Exploring Life & Business with Shelby Linka of Linka & Associates CPA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Linka.

Hi Shelby, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Accounting runs in my family both my grandfather and father were accountants so following in their footsteps felt like a natural path for me. I majored in accounting at California State University, Northridge where I developed a strong interest in accounting and decided to pursue it more seriously. Early in my career I worked at Gumbiner Savett Inc and Nadel CPA Inc which instrumental in shaping my technical skills, professional discipline, and overall understanding of client service. After two decades of experience and building strong client relationships I launched my own firm in 2020.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall, the road has been fairly smooth. The early years of mentorship were valuable to me. Upon reflection I should have started my own practice sooner. The most difficult part was navigating the professional and political aspects of breaking away and starting independently. In hindsight, I could have made that transition 10 years earlier since I already built the experience and client base necessary to succeed on my own.

Since starting my own firm, the biggest challenges have come from growth. We’ve expanded quickly and with that comes with growing pains especially when we haven’t had enough staff to support the growth. Because we value high quality service, quick response time, professionalism, and efficiency, it has required careful planning and the ability to adjust quickly as the firm continues to evolve.

What’s next?
Our focus moving forward is steady, strategic growth. The firm has been growing rapidly, and we expect that trend to continue. Our priority is building the right team and implementing strong systems to improve efficiency while maintaining the level of service our clients expect. We are actively working toward streamlining communication, simplifying document exchange, and making deadlines clearer. With the goal of making the tax process easier for our clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linkacpa.com/