After moving to Sonoma County in 2002, Michelle Muth Ausburn (she/her) joined Moss Adams as a staff accountant. She quickly made her mark on the firm’s Food & Beverage Practice.

“When I started, the wine practice was getting off the ground, and I enjoyed being able to grow with it. My clients in the wine industry were down to earth and fun, and I liked working with something tangible.”

Over her nine years with the firm, Michelle advanced to senior manager. She aspired to advance in her career, but her path to partner seemed unclear.

“There wasn’t a lot of communication from leadership about reaching the next level and I didn’t push to find out. I had a three-year-old and an infant at home. After a couple of rough busy seasons, I was burnt out.”

In 2011, Michelle decided to pursue something new.

“When I met a woman who had recently joined a local firm, I saw an opportunity for female mentorship.”

Michelle moved to another firm, where she appreciated having a female leader who knew the challenge of balancing family and work.

“I saw her empathy and compassion when it came to setting boundaries. Working with her helped me develop more empathy for others and for myself, too.”

Michelle built an audit practice and expanded services in the wine sector, later becoming a partner to lead the industry group for nine years.

“At that point, I’d done what I set out to do there by building a practice from the ground up, and I was looking for different opportunities more aligned with my career goals.”

All the while, Michelle kept in touch with Moss Adams partner Jeff Gutsch. During a meeting, Jeff explored the possibility of Michelle returning to Moss Adams.

“He asked if I’d ever consider coming back, and I said I would. The firm’s broader geographic reach, established industry group and plans for growth were a great fit for where I am in my career.”

Since rejoining the firm in August 2024 as a partner, Michelle has enjoyed reuniting with former colleagues.

“I feel like a very welcome addition to the team. The culture feels familiar, but also improved. I’ve noticed more acceptance of how people work, their different styles and different personalities. There’s a place for everybody here.”

Now that she’s a partner, Michelle looks forward to mentoring young women in the industry.

“When my children were young, I thought I had to reduce my hours to part-time to be successful in both work and life. I’d like to share what I’ve learned with women who want to do it all, so they’ll know what their options really are.”

Michelle continues learning and embracing challenges as she takes on the bigger opportunities Moss Adams offers.

“It's important to stay curious and have an open mind about your career, because you never know where it may lead you. I see a ton of exciting opportunities with Moss Adams and I’m thrilled to be back.”

We’re Better Together

In 2022, rehires—or people who left Moss Adams and eventually rejoined the firm—accounted for nearly 9% of our overall hires. We’re thankful for our rehires who’ve returned, and we truly appreciate those of you who’ve been with the firm throughout the years.

Welcome home, Michelle!