Meet Elizabeth Scholtes, CPA: A Passion for People, Purpose, and the Pursuit of Something More
Spend a little time getting to know Elizabeth Scholtes, CPA, and you'll quickly discover there's much more to her than a love for numbers. She's a passionate golfer, an adventurous traveler, a baking enthusiast, and someone who believes that hard work, curiosity, and a little patience can take you a long way.
What stands out most about Elizabeth is her genuine appreciation for the journey. Whether she's perfecting her golf swing, exploring a new part of the world, or helping a nonprofit organization navigate its audit, she finds meaning in the opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference.
As a member of the BryMar team, she's found a way to bring those passions together.
Lessons from the Golf Course
For Elizabeth, golf is more than a favorite pastime. It's a sport that has played a meaningful role in shaping how she approaches challenges, both personally and professionally.
As a collegiate golfer at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Elizabeth dedicated countless hours to practicing, competing, and pushing herself to improve. If there's one thing golf has taught her, it's that success rarely happens overnight.
"I practiced a lot for golf, and you don't necessarily see the outcome right away, but at some point you see the fruits of your labor," Elizabeth shared.
It's a lesson that's stayed with her well beyond the golf course. Elizabeth understands the value of showing up, putting in the work, and trusting the process, even when the finish line feels far away. That mindset would become especially important as she pursued one of her biggest professional goals: earning her CPA license.
Golf isn't the only thing that keeps Elizabeth busy outside the office. Originally from Alameda, California, and now living in San Francisco, she also enjoys baking (not cooking, she'll happily clarify!) and traveling whenever she gets the chance.
Recently, her love for travel led her to take a particularly memorable leap: her first solo trip abroad.
Finding Adventure and a Sense of Home
With stops in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore, Elizabeth's solo adventure was an opportunity to explore new places, experience different cultures, and challenge herself in an entirely new way.
Traveling alone was intimidating at first, but Elizabeth quickly discovered how rewarding the experience could be. "I really enjoy seeing new places and learning about other cultures," she shared. While each destination offered something new, one stop left a particularly meaningful impression.
For Elizabeth, visiting Hong Kong was more than checking another destination off her travel list. With Cantonese roots in her family, the trip offered an opportunity to connect with a part of her heritage in a way she hadn't experienced before.
"Even though I'm not super immersed in that culture, it felt really comfortable and almost like home," she recalled."
What began as a solo adventure became a meaningful experience of personal discovery, reminding Elizabeth that sometimes the most rewarding moments come from stepping into the unfamiliar.
That openness to new experiences has followed her into her professional life, too, although her journey into accounting began a little closer to home.
A Natural Love for Numbers
For someone who now genuinely enjoys accounting, Elizabeth didn't necessarily grow up planning to become a CPA. What she did know was that she loved numbers.
At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Elizabeth studied business with concentrations in accounting and quantitative analysis, alongside minors in statistics and economics. It was a natural fit for someone who enjoyed understanding how numbers, patterns, and information connect.
"I just love working with numbers," Elizabeth explained."
It was an introductory accounting class that helped her realize where that interest might lead. Her professor was demanding, the coursework was challenging, and understanding the material required real dedication. Rather than being discouraged, Elizabeth found herself enjoying the process. Accounting brought together her analytical interests and her curiosity about how organizations operate.
After graduation, an internship confirmed she was headed in the right direction, and Elizabeth set her sights on earning her CPA license. With changes to the CPA exam approaching, she took advantage of the time before beginning full-time work to start studying and completing exam sections. What started as a required college course eventually grew into a career she became passionate about.
Once she began working, however, balancing her responsibilities and exam preparation became a challenge of its own. Elizabeth approached it the same way she approached golf: with consistency, discipline, and patience.
Her mornings often started with a study session before work. Her ferry commute across the San Francisco Bay became another opportunity to review material, and lunch breaks and evenings offered time to squeeze in a little more preparation. Rather than overwhelming herself with hours of studying at once, she focused on small, manageable goals.
It wasn't always easy, but Elizabeth trusted that the effort would eventually pay off. And it did. She earned her CPA license, turning years of dedication and a natural love for numbers into a profession she finds genuinely rewarding.
Yet for Elizabeth, one of the most meaningful parts of being a CPA has little to do with the numbers themselves.
The People Behind the Numbers
When Elizabeth talks about her work as an auditor, one thing becomes clear: she cares deeply about the organizations she serves.
While some might imagine auditors spending their days searching for mistakes, Elizabeth sees her role through a different lens.
"Our goal is to help our clients help themselves," she explained."
For Elizabeth, working with nonprofits means recognizing that behind every financial statement is an organization dedicated to something bigger. Whether it's serving a community, providing essential resources, or advocating for a cause, each nonprofit has a mission that extends far beyond its accounting records.
That's exactly what makes the work so meaningful to her.
Elizabeth enjoys getting to know the people behind those missions, from finance teams to executive leadership, and learning about the services their organizations provide. She recognizes that an audit isn't the end goal for a nonprofit. It's one part of helping an organization remain strong and continue doing the work that matters most.
"I enjoy being able to help them continue the work that they do and also just learn about the services that they provide," Elizabeth shared.
It's that combination of analytical thinking, meaningful relationships, and mission-driven work that makes nonprofit auditing such a natural fit for her.
When the opportunity came to join a firm that shared those values, Elizabeth knew it was worth exploring.
Finding a Team That Feels Right
When Elizabeth first connected with BryMar, she was drawn to the firm's focus on nonprofit organizations. Having already worked in the nonprofit space, she knew she wanted to continue supporting organizations whose work made a difference.
As she got to know BryMar, something else stood out.
The people.
"I definitely think that the people and the mission here is what drew me here," she shared."
Throughout the interview process, Elizabeth appreciated how approachable BryMar's partners were and the genuine sense of connection within the team. For her, those interactions spoke volumes about the culture of the firm and the people she'd have the opportunity to work alongside.
That first impression became even more meaningful when Elizabeth attended BryMar's annual team Summit. Since the team works remotely, it was an opportunity to meet more of her coworkers face-to-face and spend time together outside the usual workday.
What made the experience special wasn't necessarily a particular activity or event. It was simply getting to know the people behind the screens, sharing conversations, and building connections that extend beyond work.
It's those relationships, along with the opportunity to support nonprofits, that make BryMar a place where Elizabeth can continue growing while doing work she genuinely enjoys.
A Passion That Goes Beyond the Numbers
If there's a common thread throughout Elizabeth's story, it's that she's never been afraid to put in the work for something she believes in.
Golf taught her patience and perseverance. Traveling on her own reminded her of the value of embracing new experiences. And accounting gave her an opportunity to turn a natural talent into a career centered on helping others.
Through it all, Elizabeth has remained grounded in what matters to her: learning, building meaningful connections, and finding purpose in the things she does.
At BryMar, we're fortunate to have someone who brings that same dedication and genuine care to the organizations we serve. Elizabeth is a wonderful reminder that behind every great auditor is more than technical expertise. There's a person with passions, experiences, and a story worth sharing.
We're proud to have Elizabeth as part of the BryMar team, and we look forward to all the adventures, accomplishments, and meaningful connections still ahead!
