About the Firm (Me).

A Non-Traditional Approach to Traditional Expertise

"Non-traditional" has always been the most accurate way to describe me. I "started" college at eighteen but didn't finish until eleven years later. Earning my BSc Accounting and Master of Accountancy only took six years in all—not because I was dragging my feet, but because I was busy soaking in the world and passing the CPA exam.

While in college, I spent a year living in France, learning the language and immersing myself in the culture of one of the world's finest food and wine regions, the Rhône-Alpes city of Lyon. Later, I capped off my master's degree by studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark during the summer of 2008. Those experiences were profoundly educational beyond the classroom and syllabus. They taught me what actually matters in life: working hard, staying present, enjoying our work as much as our play, and operating with high ethics and basic human decency—values that shouldn't need to be stated, but absolutely do.

Big Four Pedigree, Misfit Mentality

After school, I earned my CPA and started in the Audit and Enterprise Risk Services (AERS) practice at Deloitte in Charlotte, NC. As a 31-year-old first-year auditor, it was a bit awkward, but invaluable. By the time I made senior, I knew the partner track wasn't for me. It just wasn't my thing. I wanted to maintain my non-traditional edge and find a better fit, a better "mis-fit", if you will. Because I apply my misfit, underdog mentality in everything I do.

I am scrappy, hard-working, and ethical. My methods are practical and not rooted in an AI model. I am personal. I like to connect and I love to learn.

Moving on from the Big Four, I embraced roles that allowed me to wear a lot of hats. Over the years, I have served as an:

Chief Audit Executive
Senior Internal Auditor
FP&A Senior Consultant
Internal Controls SME
Management and Leadership Consultant
Corporate Policy Writer
Non-profit Treasurer and Board member

My career has spanned a fascinating mix of complex industries, including aerospace and defense manufacturing, packaging, dental manufacturing, tribal government and gaming, energy, and banking.

This work has taken me all over the globe, from the Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France, and the historic streets of Torino, Italy, to Tianjin, China, and the beautiful Green Mountains of Vergennes, Vermont. Now, I am happily based in Portland, Oregon and the Willamette Valley.

Community at the Core

Outside the office, community matters deeply to me. I previously served as the three-year Treasurer of my local homebrew club, where we hosted an annual beer festival that raised over $750,000 for charity over 15 years. Until March, I sat on the Board of the Yamhill Community Action Partnership (YCAP), providing governance and oversight for their critical local mission.

Why Sean Murphy CPA | CIA | Consulting?

Our mission is simple: to help you solve problems and give you your free time back.

I founded this firm the year before the pandemic because I genuinely love helping people. I operate as a trusted advisor who isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves, do the heavy lifting, and provide a credible challenge when things need to be improved.

Here at the firm, we love to work. We are present and decisive. We love accomplishing goals and earning rewards, but we also fiercely cherish our personal time. We tackle everything with drive, passion, and a sense of urgency (unless, of course, we are intentionally taking it easy). We are a free-thinking, open-minded, and welcome all people in our ranks. We value merit over tenure and have learned that the best ideas come from creating a workplace that is safe, open and values everyone's input and credible challenge.

Our question to you is simple and timeless as service providers: How can we help you?