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In our latest Accountant Spotlight Series, we're thrilled to introduce Edith Silva, an Onboarding Manager at Kruze Consulting. Her story is one defined by connection, curiosity, and growth.

Learning by teaching

Growing up, Edith Silva aspired to be an educator. With the goal of becoming a teacher from a young age, Edith naturally went on to pursue a degree in education. “I always thought I wanted to focus more on the educational side of things, as opposed to doing anything super technical,” she explains. Once in the program and actively shadowing teachers, Edith realized her true calling was elsewhere.

As a marketing minor, Edith was fortuitously introduced to the world of accounting. “As soon as I took a required accounting course, I realized this is what I need to be doing,” she reflects. With a natural affinity for numbers, Edith gravitated toward the reliability and structure behind the subject. Accounting provided a refreshing opportunity to problem-solve and piece puzzles together. Changing her major soon after, Edith’s new career journey was locked in.

Living in El Paso, Texas, Edith’s exposure to the field landed her in the real estate industry, working for the accounting department of a local business. After graduating, her initial experience with bookkeeping and processing invoices led Edith to a more expansive accounting role in the bar and restaurant industry. Requiring a high degree of intercompany reconciliation, this opportunity opened doors, introducing her to new skills. Eventually, Edith found herself working for a tech startup in Austin, which began her dedication to the startup space.

Connecting experts to founders

Deepening her commitment to the world of early-stage businesses, Edith went on to join Kruze Consulting, the largest CPA firm dedicated to venture-backed companies. With a large majority of these companies also falling into the category of C corporations, accounting expertise is paramount to success. “Oftentimes, accounting or finance needs become increasingly strict in comparison to when a company was first founded,” Edith explains. “A lot of our role is teaching founders about proper accounting protocols and procedures.”

In addition to supporting client education, the team at Kruze consults on services including best practices for software adoption, bookkeeping, tax, and interim CFO guidance. “We try to relieve as much as we can, while also ensuring that changes are implemented in order for us to do our job,” she shares. The dual benefits that result from such interventions ensure both short-term and long-term success while setting the foundation for a fruitful partnership.

Four years into her tenure at Kruze, Edith embraces remote work, finding both flexibility and community in the company culture. “Everyone within our team is incredibly knowledgeable and very willing to help. There’s always somebody who is ready to jump in and give feedback, or provide guidance around a certain procedure,” reflects Edith. While many of Kruze’s clients are in the SaaS industry, they also provide services to a wide range of industries, from robotic technology companies to healthcare technology.” With the ability to seamlessly connect with subject matter experts across the firm, there is never a shortage of knowledge and collaboration.

With weekly firm-wide meetings to discuss both internal and industry updates, the team at Kruze is constantly keeping its finger on the pulse. Recently adding client and employee spotlights to the agenda, they are dedicated to making insights into the latest innovations and contributions accessible for all. Kruze’s investment in its people is undeniable, as they foster connectivity that enhances a culture of shared work.

Streamlining finances with an all-in-one platform

Mirroring the seamless spread of knowledge across the firm, Kruze’s tech stack is equally as interconnected. “One thing that I really enjoy about Ramp is that we've been able to consolidate a lot of the different processes that our clients need,” Edith shares. “We always make sure all of our clients get a solid foundational setup with a bill pay product, a reimbursement system, and a corporate credit card. Ramp is able to provide all three of those functionalities.”

Furthering the value of a centralized platform, Ramp’s custom rules feature has given the team the ability to meet the unique needs of each client. “A lot of our clients require tracking costs by department or cost center. With custom rules, we’re able to sync that information seamlessly into QuickBooks without an extensive amount of manual work,” says Edith.

When it comes to the application of technology, Edith is cautiously optimistic, seeing automation and artificial intelligence as tools that have the potential to advance the field of accounting. Unique revenue processes of clients, for example, would benefit from a model that can support these nuances. While the impact of AI is evident, however, she sees some aspects of the profession as irreplaceable. “AI will never be able to replicate the relationship between the accountant and the client, a very important piece of my job. I don’t think that side of things will ever be fully replaced in a way that is beneficial to the client or end user,” she reflects.

Delivering unique value to each client

Having supported clients’ growth across multiple industries and unique challenges, Edith has seen it all. Reflecting upon these experiences, there is one success story in particular that stands out. A startup focused on connecting daycare centers with reliable and vetted workers initially came to Kruze to reconcile challenges in financial accounting. “One of the main issues was that their revenue hadn’t been previously recognized correctly,” explains Edith. “There were all sorts of errors due to the thousands of different sources of revenue data.”

Tackling this head-on, Edith and the team at Kruze worked with the client to put structured, scalable processes in place, ensuring that revenue was accurately represented. Addressing a combination of manual, cumbersome processes, it was evident that the former solution was not congruent with the business model.

“They were really grateful that we had taken the time to fully understand their business, including which systems they were using and which reports were needed,” she explains. Infusing automation throughout the system, Kruze not only increased quality and accuracy, but also reduced the need for manual work, unlocking new efficiencies.

Staying connected and grounded

As a thought leader in the startup space, Edith likes to stay plugged into her accounting network. Whether it’s catching up on LinkedIn, skimming her daily news alerts from Google, or chiming in on Kruze’s Slack channels, she is dedicated to understanding the latest updates within the tax world, as well as the potential impact on her client base. A lifelong learner, Edith possesses a genuine desire to know her clients’ ups and downs.

Outside of her professional sphere, Edith is equally connected to herself and to her community. An avid traveler, Edith is committed to exploring the world and immersing herself in different cultures. Exploration is at the core of her interests and passions. “I would describe myself as a wellness enthusiast,” she says. “I’ve been practicing yoga for 10 years, and currently teach two vinyasa classes a week.” Tapping into her commitment to well-being, Edith also enjoys playing padel, working out, and learning about nutrition. Whether it’s being active, spending time with her husband and friends, or playing with her two pups, a pug and a frenchie, staying connected and grounded is at Edith’s core. At Ramp, we celebrate Edith’s ability to constantly learn and get inspired with her clients and community.

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