Stop Chasing Titles, Build a Career That Matters: A CAO’s Advice on Long-Term Success
Troy Ashby and guest Sandra Fendley discuss building a meaningful and sustainable career in accounting without focusing solely on promotions and titles. The conversation highlights the importance of leadership, person-to-person mentorship, and developing a strong professional reputation in the finance industry. Fendley shares her journey and insights from decades of experience in the energy sector.
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Key takeaways
Leadership in finance centers on investing in people, not just processes.
Building a career in accounting involves focusing on relationships and curiosity, rather than chasing titles.
Mentorship and teaching within teams are crucial for organizational development and personal growth.
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Career advice in finance and accounting often centers around promotions, titles, and compensation. But in an era where professionals frequently change jobs every few years—the average American worker now stays in a role for less than four years—industries are facing growing talent shortages and reevaluating what long-term career success looks like. The question many professionals are asking today isn’t just how to move up, but how to build a career that is both meaningful and sustainable.
So what does it look like to build a long-term, fulfilling career in accounting without chasing every title or pay bump along the way?
On this episode of Beyond the Ledger, host Troy Ashby sits down with Sandra Fendley, Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at Vaquero Midstream, to discuss career longevity, leadership, and the power of investing in people. Drawing from more than two decades in the energy industry, Fendley shares how focusing on quality work, strong relationships, and curiosity helped shape a career that includes building accounting organizations from the ground up.
What You’ll Learn…
- Why Leadership Is About Investing in People
- Sandra’s Non-Traditional Start in Accounting
- Discovering Accounting Later in Life
- Building a Career Through Reputation and Relationships
- Lessons from 15 Years at TXU
- Moving Into Highly Technical Accounting Roles
- The Importance of Mentoring and Teaching Teams
- Why Leaders Must Have Hard Conversations
- Building an Accounting Function From Scratch
- Why Chasing Titles Isn’t the Answer
- The Power of Curiosity in Career Growth
Sandra Fendley is a seasoned finance leader with more than 30 years of experience in the energy industry. She currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at Vaquero Midstream, where she’s known for building strong accounting teams and simplifying complex financial processes.
Sandra began her career at TXU, where she first worked with Troy, and has spent decades helping organizations navigate growth, change, and evolving business environments — including the transition from publicly traded companies to private equity–backed organizations. A CPA with an MBA, Sandra combines deep financial expertise with a genuine passion for people and mentorship.
Outside of work, Sandra is an avid reader who goes through nearly 100 books a year. She also loves traveling, hiking, and getting creative with crafts. She’s a proud wife, mom of two sons, and grandmother to one very special granddaughter, and she’s deeply committed to her faith and serving others.
Article written by MarketScale.
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About the author
Troy Ashby is President at Benchmark Search and host of Beyond the Ledger, where he talks with the leaders, innovators, and professionals shaping accounting and finance.
