Periodically, we like to share CPA success stories with our readers. This first-person account was written by Llonae Popley Ballintine.
When people ask me why I chose accounting, I often think back to my childhood. Growing up in an immigrant family, money management was not an abstract concept—it was part of everyday life.
As a child, I often helped my aunt manage her finances. I would go with her to the bank, fill out deposit slips and withdrawal slips, and help with paying bills. I remember doing addition and subtraction to understand budgeting and keeping track of expenses. Looking back, I realize that these moments gave me an early introduction to financial responsibility and sparked my interest in how money works.
Starting the Accounting Path
Another major influence came when I was in middle school. In seventh or eighth grade, I participated in a program called Creative Connections. One part of the program involved creating a company from the ground up. We developed marketing plans, created a vision for our business, identified our target audience, and learned terms like “demographics” and other business and finance concepts.
Through the program, we also had the opportunity to tour the offices of companies like Elizabeth Arden and Marc Ecko, which were very popular brands at the time. Seeing professionals working in marketing, finance, and accounting opened my eyes to career possibilities I had never considered before.
Around that same time, the 2008 financial crisis and housing market crash were dominating the news. Even as an eighth grader, I remember hearing adults talk about economic uncertainty and job security. For some reason, the idea of having a stable, recession-resistant career stuck with me. When it came time to choose a major, accounting felt like the perfect fit. It offered stability, strong career opportunities, and work that aligned with my strengths.
I was also drawn to the idea of having a profession where I could complete my work, do it well, and leave work at work. Growing up, I often saw adults bring the stress of work home with them, and I knew I wanted a career that would allow me to maintain balance and still have time to be myself outside of work.
Starting (and Stopping) the CPA Journey
My decision to pursue the CPA came later in my career. Interestingly enough, my friends played a big role in that decision. As I gained experience in accounting, many of my friends began starting businesses, building brands, and becoming entrepreneurs. They often came to me with financial and tax questions. Even though I do not work in tax, I found myself researching answers, pointing them in the right direction, and helping them have more informed conversations with their accountants.
Those experiences made me realize two things. First, I genuinely enjoy helping people understand financial concepts. Second, I wanted to deepen my own knowledge. Most of my career had been focused on reporting, and I knew there were areas of accounting where I could continue learning and growing. Earning the CPA license felt like the right next step.
My CPA journey was not a straight path. I actually attempted the exam earlier in my career during the pandemic. Like many people, I was working from home—but so was my family. Finding quiet space and uninterrupted study time was difficult, and with so many limitations during that period, I struggled to create an effective study routine. Eventually, I decided to pause and revisit the goal later.
Finding CPA Success Through Support
When I started my current job, I felt that the timing was finally right. I developed a routine that worked for me: going to the library after work, dedicating my free time to studying, and creating an environment with fewer distractions. One of the hardest but most important lessons I learned was how to say no. Saying no to plans, limiting distractions, and protecting my study time made a huge difference.
Another factor in my success was finding study materials that matched my learning style. Becker was the third CPA Exam review program I tried, and it ended up being the best fit for me. The structure, videos, and explanations worked in a way that helped concepts click.
NABA's CPA Bound
CPA Bound also played an important role in my journey. Through the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) CPA Bound cohort, I participated in study sessions and Zoom calls where I could work alongside peers who were pursuing the same goal. Sometimes hearing an explanation from another candidate made all the difference when a topic did not fully click the first time. Beyond the content itself, CPA Bound provided accountability, community, and encouragement. Studying for the CPA can feel isolating, and having a support system reminded me that I was not doing it alone.
Perseverance Pays Off
Passing the CPA Exam this year was incredibly rewarding because it represented more than just passing tests. It reflected years of persistence, learning from setbacks, adapting my approach, and continuing to move forward. My journey taught me that success is not always about finding the perfect path—it is about finding the path that works for you, staying consistent, and believing that your goals are still possible, even if they take longer than expected.
For anyone considering accounting or pursuing the CPA, my advice is simple: give yourself grace, find the study methods that fit your learning style, and do not underestimate the value of community. Sometimes success comes not from doing it alone, but from having the right support along the way.
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