Richard Atkins, CPA

Wildcard
DISC Type : csi

Director of Accounting at Crisp

Grosse Pointe, Michigan, United States

Overview

Richard is the Director of Accounting at Crisp, bringing over ten years of experience from public accounting at EY to the startup sector. A Certified Public Accountant with a Masters in Accounting from the University of Michigan, he specializes in aligning financial operations with strategic goals to foster growth and efficiency.

Based in the Detroit area, Richard enjoys the startup atmosphere and recently expanded his family. During his time at Albion College, he served as the Treasurer for the Ski and Snowboard Club, indicating a likely passion for winter sports and outdoor activities.

Unique fact: He made a significant career pivot from a Senior Manager role at a major firm like EY directly into leadership positions within the startup ecosystem.

Personality Overview

Requires Proof

ROI Driven

Friendly But Slow

They are often friendly and nice, but can sometimes suprise you with their piercing questions  They typically tend to be late adopters even when they seem friendly and excited about what you have to sell They are unlikely to ever become strong champions even when the conversations are going well; you should focus on cultivating other champions

Topics They Care About

Fintech & Automation
He shows a strong interest in innovative fintech tools, having publicly praised AI-powered tax compliance (Sphere) and collections efficiency platforms (Lunos).
Startup Operations
He transitioned from a large public accounting firm to industry, expressing his enjoyment for the startup atmosphere and advising early-stage companies on finance and operations.
Accounting Efficiency
His professional focus is on enhancing operational efficiency and using financial insights to drive business growth, a key theme in his background and recommendations.

Media Appearances

Richard has no verified media appearances

Work History

2-2026
Director of Accounting at Crisp
6-2025
Finance + Biz Ops Advisor at Select Start-ups
10-2023 - 2-2026
Director of Accounting at Revela, Inc.
8-2023 - 10-2023
Assurance Senior Manager at EY
10-2020 - 8-2023
Assurance Manager at EY

Education

2014 - 2015
Macc from University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business
2010 - 2014
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Albion College

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 8 Location : Grosse Pointe, Michigan, United States Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Director of Accounting at Crisp
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Insights For Selling To Richard

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Invite them for a social do but don’t rely solely on the relationship
  • Build rapport, it will come handy to handle hard questions later
  • Persuade objectively how your product will help them achieve their goals

DONT's

  • Avoid winging it with them particularly, answer a question only if you know the answer well
  • Do not sound overly eager, modulate your energy levels especially if you are generally enthusiastic
  • Don’t overhype the product/pitch, keep it measured

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Richard is

  • Clear proof of product value matters to them, followed by others' testimonials and rapport.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Richard

  • They are likely to give you a clear answer without taking you around in circles. However, if you share a good relationship, they might not be so forthcoming.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Richard move?

  • They like to perform full analysis and can take time to make any decision.
  • Can Richard take some risk or not?

  • They weigh all decisions systematically and are unlikely to take many risks.

You And Richard

Personality Compatibility


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