When Kris Lepka made the decision to leave the Big 4 and join Maillie, he knew it was the right thing for his young family. What he didn’t expect was just how much that move would enhance his perspective on leadership, open new doors in his career, and allow him to make a meaningful impact each day for his clients and himself.
Q: You didn’t start out planning to be an accountant. What changed?
I actually started college majoring in occupational therapy. After struggling with a really tough anatomy lab, I was working at my part-time deli job and happened to sit in on a benefits meeting. Something about the financial planning side of the conversation just clicked and I was fully dialed in. I’ve always been good with numbers, and I started thinking right there and then that maybe this is more my path.
I wound up transferring to West Chester University the next year for a fresh start. Once I took my first accounting class, that was it. I was hooked. I found the coursework really satisfying, especially tax. It’s structured and there’s a sense of closure when everything balances out. I love that feeling of accomplishment.
Q: Any career advice that’s stuck with you?
Absolutely. A professor at West Chester, who also led our internship program, was big on networking. He said it constantly: network, network, network. And it’s true. That’s how I found my way to Maillie. A recruiter reached out to me with a message on LinkedIn that didn’t feel automated or generic like something written by ChatGPT. It was personal and stood out from the rest.
I had just come back from paternity leave and was facing a long commute into Philly from West Chester. I was working for one of the Big 4, which for many is a dream job, but I wanted to be closer to home at a place that offered me similar challenge. The timing was right with that recruiter outreach, and when I went through the interview process at Maillie, I knew I’d found the right fit.
Q: What stood out about the interview process?
It felt different, and I mean that in the best way. I was interviewed by two partners and three people from HR, but it didn’t feel like a panel grilling me. It was a conversation. Of course, they asked technical questions to make sure I knew my stuff, but they also genuinely wanted to know who I was as a person. They were looking for fit, not just experience. That told me a lot about the culture here, and it set the tone for everything that followed.
Q: What’s different about the culture of leadership at Maillie?
Leadership is very hands-on here. In our West Chester office, we have three partners and two principals, and while we are hybrid, they’re in the office most days and especially during tax season. For me and the entire team that means we never go it alone. They’re right there in it with us, grinding through the tough deadlines. That’s what leadership looks like at Maillie. It’s all about leading by example.
Q: How have you grown since joining the firm?
In a lot of ways. One of the biggest opportunities has been helping build out our trust and estate planning practice. It’s always been an area of interest for me, and I joined right as one of our partners was looking to expand that specialty. It was perfect timing. I’ve had the freedom and encouragement to dive in, build resources, and even become a point person across the firm when questions come up. I wouldn’t have had that kind of runway somewhere else at this stage in my career.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?
I really love client service and seeing the impact. For example, I often work with families who run small and successful businesses. These aren’t just tax returns. They’re people’s livelihoods and their life’s work. The stakes feel more personal, and that makes much of the work I do more meaningful.
Q: You’re also helping develop talent internally. What’s that experience been like?
It’s one of the most fulfilling parts of the job. I’ve been encouraged not just to keep learning myself, but also to step up as a trainer and mentor. Over the past year, I’ve led several trainings for our newer staff accountants. And I’ve seen the difference it makes. This tax season, I noticed people referencing the tools and materials we created and asking fewer repeat questions. That tells me something stuck. That’s a win for all of us.
Q: How’s the work-life balance? Has it delivered what you hoped?
Absolutely. I live 10 minutes from the office instead of commuting 50 minutes each way. That gives me more time with my wife and our 2-year-old son, which means everything right now. Maillie has also given me the flexibility to shift my schedule when needed like when my wife had grad school classes during the day and I needed to take over on daycare pickup. There was never any pushback. The mindset here is you know what you need to do and get it done. That trust makes all the difference.
Q: What’s next for you?
I’m aiming for partner, no doubt about it. I want to continue growing our trust and estate practice and help build a team that can take us to the next level. There’s a lot of opportunity here and I’m so excited to be part of it.
