Kaylee Foster, an accounting and personal financial planning alumna from Eastern New Mexico University, recently started her career in agricultural sales. She works at Clovis Livestock Inc., where she manages cattle sales.
"I figure checks for consignors that bring in cattle to sell, apply payment for the purchase of cattle, manage accounts recoverable, feed invoices and reconciliation of the cattle account. There is nothing more gratifying than selling 4,500 head of cattle and then balancing to the penny," explained Kaylee, who previously worked as a bookkeeper for Woodard Cowen and Co. for a year in Portales.
She had a "great experience [working for Woodward Cowen and Co.]. It solidified my decision of going into this line of work."
Her career goal is to own an accounting firm. "Having such a background in agriculture, I would ideally want to cater to clients within that lifestyle, almost as a specialist," said Kaylee, who grew up riding horses and competing in rodeo.
Kaylee, who received her bachelor's degree in the spring of 2017, discovered her love for accounting after taking a class focused on the subject. "I knew that it was a field that I could see myself excelling in," she explained.
She chose to attend ENMU because of the "affordability and convenience." She was able to take advantage of opportunities such as the Lottery Scholarship and the benefit of taking courses online.
The Greyhound Grad was on the rodeo team at ENMU, for which she received a scholarship. She was also awarded the New Mexico Society of CPAs' "Woman to Watch" scholarship. Kaylee made the Dean's List for eight consecutive semesters and graduated cum laude.
"It is a very friendly and open atmosphere at Eastern," said Kaylee, who added that professors from the College of Business helped her prepare for CPA and CFP exams. "The professors at Eastern provide a solid foundation that I can build off of so that I can be proficient in accounting and personal financial planning.
"All the professors are more than willing to help, and if they don't know the answer, they will help you find somebody that will. Their helpfulness has extended beyond the classroom."
Kaylee plans to use the skills she learned at ENMU, including financial planning, accounting and banking investment, in her career.
The accounting alumna has one horse. "Her name is Pearl, and we have basically grown up together since the age of five. I can hardly remember going to any rodeo where she hasn't been in the trailer."
Kaylee considers her mother to be one of her role models. "Her work ethic and organizational tendencies are both attributes that I try to mimic," she explained.
