and financial analyses. She testifies in court cases regularly on her findings. TITLE: Partner FIRM: White, Zuckerman, Warsavsky, Luna & Hunt LLP, Sherman Oaks SPECIALTY: Expert testimony in financially complex divorces HOBBIES: Family time Question: Why accounting? Answer: I saw how well the partners of the firm were living and wanted a similar lifestyle. That motivated me to enroll in college. I began with White Zuckerman (as it was titled) in January 1989 as a receptionist at 19. I have been with the firm for more than 28 years. What next? I went to school part-time at night for eight years and finally graduated from California State University – Northridge in 1997 with my accounting degree. During this time, I bought my first home and married my husband in 1996. After graduating, I worked on obtaining my Certified Public Accountant license and getting the required hours. I received my CPA license in 2003 after having two beautiful children, one whom is now about to graduate from high school. I have been a partner of the firm since 2008. Your role at the firm: I am a partner in the family law litigation department. During my years at the firm, I worked in almost every area of the internal business of the firm including receptionist, tax assistant, secretary, accounts receivable, and finally, billing manager. Additionally, I worked with our commercial litigation partner, Barbara Luna, and the family law department, where I ultimately became a partner. Working in all aspects of the firm has helped me understand every level of the business from administrative duties to partnership responsibilities. What defines “star accountants”? The ability to rapidly digest and interpret client information and specifically case information in a family law matter to provide testimony in court. Time management: I spend time on the phone, in meetings with clients and on calculations. Best part of your job: Testifying in court and learning the specifics about each new divorce matter. Biggest misconception about accounting? Tax season – at least for me, as I do not have a tax season by specializing in litigation. But as a litigation specialist, I have the demands of meeting deadlines for the court cases I deal with, and those are similar to the rush and long hours associated with tax season. Your personality at work: I am outgoing and easy to talk to, thus I can communicate well with the attorneys who provide us clients, and deal with the clients who are going through one of the worst phases of their lives – a divorce. New generation of accountants: Technology makes things easier. Memorable experience: Most memorable? Too many to count. Favorite out-of-the-office activity? Family and time with my kids! What advice would you give to others considering a career in accounting? Learn to balance between family and work. Schedule time for both. Biggest mistake by clients: Lack of documentation. My advice is to be better organized. Life during tax season: Same as life not during tax season. Accounting mentor? The founding partner of our firm, Paul J. White, taught me the most over the years! – Carol Lawrence
