Member Moment: Five Tips for Future CPAs with Lindsey Barbour, CPA

The accounting profession is anything but one-size-fits-all—and OSCPA member (and past OSCPA scholarship recipient) Lindsey Barbour, CPA, is proof that your career path doesn’t have to be a straight line. 

Here are her five tips for future CPAs: 

1. Be Open to a Career Pivot

Lindsey didn’t start out planning to be a CPA—she thought she’d teach English. But at 18, an internship threw her a curveball. The company placed her in Accounts Payable based on her personality, and she quickly saw the flexibility and opportunities accounting could offer. By the end of the internship, she had changed her major—and her career path was set.

2. Combine Your Passions

Even after pivoting into accounting, Lindsey didn’t give up her love of teaching. As a non-traditional student juggling work and family, she earned her CPA license and found a way to blend both interests. She taught at Tulsa Community College for years and now applies that same passion for guidance as a Managing Director at CCK Strategies, helping clients and mentoring her team.

3. Study strategically

Find the study method that works for YOU—and stick with it. 

Here’s how she did it: 

• Reviewed each section’s study materials and took notes.
• Used open notes on practice exams, then re-took until she nailed it.
• Updated notes after every practice exam, especially on missed questions.
• Spent the final week reviewing all notes, memorizing formulas, and taking more practice tests.
• Spaced out each test, resting for at least a month before starting the next section.

4. Lean Into Your Professional Community

The OSCPA has been part of Lindsey’s journey from the very beginning—starting with a scholarship as a student and continuing through professional development, networking, and recognition as a Trailblazer Award recipient. For her, being involved isn’t just about credentials; it's about connecting with other CPAs who share similar experiences, creating space to learn, trade ideas, and stay grounded in a profession that’s always changing.

5. Why it Matters

Today, Lindsey supports businesses and nonprofits through strategy, leadership, and mentorship—but she also knows there’s more to life than spreadsheets and deadlines. Making room for the things you enjoy, even something as simple as a favorite chicken stir fry with veggies and rice, helps keep the work sustainable and fulfilling over the long haul.

Lindsey’s journey is proof that accounting isn’t one-size-fits-all. The profession offers room to pivot, combine interests, and grow in unexpected ways. No matter where your path leads—teaching, public accounting, or somewhere in between—the OSCPA is there to support you along the way.