Meet TSCPA Member: Luis Ortiz, CPA
The journey to a career as a CPA can take many paths. For TSCPA member Luis Ortiz, CPA, his journey has taken him from his native country of Honduras all the way to Nashville. “Growing up, I had a drive to pursue higher education in the U.S.,” he says. When recruiters from Trevecca Nazarene University visited his high school in Honduras, Ortiz recalls, “My college counselor took me out of class so I could meet them since she thought it would be a great match, and she was right. Soon after graduating high school, I moved to Nashville to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Trevecca.” Fast forward to today, and Ortiz works as a senior associate in international tax at EY. “It’s fantastic; there is never a dull moment in my day-to-day.”
Early Life
Born in Honduras, Ortiz grew up in San Pedro Sula with his parents and older brother. “I was fortunate to attend the Escuela Internacional Sampedrana (EIS), a prestigious school where I had a full American curriculum,” he says. “During my high school years, I took a particular interest in public speaking and debating. I was part of the school’s Model United Nations club (MUN) and even got to travel to New York City for one of the conferences.”
Meaningful Mentorship
Ortiz says he is grateful for those who have helped him along his career path, citing mentors from his college years as well as internships as his greatest influences. “During my formative years at Trevecca, my biggest proponents were professors Greg Runyan and Allen Jinnette,” he says. “My other mentor that has kept up with my journey to this day is Alejandro Lorenz. He was also an international student at Trevecca, originally from Argentina, and also pursued accounting as a career. I was looking for an internship during my sophomore year, and he offered to have me be his assistant. In the year that I worked with Alex, I developed all of my fundamentals.”
A Global Career
In his work at EY, Ortiz focuses on international tax issues, including cross-border transactions, tax planning and compliance/reporting. “The work is dynamic, and I get to collaborate with a team filled with subject matter experts with either tax accounting or tax law backgrounds,” he says. “My clients are mostly multinationals with footprints across more than one jurisdiction.”
Advice for Future CPAs
For students considering an accounting career, Ortiz recommends taking into consideration your other hobbies and passions when determining which area of accounting to pursue. “I think what is truly special about accounting is how it can fuel your personal life outside of work,” he says. “If you like to travel, you can go into consulting or advisory roles. If you prefer to stay in place, tax work doesn’t require travel. Similarly, if you are interested in how businesses work, auditing might be a great place to learn the inner workings.”
On TSCPA Membership
As a TSCPA member, Ortiz says he most enjoys the community environment within the society and getting to know other members. “I’ve been able to meet business owners, fellow tax accountants, CFOs and VPs, all because of the three letters behind my name. I have expanded my network of friends just by attending TSCPA events and volunteering.”
Favorite Advice
When asked about the best piece of advice he has ever received, Ortiz says, “This came straight from Alex Lorenz. I was working on a tax return, and I approached him and asked if I could ask a stupid question – to which he replied that those are his favorite kind. He explained that it is preferred if I ask those types of questions rather than walking away with a doubt in my head. Through my first few years out of school, I would struggle to ask questions I deemed stupid, but I would always remember Alex’s response and ask all the questions needed until I understood my task.”
This article was originally published in the November/December 2024 Tennessee CPA Journal.