Many years ago, you might have been more likely to consult with Toby Clary about how to smoke a brisket rather than how to address a complicated tax matter. But thanks to a collegiate wake up call, the accounting profession has benefited from his insight and leadership for more than 30 years.

In its debut as an exclusively digital magazine, the summer issue of NewsAccount, now available online, offers a chance to get to know Clary, who on May 1 began his term as 2024-2025 COCPA Chair.

Now a shareholder with Soukup, Bush & Associates, CPAs, P.C., Fort Collins, Clary wasn’t originally an accounting major when he enrolled at Colorado State University (CSU). Having worked in restaurants, he originally planned to major in business management before attending culinary school. 

But by his sophomore year at CSU, Clary had an epiphany: the restaurant industry is a grind that never lets up, including on weekends and holidays. “I started second-guessing my decision,” he says.

About that time, Clary took his first accounting class, and discovered that not only did he have a natural affinity for the subject, but he also enjoyed it. “I had no accounting experience prior to that class,” he says. “It was all completely foreign to me, but I liked it, and it made sense.” He did not struggle through that first accounting principles class like his friends and classmates did. “The more I learned, the more I was hooked,” he reflects.

Clary officially changed his major, eventually graduating with his accounting degree and joining a small firm of just seven people. After six years, he joined Soukup, Bush & Associates, becoming a partner in 2014.

It’s a decision he has never regretted.

Clary says the love for his clients and the relationships he has forged have kept him in the accounting profession, along with the respect and admiration that he has for the firm’s team. “I love what I do on a daily basis,” he says, “and being a trusted resource for our clients, helping them solve complex problems.”

Clary is Still Cooking

Despite the detour away from a culinary career, Clary still enjoys cooking, and his love of food and wine has remained an important part of his life. When not enjoying the Colorado outdoors with his family – partner Jill, son Miles (13), and daughter Magnolia (10) – he enjoys experiencing new restaurants, cuisines, and wines. He and Jill have made many trips to California’s Napa and Sonoma areas, and traveled to New Zealand on an outdoor adventure that involved wine tasting.

A Passion for the Profession

As Clary dives into his term as COCPA Chair, he is armed with deep gratitude for what the accounting profession has meant in his life, and his enthusiasm extends beyond his Society leadership. He also serves on the CSU Accounting Advisory Board, and his roles with both organizations demonstrate his commitment to helping the accounting profession thrive.

“The accounting profession has done so much for me personally and professionally, and I feel strongly about giving back,” Clary says. “I want to shout from the mountaintop how great it is. It has changed my life and my family’s lives.”

To learn more about the initiatives and issues on which Clary plans to focus during his tenure, read the full article, “From Would-Be Chef to CPA: Toby Clary Takes the Reins as COCPA Chair,” in the summer 2024 issue of NewsAccount.