COLIN KENNEDY, CPA, doesn’t shy away from challenges, neither professionally nor personally. Kennedy earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in finance and accounting from the University of Oklahoma. Soon after graduating, he dove into internal audit work. Kennedy is the vice president of internal audit at Bank7 where he manages and reviews the audit team’s procedures, workpapers and fieldwork. But when he first joined Bank 7, Kennedy had the responsibility of building the internal audit department from the ground up. “Te Bank had just formed the internal audit department a year before


I was hired,” Kennedy said. “I was able to come in and rewrite all of the policies and procedures, update the risk assessment, audit schedule, audit planning process, workpaper formats and audit report writing process.” His boldness and willingness to step up has allowed him to make a


tremendous impact on the profession and his community. Although Kennedy said he sometimes felt overwhelmed during his


first year with Bank7, as he gained experience writing new department procedures and crafting internal audit materials, his confidence grew alongside the department. Kennedy’s enthusiasm for new experiences has also guided him into


serving as a director at large for the OSCPA’s Oklahoma City Chapter. He has taken on the responsibility of managing attendance tracking for virtual and in-person CPE. “Taking a leadership role with the OSCPA’s OKC Chapter has taught


me how much work and time goes into running the Chapter,” Kennedy said. “I have also gotten to know so many fellow CPAs from around the city, that I would not have had the opportunity to work with had I not taken the leadership role.” Beyond his professional work, Kennedy is building a legacy of compassion through his work with Hope is Alive Ministries, a nonprofit that provides sober living homes for individuals battling addiction. “My family has struggled with addiction issues for generations, and I


COLIN KENNEDY, CPA BANK7


VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERNAL AUDIT


have personally seen the destruction it can cause in the lives of individuals and their families,” Kennedy said. As a volunteer, Kennedy builds relationships with current and former


residents and walks with them on their sobriety journeys, helping them take steps toward the lives they want. “Working with men from Hope Is Alive is one of the best things I


TRAILBLAZER TIDBITS


Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in finance and accounting from the University of Oklahoma


OSCPA Involvement: Oklahoma City Chapter Director at Large


Community Involvement: Hope Is Alive, Thrive Community Church


have ever done in my life,” Kennedy said. “It has taught me so much about empathy, having hard conversations, not judging people on who they are right now but who they have the potential to be, and most of all, selflessness.” Although several areas of his life require seriousness, Kennedy’s fun side shines through in his sneaker collection. He particularly likes collecting rare Jordan sneakers and even brought a pair along with him to his Trailblazer shoot.


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CPAFOCUS


May/June 2022


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