Class of 2016 alumna Lauren Bean, CPA, has held various leadership roles in public accounting, consulting, and executive positions including CFO. She discusses her career evolution and why embracing uncertainty became her greatest advantage.
In an era where financial leadership demands both analytical precision and strategic vision, Lauren Bean exemplifies the modern finance professional. The Portland native and PSU School of Business graduate has navigated a deliberately diverse career path that led her from public accounting to the C-suite.
What sets Bean apart isn't just her technical expertise—it's her philosophy of strategic uncertainty. While some professionals successfully follow structured paths, Bean has built hers on purposful risks and adaptive thinking.
"The most transformative moments in my career came when I said yes to opportunities I wasn't fully prepared for," Bean reflects. "That's where I've grown the most—by stepping into the unknown and discovering strengths I didn't know I had."
The Portland State Advantage: Where Theory Meets Market Reality
Bean's connection to Portland State runs deeper than geographical convenience. As a Portland native who briefly ventured elsewhere only to return home, she recognized that PSU offered something distinctive: faculty who lived in both academic and corporate worlds.
"The fact that so many faculty at PSU lived in both academic and corporate worlds gave the classes real-world depth," she says. "One of my professors was the CFO of a major oil company, another ran their own consulting firm. That kind of practical insight helped me bridge the gap between theory and application."
That bridge proved transformative. A former finance professor eventually became her business partner in a consulting venture, and one of their clients ended up hiring her as CFO. "If you had told me as a student that one of my professors would become my business partner, or that consulting work would lead to my role as a CFO—I wouldn't have believed it. But PSU made it possible."
Strategic Breadth in a Specialization-Driven Field
While the accounting profession typically rewards deep specialization, Bean deliberately pursued breadth—a decision that has served her well as the accounting field continues to evolve. Her early career spanned tax and audit work across multiple industries, creating a foundation of cross-sector insight that proved invaluable.
This interdisciplinary approach aligns with what Bean sees as the future. Accounting leaders now play a crucial role in formulating, evaluating, and implementing strategic choices that impact the performance of an organization, requiring skills that extend far beyond traditional accounting competencies.
"The convergence of technology, regulatory complexity, and global market dynamics means CFOs and senior finance professionals need to be strategic generalists," Bean observes. "Deep technical knowledge is still essential. The differentiator is your ability to synthesize information across disciplines and translate financial insights into business strategy."
Investment Management: Finding Purpose Through Exploration
Bean's current focus on investment management and alternative assets wasn't part of any master plan—it emerged through exploration and openness to new possibilities.
"It just goes to show how important it is to explore and not box yourself in too early," she reflects. "And personally, I didn't know I'd love investment management until I gave it a try. Now I'm genuinely passionate about it—and I wouldn't have known that if I'd stayed in my comfort zone."
Her forensic audit role at Variant Investments combines her accounting foundation with investigative analysis, requiring both technical precision and strategic thinking. The role represents the kind of specialized path that can only be discovered through experience and willingness to venture into unfamiliar territory.
Leadership Philosophy: Balancing Risk and Growth
Bean's approach to leadership reflects her broader career philosophy: strategic risk-taking combined with strong foundational skills. She particularly advocates for women in finance to move beyond perfectionism and embrace challenges.
"Research shows a 14% to 40% gender gap in job applications—women typically apply only when they meet all qualifications," she notes. "That gap compounds over time into significant career trajectory differences. Learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable isn't just personal development—it's a professional strategy."
Her perspective extends beyond individual career management to organizational culture as well. "I work at Variant Investments now, and they've supported me through personal challenges like recovering from an ACL injury. That kind of flexibility and empathy—it's the future of the workplace." She believes organizations that support the whole person ultimately drive better business outcomes: "It's not just about employee satisfaction—it's about unlocking human potential for competitive advantage."
The Scholarship Catalyst: Investment in Transformation
Bean's PSU experience was nearly derailed by financial constraints during her senior year. Despite working full-time while maintaining federal and state aid and loans, she faced a funding gap that threatened to force a deferral of graduation.
A last-minute scholarship—the Joe O'Rourke Memorial—closed the gap. "It meant everything."
The experience reinforced her understanding of how strategic investments in education create exponential returns, both for individuals and institutions. "PSU's commitment to accessible education creates opportunities that ripples through the community."
Advice for the Next Generation of Professionals: Strategic Risk-Taking
Embrace Foundational Excellence: "Your CPA license and core competencies create your safety net. When you have strong fundamentals, you can afford to take intelligent risks because you're always employable."
Apply for Challenging Roles: "Some of my biggest career advances came from applying for positions where I met 70% of the qualifications. I leaned into my ability to learn—and that opened the door to some of my biggest career advances.”
Build Strategic Relationships: "Your network isn't just about who you know—it's about who knows your capabilities and character. Invest in relationships that create value."
The Evolution of Accounting & Finance Leadership
Looking ahead, Bean sees her profession continuing to evolve toward greater strategic integration within organizations. Technology, particularly AI, is automating routine tasks while elevating the importance of analytical thinking and strategic judgment.
"Portland's business community is particularly well-positioned for this transition," she observes. "There's a culture here of valuing both technical and innovative thinking."
For Bean, success isn't measured only in titles or compensation, but in the ability to create value through thoughtful risk-taking. "Looking back, every major career breakthrough came from saying yes to something I wasn't completely ready for," she concludes. "The key is building enough foundational strength that you can handle the uncertainty—and then having the courage to step into it and create success."