CLEARSTEAD EMPOWHER 2023 WOMAN OF THE YEAR: JESSICA MARTIN

Whether it is the “busy season,” or they are proactively working with clients to optimize their taxes, Clearstead’s tax team juggles myriad tasks to ensure deadlines are met and wealth strategies are upheld.

Mastering prioritization is a critical factor of staying on top of these types of tasks, which is a skill that Jessica Martin, CPA, Senior Client Planning Associate on the firm’s tax team, has honed during her time at Clearstead.

“Every day is different when it comes to work,” Martin said, “Some days have more structure than others, which makes my job interesting!”

As a Senior Client Planning Associate, Martin is responsible for providing many of our high-net-worth clients with analytical support in all aspects of tax, financial planning, and investment management. She has been with the firm for over three years, frequently mentors and develops new staff, and seeks opportunities to help with other projects throughout Clearstead.

She enjoys working with her colleagues and is grateful for how collaborative and supportive everyone is. “The people here are what make every day feel special since they are so welcoming and friendly. My colleagues have become some of my greatest friends and my superiors are wonderful mentors,” Martin said.

To recognize her efforts in this role, she was selected as EmpowHER’s 2023 Woman of the Year. This is the eighth year that EmpowHER, Clearstead’s women’s initiative, has recognized an accomplished woman at the firm.

Martin has over 5 years of experience providing tax services, holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Masters’ in Taxation from the University of Akron. She also holds the CPA designation and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Ohio Society of CPA’s.

She frequently volunteers through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which helps lower income taxpayers file their tax returns. Martin finds the work very fulfilling and that “the people who attend the events are extremely appreciative.”

Martin’s commitment to helping others rings true within Clearstead as well, through her involvement in both EmpowHER and Clearstead’s Emerging Leaders (CEL), an employee resource group (ERG) that was formed in 2022. “When I was in college, I wish there would have been a professional in my field that took an interest in helping my development. Since I felt this way, I figured there are probably others that felt that way too,” she shared. She believes that CEL is a great way to help the firm’s young professionals by championing them and offering resources for development. 

Outside of work, Martin enjoys physical activity, golfing, and reading and her self-driven approach to work also applies to her personal and aspirational goals. “My goal this year is to run a half-marathon and read a book a month,” she shared. She also expressed interest in progressing her career at Clearstead through eventually becoming a partner and managing her own client relationships.  

These motivations, ownership of her work, and striving to perform her best help Martin succeed as a valuable member of the tax team and aids their ability to help our clients build strong futures.