Rooted in Montana, Growing with JCCS: Raeanna’s Journey in Tax Accounting
For Raeanna Richards, a senior accountant in the tax service line at JCCS, the path to a fulfilling career began right at home in Montana. Raised in Lolo, just south of Missoula, Raeanna always knew she wanted to stay close to her roots. “Every time I come back home after vacation, I’m excited to be back. This is where I want to stay,” she says. With hiking trails just minutes away and the natural beauty of Montana all around, Raeanna found the perfect balance of professional opportunity and personal fulfillment at JCCS.
Her journey with JCCS began at a college career fair while studying accounting at the University of Montana. What started as a tax internship quickly turned into a passion. “I didn’t even know that I would like tax,” Raeanna recalls. “I thought I’d move more in the forensic accounting direction, but after my first internship, I realized—I like tax!” That internship, and the mentorship she received, were pivotal. “I felt supported as an intern and felt like I was doing valuable work. That experience is what sold me on JCCS.”
Raeanna completed three internships with JCCS before joining full-time, earning her CPA certification along the way. She credits the firm’s culture of mentorship and growth for her development. “JCCS does a good job of encouraging employees to find their passion and figure out what they’re interested in. They encourage specialization, and they focus on different industries and types of work.”
What keeps Raeanna excited about tax accounting is its dynamic nature. “Every tax return is different. Every client is different. There are always interesting scenarios, planning strategies, and crazy IRS notices to respond to.” She thrives on the diversity and complexity of the work, and she values the collaborative learning environment. “It’s great that a first-year employee and a 20-year shareholder can be learning about the same things together on an equal playing field.”
JCCS’s size and structure also play a big role in Raeanna’s loyalty. “We’re big enough to have interesting, complex, and diverse work and resources, but not so big that I don’t know every employee. I can go through the directory and know who each person is and what department they’re in.” That sense of connection is reinforced at annual meetings and through the firm’s commitment to community involvement, including work with nonprofit clients and charitable events.
For Raeanna, staying in Montana isn’t just a lifestyle choice—it’s a commitment to her community. “I like knowing that what I do at work is helping my community.” Whether she’s hiking, running, rock hounding, or practicing archery, Raeanna is deeply connected to the land and people around her. And at JCCS, she’s found a place where she can grow professionally while staying true to her Montana roots.
