Meet our alumni

Kellie Logerwell

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, H&R Block

Enjoying what you do

During a recent conversation, Kellie Logerwell opened about what’s kept her at one company for 26 years and how she successfully grew both her career and her family during that time.

What were your early years like?

I grew up in Kearney, Missouri, a small town, just north of Kansas City, with my parents and three siblings. My mom was a teacher. My dad was a salesman. I was very involved in sports growing up.

What drew you toward accounting?

During my junior year of high school, I took an accounting class and we did a project where we were given a shoebox filled with a company's documents and receipts and had to figure out how to make the financial statements work. That hooked me. I went to the University of Missouri in Columbia, I got my accounting degree, and started working at PwC after I graduated.

What was your experience like at PwC?

It was a great place to start my career. Being at such a big firm allowed me to interact with many different types of companies and different types of audit projects. What I loved most was how much I learned in the five years I spent at PwC. I also enjoyed the opportunity to teach as I got more experienced and I led the month-long training for new hires.

Any lasting lessons from working at PwC that still resonate with you today?

There are many lessons, but the biggest one for me has been the importance of developing good relationships with people. Whether externally or internally, your relationships can make a big impact on your career.

After PwC, you moved onto H&R Block. What’s kept you there for the majority of your career?

I just really enjoy what I do. I’ve also been very fortunate to have had so many opportunities to continue to grow and develop with H&R Block. I think if I did the same thing all the time, I would be bored, but that’s never been the case here. I’ve had such a wide range of experiences over the past 26 years, including now leading a team of 30+ people, both here in Kansas City and in Trivandrum, India, and that’s something I’m truly grateful for.

How would you describe yourself as a leader?

I try to be a good listener and really try to stay connected to my team. I want to make sure everybody feels like they belong. And I make sure my team knows that I trust them to do their job and empower them to make decisions. I have to also say that video calls have been great for us because they help us get more face-to-face contact, which is important as we work remotely.

Besides video calls, have there been any other post-pandemic changes in how you work?

I think one of the most important things that we learned through the pandemic is that people can be productive when they're at home. They can be productive when we give them flexibility and I think that makes people happier in their jobs. So, I’m very happy that we can offer that flexibility to help with work-life balance for the people on our teams now.

Reflecting on your own career at this point, what makes you most proud?

I'm most proud of the fact that I continue to love what I do and that I’ve been able to set a good example for my kids. My daughter, who’s in college, sometimes jokingly calls me “the girl boss.”. But in all seriousness, I do feel proud that both she and my son, who graduated college and is working now, have seen that it’s possible to have both a successful career and a successful family.

What makes you happy outside of work?

I love cooking. It’s my relaxing time. My husband does almost all the cooking during the week. But on the weekend I like to plan intricate meals that sometimes take all day to cook and try new things. My husband and I love to cook together, and our kids like to cook too.

What leading career advice can you offer others?

Enjoy what you do and ask for what you want. Don’t assume other people will know how you want your career to progress. You have to actually articulate what you want to people who can help you make it happen. And if you’re not sure, or if you feel like you’re at a pivot point but not sure what to do next, ask your manager or a leader on your team if there are other things you can do. Most people really want to help. You just have to ask.