background image of a pair of glasses on top of a report on a desk next to a calculator with the 4 speaker headshots on top in the middle, the MSU Denver MPAcc logo on the left, the
background image of a pair of glasses on top of a report on a desk next to a calculator with the 4 speaker headshots on top in the middle, the MSU Denver MPAcc logo on the left, the

Accounting professionals do more than crunch numbers – they lead, advise, and influence decisions. So how can emerging accounting professionals grow their influence and prepare for leadership positions?

Last week, we wrapped up our Accounting For Your Future virtual event series with a “Beyond the Numbers: Leadership and Influence in Accounting” session. Led by Accounting Department Chair Dr. Greg Clifton, our panel of three accomplished accounting professionals, plus two surprise guests, shared their insights on building credibility, communicating effectively, and positioning yourself as a trusted advisor in any organization. The thoughtful conversation left our students energized and ready to put the panel’s insights into practice as they navigate their own leadership paths.

Check out the speaker portion of the event below:

The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of MSU Denver.

Speaker Profiles

Greg Clifton headshot

Greg Clifton, JD, LLM | Department Chair and Associate Professor at MSU Denver

Gregory Clifton is a Professor of Accounting at MSU Denver. He earned his law degree (JD) at Thomas M. Cooley Law School and an LLM in Taxation from the University of Denver. Professor Clifton is licensed to practice law in the state and federal courts of Colorado and Georgia, the US Tax Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Professor Clifton continues to operate a small private practice advising small businesses and individuals on tax matters and currently serves as Chair of the Accounting Department.

Roy Alexander headshot

Roy Alexander, B.S. in Accounting, CPA, Notre Dame College of Business Executive Development Certificate; Leadership Denver | Board Vice Chair of Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka; Retired Executive Director/CEO of CHFA

Milroy (Roy) is an independent director and Board Vice Chair of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, KS. He is former Executive Director/CEO and Chief Financial Officer of Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), where he was employed for over 21 years. Currently he’s board chair of Northeast Denver Housing Center, and has an extensive record of community service providing leadership, executive and management oversight to numerous organizations.

Prior to CHFA, Roy was a senior audit manager at Deloitte in Denver, CO where he worked for 11 years as a CPA. He has a 1974 Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from MSU Denver, and is the Golden Nest Club 2024 recipient of the University’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

headshot - MPAcc alum, Maury Green (cropped)

Maury Green, MPAcc, CMA | incoming Senior Controller at MSU Denver Foundation

Maury is an alumna of MSU Denver with both Bachelor and Master degrees in Accounting. She spent 14 years in-industry, most recently serving in senior corporate accounting roles with a specialization in revenue. She now brings her experience to the nonprofit sector, where she is dedicated to supporting meaningful impact at MSU through financial leadership.   

headshot - David La Veau (accounting alum)

David La Veau, CGFM | Staff Accountant, Joint Administrative Operations, Financial Statements at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

David La Veau graduated from Metro (Dec. 2001) and has since been working for the Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He has worked on a wide variety of financial management matters during his tenure with the agency, including Financial Statement preparation and Independent Audit support, Real and Personal Property, Charge Card Program oversight, OMB Circular A-123 (Internal Controls) compliance, SFFAS 49 (P3) and SFFAS 54 (Leases) implementation. He also had the pleasure of participating in the design, testing, deployment and updates of Interior’s SAP instance (Financial Business Management System, FBMS). 

Key takeaways from the session:

  • Strengthen your communication skills. Clear thinking is the foundation of clear communication, whether written or verbal. Effective accountants set aside jargon and translate complex concepts for non‑accounting audiences across the organization.
  • Invest in your interpersonal skills. Building strong relationships at every level (across teams, and up and down the organizational ladder) shows that you’re engaged, collaborative, and aligned with your organization’s mission and vision.
  • Set and revisit personal goals. Intentional goals can provide direction, maintain focus, and fuel your professional growth.
  • Think critically and seek improvement. Look for opportunities to enhance processes, increase efficiency, and drive better outcomes.
  • Stay curious and embrace change. Dive into your work, explore emerging technologies, and remain adaptable. A willingness to learn keeps you relevant and prevents you from falling behind in a rapidly evolving field.
  • Understand the bigger picture. Developing a broad view of how the business operates, and how your role fits into that ecosystem, strengthens your ability to contribute strategically.
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