Movers & Shakers: Rachel Polson, Baker Tilly

Rachel Polson, Baker Tilly

Title: Partner

Age: 42

Rachel Polson, a partner in the Minneapolis office of accounting firm Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, will have an advisory role in the development of professional auditing standards nationally with her appointment to a Washington, D.C.-based organization.

Polson, who has been at Baker Tilly since 1997, is serving a three-year term as a member of the Standing Advisory Group of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

"It's one thing to say things should change but if you don't participate in it, how do you get it to change?" Polson said of her reason for seeking the post. "That was really the driving force."

Polson, a partner in the firm's commercial services group, serves as the firm-wide leader of Baker Tilly's computer technology and software group. Her other industry focus areas include private equity funds, broker-dealers and professional services.

Congress established the nonprofit oversight board to oversee public-company audits and protect investors by promoting accurate audits. The board includes auditors, investors and public company executives.

Baker Tilley, a Star Tribune Top Workplace from 2010 to 2013, offers accounting, tax and advisory services from offices in Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.

Q: What would you like to accomplish during your term with the advisory group?

A: I just look to connect with [other members] and find out best practices, what are they doing, how are they seeing things, what we can do to make things better. And how can I try to have some influence on some of the proposed standards or existing things, to say, "If this was the purpose of this standard is that really what's getting accomplished?"

Q: How did you get involved with technology companies?

Q: What has the GROW program achieved at Baker Tilly?

A: I know personally that it's hard to juggle everything. When we started that [program], my kids were 3 and 5. … With the group, we've come up with better flexible work schedules for employees, for men and women. I think the culture of the firm has changed to be more accepting that you don't have to be physically in the office to be working.