Accountant Spotlight: Sandy McClure at Baker Tilly
Our Accounting Spotlights highlight inspirational leaders in the profession who are making a difference for their clients and community. Know someone who deserves to be featured? Submit a nomination.
In our next Accountant Spotlight Series, we're proud to feature Sandy McClure, Director of the FaaS NFP Vertical at Baker Tilly.
Let’s dive into Sandy's journey from a high school math enthusiast to a nonprofit accounting leader.
A lifelong passion for numbers
Sandy's career path into accounting began with a fascination for numbers in high school, leading her to tutor accounting principles in college.
"I have loved the puzzle part of numbers and what they mean," she reflects, highlighting her early affinity for the field. Her path took her from public accounting at Ernst & Young to industry roles, where she honed her skills in consolidating over 500 entities and managing complex financial operations.
Decades of dedication to accounting
Sandy has been a CPA since 1990, bringing a wealth of experience to her current role at Baker Tilly.
Her career includes significant time in public accounting, a pivotal role as a consolidation manager, and a meaningful stint in nonprofit work at her local church. This diverse background has equipped her with a unique perspective on the accounting needs of various organizations.
Sandy's passion for the nonprofit sector shines through in her work. She has served a wide range of nonprofit organizations, from churches to healthcare and the arts. "You can see the mission behind each organization," Sandy says, emphasizing the rewarding nature of her work.
Addressing challenges with innovative solutions
Sandy tackles common nonprofit challenges, such as accurate reporting and skilled employee recruitment.
She recalls a significant achievement where she helped a large nonprofit reduce their year-end closing time from months to days, showcasing her ability to create impactful efficiencies.
At Baker Tilly, Sandy leverages AI for data analysis and trend identification, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of their services. This forward-thinking approach ensures that nonprofit clients receive top-tier financial management.
Life beyond the balance sheets
Outside of work, Sandy's life is rich with travel, family time, and hobbies like puzzle-solving and jewelry making. Her outgoing and friendly personality, coupled with a willingness to help, defines her personal life.
"I love to work puzzles, create jewelry with beads, and watch sports and Hallmark movies," she shares, giving a glimpse into her interests beyond accounting.
In conclusion
Sandy McClure's career in accounting is a story of passion, dedication, and a deep commitment to the nonprofit sector.
At Ramp, we value her expertise and the positive impact she has had in nonprofit accounting.
Nominate an accountant who you feel deserves a place in our Spotlight Series!
Brad Gustafson leads the Accounting Partnerships Channel at Ramp. With over a decade of experience, including managing Top 100 firm partnerships at Xero, he’s passionate about building a strong, engaged community of accountants connected through innovative technology and shared opportunities.
“We’ve simplified our workflows while improving accuracy, and we are faster in closing with the help of automation. We could not have achieved this without the solutions Ramp brought to the table.”
Kaustubh Khandelwal
VP of Finance, Poshmark
“Our previous bill pay process probably took a good 10 hours per AP batch. Now it just takes a couple of minutes between getting an invoice entered, approved, and processed.”
Jason Hershey
VP of Finance and Accounting, Hospital Association of Oregon
“When looking for a procure-to-pay solution we wanted to make everyone’s life easier. We wanted a one-click type of solution, and that’s what we’ve achieved with Ramp.”
Mandy Mobley
Finance Invoice & Expense Coordinator, Crossings Community Church
“We no longer have to comb through expense records for the whole month — having everything in one spot has been really convenient. Ramp's made things more streamlined and easy for us to stay on top of. It's been a night and day difference.”
Fahem Islam
Accounting Associate, Snapdocs
“It's great to be able to park our operating cash in the Ramp Business Account where it earns an actual return and then also pay the bills from that account to maximize float.”
Mike Rizzo
Accounting Manager, MakeStickers
“The practice managers love Ramp, it allows them to keep some agency for paying practice expenses. They like that they can instantaneously attach receipts at the time of transaction, and that they can text back-and-forth with the automated system. We've gotten a lot of good feedback from users.”
Greg Finn
Director of FP&A, Align ENTA
“The reason I've been such a super fan of Ramp is the product velocity. Not only is it incredibly beneficial to the user, it’s also something that gives me confidence in your ability to continue to pull away from other products.”
Tyler Bliha
CEO, Abode
