Who is Richard Bowen, CPA
My name is Richard Bowen. I have been working in the field of tax and accounting for more than 20 years. In 2005 I completed my bachelors degree in Business Administration: Accounting.
I started my first business when I was 9. A lucrative lawn mowing and yard work service. Making $70 a month at that age was an outstanding accomplishment. The business continued to make money as long as I hustled up new business to replace sporadic clients. After a couple years it slowed down to nothing and I was out of a job for the first time at age 12.
At age 14 I started working with computers, building websites, designing and implementing networks, and putting together custom systems on demand. I did all of this with my computer mentor David Koontz under the company name Omega Web. We continued to bid jobs and pick up clients but when we got to college we realized I was the administrator and he was the real computer talent. David opened a computer gaming network and was my first official accounting client.
In 1998 a loyal gardening client, Julia Eckroth with Eckroth Bookkeeping & Tax, took me under her wing, trained me in tax, and made me her bookkeeping and tax assistant.
Shortly after realizing that I had a knack for taxes I went through HR Block's tax course to get certified. After completing the CTEC course and spending one season with H&R Block I was asked to teach a basic tax course, supervise tax teams, and complete an internal integrity audit. After a couple years with H&R Block, a major shift in the environment put me in the perfect position to make a big change. Instead of deciding to take the easy money with a split off called 1040 Tax and Financial I decided to go out on my own. In January 1999 I created some business cards, purchased a tax bond and began operating under the name Bowen Accounting & Tax.
I had a lot of help from Julia Eckroth, who wanted to scale down her business. Some of my oldest and best clients were transferred to me at this time.
I spent the next 6 years building my client base part time, working full time at different jobs, that helped me get valuable experience, and going to school at night. It was a hectic time in my life, and I thought it would get much easier when school was over.... I was wrong!
In 2005 I completed my undergraduate coursework for my bachelors degree. I stopped working as a salaried employee and was devoted to taking Bowen Accounting & Tax to the next level. My business exploded. In 2010, after studying for 2 years I completed the CPA exam and was issued my license. The process was exhausting, but the knowledge that I gained was invaluable. I can honestly say that when I was done with the CPA exam, I really was a better accountant.
In the last 10+ years I have been developing contacts to allow me to focus on business efficiency consulting, a new way to help my clients take control of their own accounting through training and support, and property management trust accounting/training. Since I began working in the field of "accounting" I knew that it was only one part of what I really wanted to do for businesses. In my heart I am an administrator and manager of resources of all types. I am in a unique position to help local businesses streamline, outsource, and update themselves for the 21st century. New services I am offering include; Property management trust accounting, software configuration, consulting, data migration, efficiency reviews, and speaking engagements.
I regularly refer to myself as 'the new face of accounting'. I focus a lot on technology that can make business easier for my clients, by allowing them a many flexible ways to deliver documents, communicate, sign and pay, that works for them. Constant analysis of popular technology, data security and electronic storage techniques help keep me in touch, responsive, and ahead of other firms.
I owe a lot of my success to good friends, my wife, mentors, and business contacts who have supported me, sent business my way, and given me great references. Thank you to everybody who has contributed to my success.
~Richard Bowen, CPA
Media Appearances
2023 Best of Bakersfield - Best Practices Article
