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Tina McGill (Southern ’07) wants accounting students to think outside the ledger.
McGill, founder and owner of MMAS CPA and president of the UT Southern Alumni Board, has redefined what it means to be a certified public accountant. Now she’s channeling her business acumen—and her entrepreneurial success—into helping accounting students think creatively about their careers.
Unexpected Career Path
When McGill transferred to UT Southern (then Martin Methodist College) as a junior to finish her bachelor’s degree in accounting, she was already a wife and mother and working full time.
McGill, who would go on to earn her master’s degree in accounting at Belmont University, spent about a decade working as director of business services and in other financial roles at Martin Methodist. She taught business courses at Martin Methodist and spent another five years working at private CPA firms.
Along the way, McGill realized there was a gap in traditional CPA firms’ services. Since many companies can’t afford to keep a CPA or chief financial officer on staff, they hire a CPA firm at tax time or for specific projects. But firms hired for one-off assistance rarely do a deep dive into the company’s business.
In 2020, McGill set out to bridge that gap by founding MMAS CPA, a CFO advisory firm that partners with its clients to provide longer-range strategic financial advice. Today MMAS CPA has offices in Pulaski and Brentwood, Tennessee, and they’re preparing to open offices in Palm Beach and Naples, Florida. The firm currently has 16 employees, $3.2 million in annual revenue and 450 clients across the country.
One of MMAS CPA’s clients is a multi-location athletic gym. Many of the firm’s other clients are large, multi-state dermatology and medical practices. MMAS CPA helps clients set up their system and operations, create profitability and scalability, and prepare for mergers or acquisitions. “And if they need a part-time in-house CFO or controller, we have staff that can do it,” she says.
Lessons Learned at UT Southern
McGill’s entrepreneurial drive sparked at UT Southern. As a student, staff member and instructor, McGill had the opportunity to experience the university from a variety of perspectives. And, in each of those roles, she learned things that helped mold her career.
With a family and a full-time job, “I was a unique student,” McGill says, adding that she’s grateful for “the support I received from the faculty and staff to achieve my dreams when I may have given up.” Even the toughest moments—like doing poorly on an exam after studying hard—provided valuable lessons. “Part of going to college is learning to accept defeat and coming back from it. I learned more from my failures than my successes,” she says.
“I want to help companies transform their understanding of numbers.”
— Tina McGill
As an instructor, McGill took the chance to test her wings: “I taught Business 101, and we did a flash mob at a basketball game. I was trying to show my students that it’s OK to think outside the box when it comes to marketing.” And, while working in the university’s business office, “I found a love and passion for numbers and the story they tell,” McGill says.
She’s especially grateful that she was able to assist the university in opening its clinic and reimagining its bookstore. “I thought, ‘This is what I want to do. I want to help companies transform their understanding of numbers,” she says. That’s why she has focused on helping companies figure out how to keep their employees, when to hire, when to fund new ventures and when to sell.
Rhonda Clinard, associate vice chancellor of finance at UT Southern, has known McGill for many years. “Five adjectives describe Tina McGill’s success,” Clinard says. “Determination. Dedication. Compassion. Hard work. And perseverance.
“I have had the privilege to witness these traits and to watch Tina rise in her career from her time in my office at Martin Methodist College to where she is now and showing compassion for others all along the way.”
Giving Back to UT Southern
Having tasted her own career success, McGill is now looking for ways to give back. “I really want to support the local community,” she says. “There are not enough words for the love I have for Martin Methodist (UT Southern).”
About a year ago, McGill and her sister, Tonya Mullins-Yokley (Southern ’05), established the Eleanor F. Farmer Scholarship Endowment to honor their mother, a single mom who always stressed academics and the importance of helping others.
McGill’s firm is also providing funding for an accounting faculty position. The MMAS CPA Professorship launches in the fall. UT Southern Vice Chancellor for Advancement Evan Beech says he and McGill are talking about additional scholarship programs.
McGill is in her second year as president of the UT Southern Alumni Board. This spring, she’s helping to recruit 40 to 50 alumni to speak at the campus’ career fair. She’s also trying to encourage more Martin Methodist alumni to get involved in the UT Southern Alumni Board. “You haven’t lost your identity (as Martin Methodist alumni),” she says. “The university is just under a new branded initiative that is bringing so much value to the community. UT Southern is going to catapult the region into the next generation.”
Encouraging Next-Gen CPAs
Founder of a boutique CPA firm. Public speaker. Educational program developer.
McGill is both surprised and thrilled that her accounting degree has opened so many doors for her, and she wants to prepare accounting students to think big about their own careers. She’s launching a national initiative called “CPA Next: Empowering the Next Generation.” The first cohort of 30 students will be recruited this spring and will participate in a two-month online course covering leadership development, real-world preparation, mental health support and the importance of developing a strong professional network. Based on the work they do during the course, five of the students will receive $2,000 scholarships.
McGill wants accounting students to know that their careers don’t have to be cookie-cutter; their degree can be a springboard to a wealth of opportunities. “There are so many avenues you can take in your career path,” she says. “Do some research on the industry. Seek out mentorship, finding people who support you unequivocally.
“There’s no limitation to what you can do.”
