Director Nate Kulla with CFO Joseph Higgins networking at a St. Louis alumni reception.Alum Joseph Higgins is now CFO at J.D. Streett & Co., a century-old provider of industrial petroleum products. Joseph shares his experience transitioning to the new role, the impact of energy on the state of the world, and how relationships from our firm helped bring him to where he is today.
Joseph, you joined the firm in 2011. Why did you join the team?
After I graduated, I was working at a small, local public accounting firm. I had family in the business, and I thought I would give that a try. There would’ve been a future for me there, but it wasn’t for me. It was mostly tax, which I wasn’t really interested in, and they weren’t keeping up with technology.
Then I ran into a high school friend in Chicago, and he was working at [legacy firm] BKD. I told him I was looking to make a switch, and he set me up with their recruiter. Another college friend (who also worked for the firm) put in a good word for me too, and it must have worked because I wound up joining the firm as an associate in the St. Louis office.
Fast forward a few years and you’re now in the petroleum business. Did you think that was where your career would take you?
Not at all. To be honest, I’m a bit of a tree hugger. I felt pretty confident about the renewable energy industry—that carbon emission standards would go into effect soon, and all that. But looking back, as I was stepping into my new role, I realize I was somewhat naïve about how the energy industry works, and how reliant the country (and the world at large) is on fossil fuels.
I still think renewable energy is great, and there’s definitely an industry there, waiting to be built. But petroleum is everywhere and in almost everything. Even if you were to cut fossil fuels from your own manufacturing, for example, you still have to distribute your products. That takes trucks, trains, or boats that are powered by diesel, which brings you back to petroleum.
I think it’s really easy to be fanciful about the future, to think “we’ll just put solar panels on everything,” but that really undersells how big the industry is, and how reliant the economy is on fossil fuels. The breadth of impact is enormous. It’s a much bigger spiderweb than most consumers can understand or appreciate. I’ve come to realize that I work for a company that supplies an essential product that the entire world depends on.
Alumni Nathan Jividian, Kayla Reynolds, and Joseph Higgins connecting at a Alumni Network reception with Forvis Mazars Partner Kevin Ives.
Now you’re the CFO at J.D. Streett. How did that happen?
When I was a senior manager, I came to a crossroads in my career. If I were to advance up the ladder to partner, I’d most likely have to relocate to a larger city. I had just become a new parent, so moving was out of the question. I decided to look at opportunities in the private industry, and I got connected with the former CFO at J.D. Streett. We had a conversation where we both hit it off, and I joined their team as the controller. The former CFO was very upfront with me about wanting to train me to become the eventual CFO, so I spent the first few years preparing for that, and here I am.
How did your work at Forvis Mazars help prepare you for this new role?
Public accounting forces you to learn good time management, communication, and project management, but soft people skills are what the work teaches you most of all. You can have great technical knowledge and be considered an expert, but you can always look up a GAAP standard or a tax regulation. The people skills are the ones that help you excel the most in your career.
Becoming a manager truly ingrained those skills in me. Providing constructive criticism, giving performance reviews, having hard conversations—all those things you want in your toolbox. I am lucky to have gained these valuable skills during my time at the firm.
What does it mean to you personally to be a Forvis Mazars alum?
The relationships I formed at the firm made a positive impact on me. I still keep in touch with Mark Prouhet (current partner at Forvis Mazars), who’s actually my neighbor. I stay connected with many peers by going golfing together. Ryan Kelly (current partner at Forvis Mazars) is our relationship manager now, and we shared a cubicle wall when I started at the firm in 2011. I can call him up and ask questions anytime. Knowing my team at the firm both professionally and personally is valuable and meaningful.
More About Joseph Higgins
- Graduated from Truman State University with B.S. and M.S. degrees in accounting
- Married to Jessica since 2013
- Has two sons, William (born in 2016) and Theo (born in 2020)
- Previously served on the board of Forest Park Forever, a St. Louis-based nonprofit that partners with the city of St. Louis to restore, maintain, and sustain Forest Park
Joseph Higgins with his family.
