Meet Catherine Riddick, Tax School Instructor

This week we’re continuing our summer series on introducing you to the 2024 Fall Tax School instructors. The top quality of our instructors has always been one of Tax School’s greatest assets. Today, we want to introduce you to Catherine Riddick.

Catherine Riddick has been associated with Tax School since 2008 as an instructor, author, and reviewer for the University of Illinois Federal Tax Workbook. She is a CPA and licensed attorney. She worked for one of the large CPA firms in the Chicago area for 10 years and has had her own CPA firm in Westchester, Illinois, since 1994. Catherine received a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and a law degree from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

How long have you been preparing taxes? How did your career as a tax practitioner (and attorney) develop?

I began preparing taxes in late 1983 when I went to work for KPMG.  I went to law school after passing the CPA exam and always knew I was interested in taxes.  I thought I would do transaction work with a large law firm but decided that working for a large CPA firm was a better fit. I wasn’t interested in year-round 80-hour work weeks.

Describe your tax practice.

My office is located in Westchester – I moved the office from LaGrange in 2021.  I have a small staff – my son, Kyle, is full-time and handles the monthly bookkeeping, and payroll work as well as a few sales tax returns.  He is currently studying to take the EA exams so he can handle more of the tax work.  I also have a full-time administrative person – full-time during tax season and half-time the rest of the year.  Because the use of technology is such a driving force for us, we do a lot of remote work and we close the office on Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 

What made you want to open your own tax practice?

I opened the practice so I could be closer to home and control when I worked.  My husband and I had two small kids at the time and I didn’t want to worry about losing my job or a promotion just because I wanted to spend Saturday with my kids.

When did you first become involved with Tax School as an instructor?

It’s hard to believe that it’s been as long as it has but in 2008, after attending Fall Tax School for about 10 years, I took an opportunity to “try out” to teach Fall Tax School.  I began teaching as a substitute instructor in 2009 for what was then the Central Team (Rich Walden and Jerry Brune) and split the Central Team assignment with Bob Rhea for several years.  I moved to the Northern Team in 2014 and taught with Debbie Held, Jacque Rutledge, then Tom O’Saben, and then Keith when he joined Fall Tax School.  I even once did a sub assignment for Sue Voth and taught with Ted Knapp and Sam Phillips.  I have taught with almost all of the Fall Tax School instructors in the time I have been an instructor.

What makes team teaching at Fall Tax School with Keith Baum so much fun?

I know that Keith won’t believe me when I say this but I learn a lot when I teach with him – actually, I learn a lot when I team teach with any of the other instructors.  Keith has a great sense of humor, I love his perspective and I think that we both bring practical experience for the attendees.

When you’re not preparing taxes or teaching for Tax School, what do you like to do for fun and relaxation?

Sometimes I am not sure I have too much time for fun and relaxation between those two things, but my husband and I like to listen to live music and try new restaurants.  My husband is a wonderful gardener so we enjoy our backyard in the summer months.  We like to get to Florida as much as we can in the winter months.  Finally, I love walking (especially with our dog, Cooper) and reading good books with our cat, Zoey, on my lap.

What’s a fun tradition you’ve been doing for years after tax season is over?

Once the last extension is filed, Kyle and I head out to Joliet and the Hollywood Casino.  I have been doing this for at least the last 20 years or so.  It started when three guys that I worked with at KPMG invited me to join them for the annual event.  Although none of us work for KPMG anymore, we all still prepare taxes and thus April 15 continues to be a milestone.  We gamble until the wee hours of the morning.  Although I have had many more losing nights than winning nights, I am happy to report that I came home this past tax day with twice as much money as I walked in with.  And, yes, Debbie Held, I will report the income.

Cubs or Cards?

As everyone knows, I am definitely Cubs fan (and Bears and Nebraska Huskers).

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