Employee Spotlight: Carrie Bryant, Tablespoon's Director of Client Success

Meet Carrie Bryant, Tablespoon's Director of Client Success. May marks six years since joining the Tablespoon team! We are excited to celebrate this big milestone with Carrie and tell you a little bit more about her, and why she loves working at Tablespoon.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in in the West Kootenays in south-eastern British Columbia, Canada. After meeting my husband at a restaurant conference, I moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2001 to help open and manage restaurants for Boston’s Gourmet Pizza, a Canadian restaurant chain headquartered in Dallas, TX for its U.S. operations.

What’s your background?

I started in the restaurant industry at 16 doing prep and answering phones at a local pizza spot. A few restaurants later, I had worked my way through every position restaurants have to offer, ultimately managing each restaurant that I worked. I loved the day-to-day business and the industry, but I needed a change from operations. As a GM I loved analyzing the financials and looking for ways to increase profitability, so accounting felt like a natural transition. In 2007 I joined 8.0, Moth & Flying Fish Management, Inc. as a Restaurant Accountant and was soon promoted to Assistant Controller. I loved making an impact and when I met Andy from Tablespoon at a conference, it was kismet. I feel like my life changes at conferences! Andy was refocusing Tablespoon from a tax firm to a restaurant-focused accounting and finance consulting firm, I knew this was the firm for me.

Tell me about your role.

I’ve worn many hats in my time with Tablespoon. The firm is growing which is allowing me to specialize in what I love doing most as the Director of Client Success. My focus is on business development and new client onboarding. I work closely with potential clients to see if they are a good fit. At Tablespoon, we are committed to the success of our clients. That goes both ways. I want to make sure that the partnership is a great fit for both the client and the firm. We have such a high emphasis on the importance of financial data we want to ensure that the finance and accounting side of their restaurant business operates efficiently. When a new partnership begins I work closely with the clients to recommend best practices, tailor their reporting, train them on the software we use and facilitate requests. I make sure we set up our clients and staff for a successful partnership.

What do you love most about your time at Tablespoon?

I’ve seen Tablespoon grow from a small firm to what we are today! Andy has given me so many wonderful opportunities to help restaurant owners. It’s all about the people for me. That includes all of Tablespoon's clients and team members. It’s important for me to bring value every day. I love being able to work with the restaurant owners and understand their business to better help them. They can see their financials in a way they wouldn’t be able to without our partnership. And because of my background in operations, I’m able to give our clients recommendations that directly impact their business.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

There are SO MANY great restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area I can’t pick just one. My “favorite” restaurant changes depending on whether I’m looking for a great steak, sushi, pizza, Texas BBQ, etc.… I know where to go to get good food and great service.