From film junkie to crunching numbers, Charity Tandiang is jumping into action in her short tenure here at Mills James. A degree in Finance can take you many places, one of the reasons Charity chose this path, but little did she know it would lead her to an industry where she got to work alongside some of the most talented people in our industry. When she isn’t at a Lagree class, she’s studying for her second degree. Hear more from Charity below:
I have been at Mills James for 1.5 years!
What did your life look like before MJ?
I started off in Sales/Insurance and worked my way up to be a Staff Accountant, all while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
What's the most surprising thing you've learned at Mills James so far?
I was a film junkie as a kid and would faithfully watch the Oscars each year. Working at Mills James has opened my eyes to the fact that the people behind the camera have to be just as talented as the people on screen. I have watched the various teams at Mills James pull together some incredible work with little to work with, and that takes a lot of talent.
What led you to a career in this industry?
In finance there is a lot of opportunity to step into different roles or work for niche industries. As a film junkie, this has been my favorite accounting role so far because it’s allowed me to get a glimpse at the behind the scenes aspect of film.
What is your favorite part of being on the Accounting team?
We juggle a lot for every single department in the company. I like the fact that we always work together to get it done. We help each other out, and even though we are “the team behind the scenes” we enjoy seeing the work that gets completed by the MJ teams.
Tell us about a professional success story that you’re proud of.
I graduate from Franklin University in December with a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management. Next January I will begin pursuing my second bachelor’s degree in line with healthcare. I’ve done this while working full-time in Accounting for the past 4 years, and I will be the first in my family to graduate. I’m proud of that.
Do you have any interesting hobbies?
In my limited free time I enjoy teaching Lagree fitness classes a few times a week, binge reading fantasy books, and quality time with my husband and our pups.
What are you looking forward to in your future?
Opportunities that I don’t even know about yet. I have lived a few lifetimes since I started college five years ago. I am excited to see where I will be at the end of my second degree.