When you take charge of your bigger future, enhanced success is possible. This entrepreneurial mindset is one of our core beliefs at Siegfried, and it continues to influence much of what we do – from leadership advisory conversations with our clients to the internal growth and development of our employees.
Maximizing work-life synergy was top of mind for Teddy Vomvolakis, Associate Director in the New Jersey market, when he decided to leave his role as a Senior Manager at PwC. He sought to further his professional ambitions while simultaneously improving his personal life, and Siegfried’s total compensation philosophy – where our people build financial freedom through a competitive base salary and energizing incentives – provided that opportunity.
“My friend from PwC went on to work for Siegfried, and when she told me about the great client projects she was on, the incentive compensation she was earning, and the path her career was taking – all while aligning her personal and professional life – I thought, ‘Wow, Siegfried is exactly what I’m looking for,’” reflected Teddy.
Understanding that Siegfried provides the tools and resources to exponentially improve your life, but that only you can make it happen, Teddy embraced a ‘you get out of it what you put into it’ mindset. And by taking full advantage of all Siegfried has to offer, his life, and the lives of his family, have transformed.
Hard work pays off
Teddy joined Siegfried in 2019 as a client-serving professional resource and quickly realized that his career ambitions would synergistically serve his personal goals. He became a sought-after professional by always going the extra mile on his projects. This of-service approach both advanced his career opportunities and earned him client service and production awards that grew his family’s financial freedom.
“It can be easy to stay in your lane and only do the work you’re told to do,” said Teddy. “But I did that work and then asked, ‘What else can I take off your plate?’ I always thought about how I could add more value, and showing that extra level of care goes an extremely long way.”
Over the course of Teddy’s five and a half years as a professional resource, he served three clients, ingraining himself in their environments and showcasing the full extent of Siegfried’s unique service offering. This meant that when Teddy’s projects were complete, as defined by their initial scope, he was already assisting in so many other areas of need that the clients refused to let him go.
“My main character ethic word, especially when it comes to relationships, is caring,” shared Teddy. “I always made it a point to let the client’s CFO, CAO, or whoever I directly reported to know that I am a trusted advisor who is deeply invested in their success. I wanted to be the person who they called first. And once I developed those trusting relationships, they wrapped their arms around me, which was mutually beneficial – driving their success and earning me Siegfried’s incentive compensation.”
Investing in professional growth
Beyond Siegfried’s incentives, the Firm’s entrepreneurial model gave Teddy the opportunity to explore projects that were uniquely interesting and challenging to him. He was exposed to new industries and roles, gaining immense autonomy over his career trajectory.
Interested in high-growth companies, he worked in technical accounting at two fast-paced, emerging market clients in the consumer retail space – a departure from the large, publicly-traded companies he had experience with at PwC.
“I learned completely different industries and worked with start-up phase companies,” reflected Teddy. “I got ingrained in and learned their businesses, which made me a better, more well-rounded professional.”
Rewarding relationships
As Teddy saw Siegfried’s promises of attractive total compensation and interesting and challenging work come to life, those around him couldn’t help but take notice. This was especially true as he was inspired to put more rhythmic intention and attention into cultivating connections through Siegfried’s MY Relationships™ program.
“Siegfried truly changed my life,” Teddy said. “The dynamic of my family changed financially, I’ve had exposure to interesting and challenging work, the relationships I’ve gained at the Firm have been amazing, and my career has grown tremendously. When I told my network about my experience at the Firm, that caught their attention – they felt that I was being genuine, and they naturally wanted to know more.”
Eventually, three of his professional contacts joined Siegfried, earning Teddy additional recruiting and MY Relationships™ incentives.
“I was experiencing firsthand everything that Siegfried has to offer, and by simply sharing that, I saw my success and relationships grow even further.”
Trust that translates
With Teddy’s network buzzing about his time at Siegfried, a PwC partner who he had previously worked with reached out. Teddy had assisted her with passing a client’s first PCAOB review, and she never forgot his support. Now, she was facing a new challenge, and with her client in a state of rapid growth, she picked up the phone and turned to Teddy for help.
Soon after that call, Teddy was on the phone with the client’s Chief Accounting Officer, talking through their challenges, top priorities, and how Siegfried could provide value. “I discussed our entrepreneurial business model, how we would fit into her environment, and the effective and efficient solutions that we could bring.”
Siegfried professionals then joined the client, supporting with personnel changes, the development of new workstreams, standing up the accounting and finance functions, driving revenue policies and procedures, and ensuring SOX regulatory compliance. Yet again, Teddy experienced the power of total compensation as he earned business development incentives for his role in initiating a new Firm relationship.
Boundless potential
Teddy has been ambitious to make the most of his Siegfried experience, and as a result, his personal and professional transformation has been exponential.
Professionally, he explored interesting and challenging client work, acted on his passion for helping people – and earned further incentives – in an internal Team Leader position, and eventually, joined the most recent cohort of Siegfried’s Director Xcelerator program, designed to develop future members of the Firm’s National Markets and Sales Team (NMST).
“My experience bringing a client into the Firm gave me the confidence and courage to transition into NMST,’” Teddy explained. “The feeling was electric, and it had a big impact on my career path taking another turn that I never would’ve expected.”
Personally, Teddy and his family have been afforded the freedoms of time, money, and relationships. He and his wife welcomed their third child, his family has enjoyed life-changing financial freedom, and the special moments he’s spent with them have proven to be an invaluable perk of an already impactful career change.
“My time at Siegfried has been nothing short of amazing,” said Teddy. “If you told me when I first joined the Firm that this is where I would be almost seven years after leaving PwC, I would’ve said that you’re crazy. My time here has been transformational. I’ve lived Siegfried’s higher purpose and challenged myself to become a better leader, which has been incredible for me, both personally and professionally.”
