Durran Dunn Discusses Journey From CPA To Partner

Earlier than turning into a associate at Bennett Thrasher and a revered voice in accounting, Durran Dunn was a monitor athlete and an nameless crowd favourite at Atlanta Braves video games, the place he entertained followers as a full-body-suited mascot generally known as “The Freeze.” However in response to a July 9 episode of the Journal of Accountancy podcast, Dunn’s path to skilled success wasn’t all the time clear or typical.

Hosted by Neil Amato, the latest episode featured a dialogue on Dunn’s journey from being a collegiate sprinter to working in accounting.

“I didn’t know what a CPA was till my senior 12 months of school,” Dunn admitted.

“I didn’t develop up across the career. I simply checked the accounting field on the listing of majors as a result of it was on the high. It turned out to be the most effective selections of my life.”

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Dunn’s adolescence included dramatic transitions—from the Caribbean to New York and later to Mississippi, the place he earned athletic and educational scholarships to the College of Southern Mississippi. There, Dunn pursued accounting whereas operating monitor.

“I used to be doing 21 credit score hours a semester whereas competing within the 100m, 200m, 4×100, and 4×400 relays,” he defined to host Neil Amato. “I didn’t even know you may change your main. I used to be simply all in.”

That very same self-discipline carried over into his skilled life. Now a frontrunner in Danger Advisory Providers, Dunn focuses on inside audit, compliance, ESG readiness, and enterprise problem-solving.

“You may’t outwork me,” Dunn informed Amato. “I’m in all probability not the neatest or most proficient, however I’ll get it carried out.”

Dunn credit a lot of his skilled philosophy to his athletic background.

“Every little thing about getting ready for competitors—coaching, focus, execution—applies on to enterprise,” he mentioned. “I consider optimum outcomes come from being absolutely current within the second.”

Past his profession, Dunn is dedicated to mentoring younger professionals, particularly college students who, like him, might not initially concentrate on the alternatives throughout the accounting area. He opened up on the Journal of Accountancy Podcast to spotlight {that a} main level of ambition for him is to be a mentor.

“I’m going into excessive faculties and speak to college students who don’t even know what a CPA is. The career discovered me, and I wish to pay that ahead,” he mentioned. “It saved my life.”

Dunn additionally emphasised the significance of range within the area. “There’s a variety of discuss getting extra range into the pipeline. I consider we’ve to begin early—with consciousness and entry,” he acknowledged.

For Dunn, lifelong studying stays important. “I’m a pupil of all the pieces I contact,” he mentioned. “Even now, as a associate, I’m nonetheless studying on daily basis. That mindset will take you far—it doesn’t matter what path you select.”

Dunn left Amato with a chunk of recommendation to finish the interview.

Dunn suggested, “Be disciplined, remedy issues, talk nicely, and all the time be studying.”

Dunn’s exhausting work has been paying off in recent times. The previous Jamaican sprinter was honored in 2024 by Forbes’ inaugural listing as a member of the highest 200 licensed public accountants.

Extra not too long ago, Dunn launched his first official web site on July 1. The positioning showcases clips of his motivational talking work, media appearances, and testimonials.

By means of the positioning, organizations can ebook Dunn for each talking occasions and breakout classes.

Dunn wrote of the web site launch, “This has been a divine mission rooted in my mission to encourage, empower, and problem people and organizations to push past limits and lead with objective. Whether or not you’re planning a convention, company retreat, pupil occasion, or management summit – I’m right here to ship a message that strikes individuals and drives motion.”

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