By Forbes Staff,Kelly Phillips Erb,Robert Morris
Copyright forbes
Ashia Thompson
Ashia Thompson
Some tax professionals like to reach for the clouds—Ashia Thompson practically works in them. Ashia, a U.S. Certified Public Accountant and founder of Top Tier Accounting, is headquartered in the Dubai World Trade Center located in the Burj Khalifa. It’s the world’s tallest building, with a total height of 829.8 meters, or just over half a mile.
Ashia started her professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). She later joined Deloitte Tax LLP, where she worked as a Senior Tax Consultant in the Business Tax Services Commercial group before founding her own firm. She is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Ashia obtained her bachelor’s in accounting from Monroe College, where she graduated summa cum laude. She later pursued her Master of Science in Taxation at Pace University.
Today, Ashia works with high-net-worth entrepreneurs, networking with those she says who “don’t just dream big—they move differently.”
Where are you now?
I’m based in Dubai—yes, literally in the Burj Khalifa. It’s a bold, intentional choice. I believe you should live where your vision matches your elevation.
What’s your job title, and what does it mean?
Founder & CEO of Top Tier Accounting also known as the “Consultant to the 1%.” It means I’m not just running a firm—I’m building global wealth for powerful people. I walk into rooms with millionaires and walk out having made them richer, smarter, and more tax-efficient.
Tax, law, and accounting are such broad topics. What’s your area of special interest?
Advanced U.S. tax strategy, international tax structuring, and leveraging tax laws to build generational wealth. I love helping high-income earners legally pay less tax while scaling globally.
What’s the first thing you typically do while at work?
Check bank accounts. I run multiple programs and firms, so I like to see what came in while I was sleeping. Then I pray—because I believe wealth without wisdom is a setup.
If you had an extra couple of hours open up in your day—outside of work—what would you do?
I’d hop on a flight. Spontaneity is my luxury, and I value experiences. Whether it’s dinner in Abu Dhabi, a meeting in London, or church in New York, I love living on my terms.
What’s one tool or resource that you couldn’t live without at work?
My tax code tracker (and QuickBooks, let’s be honest). But more than anything, my discernment. Numbers tell stories, but strategy requires spiritual insight.
If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
A global talk show host meets wealth coach. Think Oprah meets Shark Tank—but for women who know they’re called to both marketplace and ministry.
What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
“The biggest tax you’ll ever pay is on ignorance.” Not income. Not capital gains. Ignorance.
Every time you delay forming the right entity, miss a deduction, or overpay because you didn’t know the code, you’re leaving wealth on the table. Once I understood that tax strategy isn’t a cost—it’s a wealth vehicle—I started treating every financial decision like a chess move. Now, I don’t ask, “Can I afford this?” I ask, “What’s the tax advantage if I do?” Because when you know the rules, money obeys you.
What books or magazines are on your nightstand?
“The Blessed Life” by Robert Morris, “Rich Dad’s CASHFLOW Quadrant” by Robert Kiyosaki, and my Bible. Faith + finance is my lane.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
My spiritual father and pastor, John Millwood. His wisdom and prophetic insight have helped me make million-dollar decisions without compromising my faith.
What would I be surprised to know about you?
Despite living in the tallest building in the world and advising multimillion-dollar businesses, I still battle imposter syndrome some days. I’ve sat in rooms where I was the youngest, the only woman, and the only Black person—but I never let that stop me from owning the room. I’m proof that you can come from humble beginnings and still belong at the top—without shrinking, apologizing, or playing small.
If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow—an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever—what would it be and why?
I’d eliminate double taxation on U.S. citizens living abroad. As it stands, Americans are one of the few nationalities taxed on worldwide income, even if they haven’t lived in the U.S. for years. It’s outdated and penalizes entrepreneurs who are scaling globally. If the U.S. wants to remain competitive on a global scale, it needs to stop taxing innovation at the border. Expats aren’t evading opportunity—we’re expanding it. We should be incentivized for building businesses that strengthen America’s global economic footprint, not taxed twice for it.
What was the best tax conference, CE, or CLE event that you ever attended?
The AICPA Engage Conference in Las Vegas was a game-changer. It wasn’t just about tax updates—it was about thinking like a strategist at the highest level. I left that event with new insights on advanced tax planning, multi-entity structuring, and wealth transfer strategies that I immediately applied to my high-net-worth clients. The networking alone was worth the flight—surrounded by CPAs, tax attorneys, and financial planners who weren’t just crunching numbers, but shaping legacies. That’s my kind of room.
What has been the biggest change that you’ve seen in the tax profession in the last five years?
The rise of AI and automation. It’s both exciting and disruptive—but for forward-thinking professionals, it’s a competitive edge. AI is changing how we analyze data, categorize expenses, and even forecast tax liability. The firms that adapt will scale faster, serve smarter, and create more value.
What are you most concerned about or excited about with respect to the profession moving forward?
I’m excited to see the profession slowly shifting from compliance to strategy. More accountants are realizing that their true value isn’t in filing forms—it’s in building futures.
What concerns me is how slow the industry is to innovate. We’re still teaching outdated tax tactics in a world where entrepreneurs are earning seven figures from their phones. The tax code has evolved, but many professionals haven’t—and that lag is costing people real money. If the profession doesn’t modernize, AI will replace more than just data entry. It’ll replace relevance.
If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
I’d move it with strategy. I’d allocate part of it into a tax-advantaged trust, invest in real estate across two countries, and seed capital into a private equity acquisition. Then I’d use the rest to underwrite a financial empowerment tour for women—because the real flex isn’t just having money, it’s teaching others how to multiply it too.
You can find Ashia at Top Tier Accounting. She can also be found on social media on Instagram @tenacious_cpa.
This article is part of our Getting To Know You Tuesday series—a chance to get to know all kinds of tax professionals and understand that the field of tax is bigger than April 15. If you’d like to nominate tax professional to be featured, send your suggestion to kerb@forbes.com with the subject: Getting To Know You Tuesday.
ForbesGetting To Know You Tuesday: Arielle TuckerBy Kelly Phillips ErbForbesGetting To Know You Tuesday: Nicole Davis, CPABy Kelly Phillips ErbForbesGetting To Know You Tuesday: Dorothy K. ButlerBy Kelly Phillips Erb
ForbesGetting To Know You Tuesday: Brad GarlandBy Kelly Phillips ErbForbesGetting To Know You Tuesday: Zorka MilinBy Kelly Phillips ErbForbesGetting To Know You Tuesday: Jason WiggamBy Kelly Phillips Erb
Tax Breaks: Timely tax tips and the latest news delivered to your inbox weekly
Got a tip? Share confidential information with Forbes.
Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
