Technology
40 Under 40 Honoree: Pedro De Armas, CPA — 37
Partner, Verdeja & De Armas, LLP, Coral Gables, FL
Aug. 29, 2007
40 Under 40 Honoree: Pedro De Armas, CPA — 37
Partner, Verdeja & De Armas, LLP, Coral Gables, FL
EDUCATION: BS, MS Accounting — Florida International
University
FAMILY: Wife Maritza; Children Peter (11), Megan (7)
HOBBIES & INTERESTS: Rollercoaster enthusiast, mountain
hiking, whitewater rafting, little league coach
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: AICPA, FICPA, Co-Chair United Way
of Miami-Dade County Community Investment Committee, former VP Cuban American
CPA Assn.
What’s the one piece of technology that MOST helps you get through
your normal workday?
“MS Outlook. The electronic calendar feature really helps me stay on top
of my appointments, especially on Sunday evening when I start thinking about
my Monday appointments. It is hard to disconnect given the increase in technology
and connectivity, but I do. I have not allowed myself to fall into the mobile
e-mail ‘BlackBerry’ world yet. I love the technology but have chosen
to follow my wishes to leave the office at the office. I do not know how long
I can keep doing that.”
What will be the biggest change over the next five years in the ways
tax and accounting firms operate?
“Growth! Managing your firm’s growth will be the most challenging
part of the practice. Locally, in South Florida, there are firms that have grown
and more than doubled in size. This allows them to play and compete on the same
field with the national ‘Big Four’ firms. As these medium-sized
firms grow, it presents our firm with opportunities to provide services to those
clients that are too small for the new larger firm. It will then force our firm
(and similar sized firms) to provide accounting services, such as Document Management,
Internet Based Applications and Data Mining/Extraction capabilities. Of these,
I believe that Document Management will be the biggest challenge. As a by-product
of our accounting services, we house a lot of information on our client’s
behalf. We are an ‘off-site’ storage facility for our clients. More
storage capacity and access to those records by our clients will be a challenge
in the following years.”
What Pedro’s peers had to say about him:
Pedro became a named partner of Verdeja & De Armas, LLP at only 32 years
old. His firm has become one of the largest local firms in South Florida. The
firm audits over 50 large not-for-profits in South Florida and has made not-for
profits its niche. Pedro spends his time involved in the community through his
work in a number of Boards including United Way. Pedro is also a part-time baseball
coach to his son and is a genuine and sincere person. He has been able to help
grow the firm two-fold in less then four years and has been honored by FIU and
through various organizations.