Jessica Sawyer, Showcased By Influential Women, Leads With Purpose, Perseverance, And Practical Tax Expertise

PROVIDENCE, RI, UNITED STATES, September 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — A Seasoned Tax Professional and Regional Practice Leader, Jessica Combines Technical Expertise with Empathy, Determination, and a Commitment to Helping Clients and Colleagues Thrive

Jessica (Jessi) Sawyer has built a career in accounting and taxation defined by perseverance, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to helping others. As a partner and regional tax practice leader at Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, she leads tax strategy and consulting services across the New England region, drawing on more than 20 years of experience in accounting and finance to help individuals, businesses, and closely held companies navigate complex financial decisions.

Jessi’s professional journey reflects the same determination that has guided her throughout her life. A Certified Public Accountant with deep experience in tax consulting, compliance, and planning, she works with clients across manufacturing, distribution, construction, real estate, life sciences, and professional services. Her work encompasses corporate, partnership, trust, and individual taxation, as well as complex tax issues, credits and incentives, and strategic planning intended to improve financial outcomes and operational efficiency.

At the heart of Jessi’s approach is the belief that tax strategy should be practical and understandable. Clients often come to her with questions about how to structure their businesses more effectively, reduce tax burdens, and make decisions that support their long-term goals. Jessi brings extensive technical knowledge to those conversations while focusing on translating complicated tax concepts into clear, actionable guidance.

Her path to becoming a partner and regional tax leader was not one she necessarily anticipated when she began her career. As the first person in her family to attend college, Jessi discovered an aptitude for accounting while in high school. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Bridgewater State University before entering the industry and spending her early career developing hands-on experience.

After almost a decade in the profession, Jessi continued her education by earning a Master of Science in Taxation from Northeastern University. Completing her master’s degree and CPA certification while raising two young children close in age required an extraordinary level of determination and organization. Rather than viewing those responsibilities as separate from her professional aspirations, Jessi learned how to integrate the different priorities of her life.

That experience continues to influence the way she approaches leadership today.

Jessi describes her philosophy through the concept of work-life integration rather than traditional work-life balance. She recognizes that balance does not always mean dividing time evenly between professional and personal responsibilities. Some days may involve less work and more time with family, while other days may require more work and less sleep. Sometimes, the two sides of life may exist in greater harmony.

For Jessi, the important consideration is understanding what matters most in the moment and being fully present for it.

Her family remains one of her greatest sources of motivation. Jessi wants to demonstrate to her children that they can do anything. That philosophy extends beyond her personal life and informs the way she works with colleagues, mentors professionals, and approaches leadership.

Jessi attributes her success to hard work, determination, and a refusal to accept limitations placed on her. She also credits the support and love of her family, acknowledging that their encouragement has been an essential part of everything she has accomplished. Simply put, without them standing behind her, she would not be able to accomplish her professional goals.

One of the most meaningful pieces of career advice Jessi received was not to take things personally. She believes that most feedback and workplace challenges are not ultimately about a person’s worth or character. Instead, constructive feedback can provide an opportunity to learn, improve, and develop.

She has also learned the importance of remaining authentic. Jessi believes professionals should bring their genuine selves into conversations rather than feeling pressured to conform to someone else’s expectations. In an industry that has historically presented challenges for women, she has particularly valued the role empathy can play in leadership.

Jessi recognizes that people may sometimes perceive emotional awareness as a weakness, but she views empathy differently. For her, being able to understand people and connect with them can make someone a more effective leader. She believes that embracing her identity, values, and belief system rather than sacrificing them to fit an external expectation has been central to her development.

Her leadership philosophy also emphasizes flexibility. Jessi encourages professionals to find a career structure that genuinely works for their lives, rather than assuming there is only one correct path.

Her own experience in both public accounting and private industry has shaped that perspective. She notes that public accounting can offer forms of flexibility that private industry historically has not, while both environments have their own benefits and challenges. Rather than automatically recommending one path, Jessi encourages people to consider what they want from their careers, understand the advantages and demands of each environment, and determine how those factors align with their broader life goals.

She also believes those decisions should be revisited regularly.

Career ambitions can change as circumstances change, and Jessi’s own trajectory illustrates that point. Earlier in her career, she never expected to become the New England tax practice leader at Citrin Cooperman. In fact, when she was a senior, she recalls not even wanting her manager’s job. Over time, however, her priorities, responsibilities, and ambitions evolved, ultimately leading her to the partner level and regional leadership.

That evolution is part of the message she shares with others: a career does not have to follow a predetermined mold.

Jessi encourages professionals not to abandon an opportunity simply because it does not initially appear to be exactly what they want. Instead, she recommends talking with the right people, understanding the possibilities, and making an effort to shape the experience around individual strengths and interests.

She applies that philosophy to leadership as well. If someone enjoys certain aspects of their role but struggles with others, Jessi looks for ways to increase the responsibilities they find meaningful while reducing those that are less aligned with their goals. She acknowledges that no position will ever be perfect, but believes leaders can make a significant difference by listening and trying to create an experience in which people can thrive.

The accounting profession itself continues to evolve, presenting new challenges for Jessi and her peers. For many years, she observed that one of the industry’s greatest difficulties was attracting people to accounting. Long hours, technical demands, and a rapidly changing financial and tax environment have sometimes made the profession difficult to promote to prospective professionals.

Today, another major transformation is taking place through artificial intelligence.

Jessi believes AI provides huge opportunities for those who are flexible and open to adaptability. She believes it’s crucial to set the expectation that every team member is actively exploring how AI can improve their work, accelerate learning, share what they learn, and apply those insights to better serve clients.

Throughout these changes, Jessi remains grounded in the part of her work that matters most to her: helping people. Her role in tax allows her to assist clients with decisions that can have meaningful financial consequences, from improving tax efficiency to structuring businesses in ways that support continued growth.

That impact can be particularly significant for small businesses and their owners. By helping clients make informed financial decisions and understand their tax options, Jessi contributes to the financial stability and continued development of the businesses she serves.

Her professional credentials reflect the depth of her expertise. Jessi holds a Master of Science in Taxation from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Bridgewater State University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and maintains professional memberships with the Massachusetts Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. She is a former member of the Tax Executive Committee at the AICPA as a volunteer and also a Providence Business News 40 under 40 award recipient.

Yet for Jessi, professional accomplishment is only one part of a meaningful career. Her broader goal is to create an environment where people can succeed without sacrificing the values that matter to them.

Her guiding philosophy is captured in her own words: balancing life’s demands can feel like a war with yourself, but ultimately, she believes people push through by sheer will and determination. There is, in her view, nothing more powerful than a stubborn refusal to quit.

That determination has carried Jessi from being the first in her family to attend college to becoming a CPA, a tax partner, and a regional practice leader. It continues to guide how she serves clients, supports colleagues, embraces change, and makes room for the people who matter most.

For Jessi Sawyer, success is not simply about reaching another professional milestone. It is about continuing to learn, helping others move forward, remaining true to her values, and being present for the people and priorities that give her work meaning.

Learn More about Jessica R. Sawyer:

Through her Influential Women profile, https://influentialwomen.com/connect/jessica-sawyer-1

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