Tyler Fletcher, a Senior Associate at Shannon & Associates, has been an integral part of the audit team since September 2023. With a strong background in public accounting and a specialization in employee benefit plan audits, Tyler brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the firm.
His journey into accounting began in 2020, and since then, he’s developed a passion for auditing that has only deepened over time. From Oklahoma City, Tyler enjoys the flexibility of working remotely while still being fully engaged with his team and clients.
Outside of work, he’s a devoted family man, sports enthusiast, and he enjoys a good board game with loved ones. Let’s dive into Tyler’s experience and insights as part of the Shannon & Associates family.
Q: When did you start at Shannon & Associates and what is your current role?
Tyler: I started at Shannon & Associates in September 2023, so it’s been about a year now. I was hired as a Senior Associate, and I continue to work in that role, focusing on audits.
When I joined my previous firm, I had to choose between tax or audit, and I went with audit. At Shannon new staff get the chance to work on both sides before deciding which path suits them best, which I think is a great opportunity. I continue to focus primarily on audit here, as it’s my area of expertise, and I love the collaborative teamwork involved. While I mentioned being open to tax work, the audit side keeps me more than busy, and I truly enjoy it!
I’ve been working in public accounting and auditing since 2020, and I’ve found that where I can make the most impact.
Q: Can you take us through a typical day?
Tyler: I work 100% remotely from Oklahoma City, which is two hours ahead of the main office at Shannon & Associates. This time difference works out great for me because I can get a jump start on my day.
One of the benefits of working at Shannon is that there’s a good number of employees in remote positions, and the firm does an excellent job of making it work smoothly.
On active engagements, we often meet in a virtual audit room, which keeps the team in constant contact. Depending on the size of the engagement, we’ll schedule virtual meetings and block off a week or more for fieldwork. These days, fieldwork is mostly conducted virtually, which is a big shift from pre-COVID times.
For me, fieldwork is a crucial part of the audit process—it’s where we evaluate the details of a company’s operations. I might spend 3-4 days on the same job with my team, working across a broad range of industries like construction, manufacturing, and wholesale.
A typical day during an audit might start with a call at 9 a.m. to plan out the day. We keep it brief unless there are questions, then it’s cameras off, mics muted, and everyone dives into their work.
Managers and partners can jump in throughout the day, and it feels very much like being in the same room together. It’s a dynamic way to work, and Shannon & Associates has adapted well to this modern approach.
Q: What have you gained from working at Shannon & Associates? Can you describe the career growth you’ve experienced? How has the Shannon & Associates team helped you in your career journey?
Tyler: One of the main reasons I chose Shannon & Associates was for the mentorship program. Coming from a larger firm where mentorship wasn’t as strong, I was looking for a place where I could grow with guidance from experienced professionals.
At Shannon, the engagements are smaller, which allows me to see the entire process from planning to financial statements. This hands-on experience, coupled with close collaboration with my mentors and my team, has made me a much better accountant.
The mentorship here is invaluable! It’s not just about learning the technical aspects of accounting; it’s about building great relationships. I have mentors who are always there as a sounding board, whether it’s about accounting, career advice, or even personal stuff.
The progression I’ve experienced, thanks to these relationships, has been tremendous. It’s one of the biggest benefits of being at Shannon—having that support system to help you grow in every aspect of your career.
Working at Shannon & Associates has been a game-changer for me. The smaller engagements here allow me to see the whole picture, which has made me a much better accountant. But beyond the technical growth, the mentorship at Shannon is what really stands out. The support and guidance I’ve received have helped me grow not just as a professional, but as a person. It’s a place where you can ask questions, get advice, and feel truly supported in your career journey.”
—Tyler Fletcher
Q: How do Shannon & Associates managers motivate their teams?
Tyler: The partners at Shannon & Associates lead by example, and their values really shine through in everything they do.
We have ongoing meetings where we check in on open jobs, dive into any issues, and really get into the details. There are also lots of in-house activities, like team wiffleball games.
I don’t get to participate because I work virtually, but I’ve seen how Shannon does an amazing job of integrating remote employees into these activities, making everyone feel included and part of the team, no matter where they’re located.
Q: What is your favorite thing about working at Shannon & Associates?
Tyler: For me, it’s all about work-life balance and flexibility. I love that I can start my day a few hours before my coworkers. Plus their flexibility gives me time to handle personal things, like taking my daughters to their activities—volleyball, karate, cello practice, you name it.
Autonomy is a big deal here, and it’s something I really appreciate.
Plus, everyone at Shannon is so friendly and approachable. It’s a very open environment, and I never hesitate to ask for help if I need it. The culture here is one of support, and that makes a huge difference in how I approach my work.
Q: And a question about S&A Values: Collaborative and Mentoring, Accountable, Respect and Integrity, Excellence, and Strive. Do any of those values stand out to you? If so, why?
Tyler: All of those values are important, and they’re definitely lived out here at Shannon. But if I had to pick one, I’d say “Collaborative” stands out to me the most.
I chose to work in audit because it’s more of a team environment, and I enjoy working with others. The partners are usually involved in multiple jobs, but they always make time to hop into our audit rooms several times a day.
It really feels like a team effort, and that’s something I value a lot.
Q: June 7th was HLB Community Volunteer Day, a day where HLB network firms, including Shannon & Associates, encourage employees to volunteer in their local communities. Can you tell us more about what this day is and how you participated?
Tyler: HLB Community Volunteer Day is a global initiative where all the firms in the HLB network come together to make a positive impact in their local communities. Shannon & Associates is deeply involved, and most of our employees participated locally by shopping for shoes for the Shannon & Friends Foundation. As a remote employee, I had the flexibility to volunteer in my state, which I really appreciated.
I chose to spend my time at the UCO Endeavor Games, an incredible annual event for athletes with physical disabilities. The games are hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma and are one of the largest multi-sport competitions of their kind in the United States.
My youngest daughter, Hayden, has been participating in these games for seven years, so I’ve seen firsthand how much joy and empowerment this event brings to all the athletes.
Since Hayden didn’t have any events on Sunday the 9th, I signed up as a volunteer transporter. I drove a van, picking up athletes from a local hotel and taking them to their events, which was an incredibly rewarding experience.
I also helped set up the indoor archery event, which was a new experience for me. Here’s a picture of the complete setup and the event in progress—it was great to be part of something so meaningful.
Q: Before working at Shannon & Associates, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
Tyler: I’ve had quite a few interesting jobs! My dad and uncle were firefighters in Oklahoma City, so right after high school, I got my EMT license and worked for an ambulance service. I even took some firefighting classes but quickly realized that heights and confined spaces weren’t for me!
That’s when I switched gears and started studying accounting—and I absolutely loved it. During high school, I worked at a grocery store, where I actually met my wife while bagging groceries! I also worked at a local car dealership detailing cars I could never afford—Hummers, Corvettes, you name it. It’s a far cry from my trusty Honda Civic!
Participating in HLB Community Volunteer Day through the Endeavor Games allowed me to give back to a cause that’s close to my heart while staying connected to the larger Shannon & Associates community, even from a distance.
