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Busy CPA finds time for local Willowbrook/Burr Ridge Chamber
Brad Kmetz of Aurora, a certified public accountant, works in his Willowbrook office and is on the board of directors of the Willowbrook/Burr Ridge Chamber of Commerce in charge of public relations. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media
By the numbers
Name: Brad Kmetz
Occupation: senior accountant, CPA
Hometown: Aurora
Latest project: Willowbrook/Burr Ridge Chamber’s Junior Advisory Committee
Article Extras
Updated: May 20, 2013 2:21AM
WILLOWBROOK — Brad Kmetz has never applied for a job.
“I’ve never gone on a job interview,” Kmetz said.
But that doesn’t mean his road to the position of senior accountant at Kmetz Financial Services in Willowbrook has been a cake walk. He started out at his father’s business stuffing envelopes and worked his way up from there.
It didn’t take nearly as long for Kmetz to find his way to a couple of leadership positions with the Willowbrook/Burr Ridge Chamber of Commerce. A member for eight years, Kmetz said he only recently got involved beyond attending an occasional luncheon.
“It’s amazing what you get out of it, the more you get involved,” said Kmetz, who recently joined the Chamber’s board of directors.
As a board member he is serving on the golf outing committee and heading up the publicity committee. He also is working to organize newer members to form a Junior Advisory Committee.
“We’re working to get younger members involved,” said Kmetz, who at 39 is himself considered a junior member.
“It’s really not age based,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is to get some more, different involvement in the Chamber.”
Those interested in serving on the Junior Advisory Committee can contact Kmetz at bkmetz@kmetzfinancial.com.
With tax deadlines looming, this is a particularly busy time of year for the certified public accountant. Together, James and Brad Kmetz prepare as many as 600 individual tax returns and more than 120 business returns each year.
“We don’t consider ourselves small,” said Kmetz, who specializes on the business clients, which include companies of every size.
Kmetz dismisses the public perception that accounting is boring. He said every client is different, and he enjoys designing tax planning strategies that minimize each client’s tax liability.
“I enjoy watching their businesses grow,” said Kmetz, who also provides clients with financial planning.
Kmetz said he learned more than accounting from his father. No matter how busy tax season gets, he always has time for family.
“Every away game, my dad was there. Every home game, he was at,” Kmetz said.
The father of two said he looks forward to attending his own childrens’ events when they get a little older.
“Being self-employed affords you that opportunity,” he said.
