Accounting Newsletter Issue - May 14, 2013

Recently, Anam Khan ’12 had a chance to meet with Theresa Richardson ’96, CPA, and a partner at WithumSmith+Brown, about her journey to becoming one of New Jersey’s Best 50 Women in Business.

Theresa Richardson ’96, CPA, has had an exciting year. She not only became a partner at WithumSmith+Brown, but she was selected as one of New Jersey’s 2013 Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ.  The awards program honors the state’s most dynamic women in business who have been making headlines in their field. 

Richardson attended Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) before transferring to Rider for her junior and senior years. She chose Rider because of its excellent reputation, and felt it fit perfectly with her career goals to become an accountant. Despite working full-time to support her educational expenses, Richardson was very involved while at Rider and even found time to play on the softball team. 

When asked to explain how she was recruited by WithumSmith+Brown, Richardson explained she had not interviewed with the firm and had already received two other full-time offers. However, she knew of Withum’s reputation and when she saw an ad in the newspaper, she decided to apply despite the fact that it called for someone with experience. 

As Richardson recalls, the interview went very well and she was offered a staff position with the firm. It turned out to be a perfect fit, and she was named partner 13 years after joining the firm. 

Along with her successful career and involvement in the community, Richardson serves on the Board of Directors for the Somerset County Business Partnership, The RVCC Foundation, and Rider’s Accounting Advisory Council. She is also the mother of three young children. When asked how she balances everything, Richardson says that she compartmentalizes her professional and family life and does not mix them together.

Thankful for the opportunity a Rider education has provided, Richardson advises current students take advantage of the co-op and internship programs offered at Rider and start building soft skills early on. “I came here because I believed that Rider had the best business school reputation,” she said. “And I still believe that today.”