Business consulting/accounting - From rags to riches

By Avia Ustanny, Freelance Writer

Dayle Blair - "I was the only black person in the group," - Contributed

DAYLE O. Blair left Jamaica, almost penniless, to seek his 'fortune' in the United States, and found it, through hard work and additional schooling.

For the past eight years, he has been a practising certified public accountant (CPA), specialising in accounting, auditing, financial assurance, taxes, and financial planning. He is also the managing partner in Global Accounting and Auditing Services.

The 40-year-old professional is a graduate of the Washington DC-based Howard University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey, and locally, the College of Arts, Science and Technology (now University of Technology).

Born on October 31, 1960 in Robins Hall, Manchester, Dayle has travelled a long way from home, but has now returned there to live. His company is also based in the parish, in the capital, Mandeville.

He is a graduate of several schools in that parish: Christiana Secondary School, Holmwood Technical High School and then Knox Community College, before moving on to CAST (now University of Technology) in Kingston where he graduated with a diploma in Accounting. It was after leaving this institution that his real adventures began.

FURTHER STUDIES

Wanting to further his studies, Dayle left Jamaica in 1985 for New Jersey with US$10 in his pocket.

"I never held a paintbrush in my hand before I went to America (but) I started painting windows," he told The Gleaner. After six weeks of little progress, he jumped on a Greyhound bus and headed for Washington DC with the $35 more he had earned from a one-day job making pizza.

While staying with friends in Washington, he found another painting job. And, when he found out that Howard University was just down the road, he applied. Blair's first application was rejected, but he decided to speak to university personnel himself. He managed to convince them that he should be a student there and was provisionally accepted in the Liberal Arts programme in September 1985.

In January, he changed programmes and began a first degree in Finance. By the end of the first semester, he was receiving the top grades in his class. The bursar at Howard University employed him, and this income, along with several scholarships and awards he received, saw him through his first degree.

Mr. Blair graduated with honours and went on to do his Master in Business Administration (MBA).

"Things went so well, when other people were struggling with student loans, I was able to buy myself a car," he recalls.

During his studies, he was given the Outstanding Young Man of America Award as well as the Wall Street Journal Award for Excellence in Finance. On graduating, he was recruited by Ford Motor Company where he worked for a while, before moving on to AT&T which also recruited him.

"This was the best thing to happen to me," Mr. Blair said. "I went into an auditing job there, and travelled to 36 states."

AT&T is the world's largest telecommunications corporation. There, Mr. Blair was engaged in auditing departments within AT&T, and assessments of external companies such as New York Telephone, Bell Atlantic, US West and NYNEX.

He consulted in risk assessment, business process improvements and internal control management. The only blot on his happiness was the very 'white' culture of these organisations.

"I was the only black person in the group," he said.

His wife, a Jamaican, also told him that it would be better for him to be his own boss. He took her at her word, but looking around, realised that he would need accounting certification to establish an independent company. So he decided to take the CPA examination and passed it.

However, the state of Massachusetts decided not to grant him a licence to practise, because he had not done formal university courses in accounting. New Jersey also refused.

"I had to go back to University for another year ­ a summer and two semesters ­ before they would give me a licence. There were 500 people at the licensing reception and I was the only black individual there," he said.

The extra year, spent at Fairleigh Dickinson University, also allowed him to earn a secondary MBA. Following certification, he went into partnership with his superior at AT&T in an independent auditing service.

When, in 1995, he decided to return home to Jamaica, he wrote to the Minister of Finance and was recruited by the Government of Jamaica. He spent two years as the principal financial officer (PFO) at the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

RESPONSIBILITY

At the Ministry, he had responsibility for more than 70 per cent of the budget of Jamaica. He was directly in charge of the finances of all the departments and bodies that fall under the Ministry of Finance and Planning ­ chiefly Customs, Inland Revenue, Revenue Board, GCT, Income Tax, Fiscal Services, Student Loan Bureau, Insurance Division of the Ministry, TAXARP and others. He was also in charge of the management of the government account with the International Monetary Fund.

Because, however, his mind was quite set on establishing his own company, he moved on. His company, Global Auditing, has audited for Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica (JAMALCO), Alumina Partners of Jamaica (ALPART), Cable & Wireless Jamaica Limited and the World Bank.

Dayle Blair now describes the business climate in Jamaica as "not good" and cites difficulty in collecting payment for services, but is still not disheartened.

If he had remained in the United States, he would have been a millionaire in that country's currency.

"I was very strong in finance, and most of the people who I hung out with are now millionaires. The financial market did very well in the last five years.

But, I do not regret coming here.

"I feel very good here. I am just sorry about the crime and violence. The quality of life is still good, and the cost of living lower. It might be easier to be successful in the US, but one enjoys the fruits of success more here."

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