JOSHUA LEYENHORST

Business, finance and accounting were honestly not something I anticipated being passionate about years ago, and so my university days saw me major in molecular biology and biochemistry, as had a keen interest in the health sciences, and I loved the opportunity to learn about the amazingly complex systems that happen continuously for even the most basic biological processes – let along life in general – to function and continue. I more stumbled into the world of accounting and finance when my wife and I started a couple of small businesses, after I had worked a few years in pharmaceutical research and development and managing fundraising programs for a national health organization.

The scientific and data-based approach that I took to managing inventory, projecting cash flow in light of product manufacturing and shipping timelines, and to see how the businesses were performing in general, resulted in a bit of an epiphany; I love business, finance and accounting! The way I saw it, accounting was the science of business, and so I wanted to dive into it further; to better understand the DNA of businesses, and the systems necessary for their success. As a result of this realization, I decided to take a base level job in finance for a commercial construction general contractor, and head back to school to become a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). I worked my way through the finance ranks, as it were, eventually becoming the Director of Finance, and that journey was incredibly helpful in understanding all the intricacies of operational finance, and it really helped me gain an appreciation for the fact that the numbers tell the story when it comes to how a business is doing, and how to build the bridge from that point to where it may want to go.

After working in industry finance for a number of years, I was enticed to” join the dark side” of public practice accounting, where I had the opportunity to work with a large number of different businesses, and different types of businesses, and had the opportunity to dive into their numbers, to see the story they were telling. I was able to see some of the key success factors that differentiate a growing business versus a business on life support nearing the end of its life cycle. As I currently continue as a public practice CPA, I enjoy the ongoing discussions I have with business owners, to hear the unique experiences that have, how they navigate their own specific challenges, and I love the opportunity to be a part of their journey as they look to grow their businesses in a focused, intentional and sustainable way.

When I’m not diving into spreadsheets, financial statements, or systems analysis, I love to spend time with my wife and four kids in the Peace River Region in British Columbia, Canada. We love to be outside, exploring the amazing creation around us, and we also enjoy being involved in the various aspects of our community; whether it be volunteering, sports, or local events.

If I had to do life over again, I would tell younger Josh to dive into business a lot sooner, that the world of business can be exciting and rewarding, though not without its challenges, and that it’s how we navigate the challenges as we strive toward our goals and destinations that impacts the condition of our vessel that we journey in; whether that’s our business, career, or life in general. And so we need to treat our vessel well, maintain it, and condition it to perform to the best of its ability.