Welcome back to #WeAreGreenKey, where we shine a spotlight on our exceptional corporate team.
For the past six years, Gregory Ponce, Assistant Controller, on Green Key’s Corporate Accounting team has been an integral part of Green Key, demonstrating unwavering dedication and a remarkable ability to adapt and excel in his role. Starting as a staff accountant, he quickly rose through the ranks, showcasing his expertise and commitment to the firm’s success. His journey at Green Key is a testament to his hard work, resilience, and the collaborative spirit that defines the company. As he continues to contribute to the firm’s growth, Greg’s story is one of professional development, leadership, and the pursuit of excellence.
Can you tell us about your career journey and how you became Assistant Controller?
I had minimal professional experience before starting with Green Key, as I was fresh out of school and using them as a staffing agency. I was placed with a client through my recruiter, but that was only a temporary stint. Soon after, while I was interning with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for Forensic Accounting, a Staff Accountant position opened at Green Key. I interviewed in January and started on Valentine’s Day in 2019.
My career at Green Key progressed quickly. I was promoted to Senior Accountant at the end of my first year, then to Accounting Supervisor, and later to Accounting Manager. I led a successful accounting system implementation in 2023 and was promoted to Assistant Controller at the beginning of this year. The journey continues to this day.
What has been the most rewarding moment in your career?
I wouldn’t say there’s one most rewarding moment over another, but the most rewarding moments of working at Green Key are really the praise you receive. It’s small praise, like completing projects for initiatives where we previously didn’t have that style of reporting. I can’t go into detail on some of those projects, but it’s very rewarding to get that recognition.
It’s especially gratifying when individuals you might not think are noticing acknowledge the hard work you’re putting in. Accounting is often seen as just numbers, and while that’s true, there’s a lot of hard work in connecting different pieces of data to get meaningful value. I could look at a thousand figures in a day, but only a few are what management cares to see. Streamlining and producing those takes a lot of effort, and being recognized for that hard work is very rewarding.
Another rewarding aspect is solving complex problems. Sometimes, I’m working late into the night, trying to get things done, and then I have that “aha” moment where everything falls into place. It’s like a domino effect, and suddenly, the solution is clear. Those moments make all the effort worthwhile.
How do you collaborate with other departments?
Over my tenure at Green Key, I’ve seen a dramatic change in how departments interact. When I started, departments were more segmented and siloed, with minimal day-to-day interaction beyond basic greetings.
Credit goes to certain leaders who empowered middle management to cross-collaborate, finding solutions and workflows that benefit other departments. Now, we lean on each other more, solving issues through natural conversations rather than formal meetings. This has significantly improved our efficiency and teamwork.
Cross-department collaboration has increased, allowing for free-flowing conversations that help solve problems quickly. While oversight is still necessary, the ability to have these discussions has been a game-changer.
This shift has also fostered friendships within the back office. The Back-Office teams, for example, have become close, thanks to both our office setup and the positive environment created by Green Key’s growth and personnel.
How do you stay updated with the latest developments in the accounting field?
Within the accounting field, I stay updated by reading publications, especially those from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and any state or local jurisdictions we operate in. Not all updates are applicable to our industry, but I focus on those that are relevant. Although Green Key is a private company and not required to report under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), we model ourselves to follow the same similar standards as publicly held companies. This approach is beneficial for our accounting practices and reviews.
Reading these publications helps reduce the need for explanations, as our financials are backed by widely recognized standards. Additionally, I stay informed through discussions with friends in the accounting and finance fields. We share industry updates and insights, which are helpful for my role in forecasting and planning. This keeps me aware of both accounting and staffing industry trends, aiding in providing a forward-looking perspective.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to enter the field of corporate accounting?
Get in and get your hands dirty. The key to my success at Green Key was my willingness to take on anything and everything. There was no “I can’t do that,” only “let’s see what I can do.” In 2019, as a staff accountant, I averaged around 60 hours a week due to limited resources in the accounting department. Since then, leadership has ensured we have the necessary resources, greatly benefiting our work-life balance.
It’s important to power through tasks and put in the late hours to gain understanding. Now, nearly six years in, tasks that once took me hours now take minutes, allowing me to effectively transfer knowledge to my team and increase productivity. I encourage my team to suggest improvements, fostering efficiency and innovation.
Work-life balance is a core belief of mine, but it doesn’t negate the need for effort to truly understand your work. This principle applies not just to accounting but to any field. Once you understand your role and make processes more efficient, your value becomes evident, and management takes notice.
What are your professional goals for 2025?
One of my big goals has been to become a licensed CPA in New York.
As we enter 2025, my goal is to buckle down and complete the steps to become a CPA. Green Key is supporting me in this endeavor, and I meet all the requirements, having worked under CPAs and holding an MBA. Now, I just need to pass the exams.
I see this as a two-year goal, aiming to pass two to three exams next year and wrap it up by 2026. It’s going to be a grind, but I’m determined to get it done and move forward.
