For Joyce Chan, It’s All About the Details

K&B has become a way of life for Operations Manager Joyce Chan. “I joined K&B right out of college,” says Joyce. “It was my first interview and first job offer.”

Over the ensuing 19 years, Joyce has worn multiple hats at the firm. She began as a research assistant, compiling market data and reports for K&B’s client newsletter, before transitioning to roles in operations, administration, and client service functions. Now, with nearly two decades of experience under her belt, Joyce is transitioning into a new role, where she will oversee the comprehensive accounting and financial health management of the company with a strong focus on compliance.

Across roles and departments, Joyce’s strength has always been her attention to detail. “I’m very detail-oriented,” she says. “I like that I have to be very specific about knowing the correct procedures and industry standards, so I can apply them to our team. I like seeing my projects and implementations come to life, and watching the team benefit is very rewarding to me.”

On a daily basis, Joyce attends to the details of making firm operations more efficient and seamless. Currently, for example, she’s implementing a new effort to streamline the standard settlement process, after the SEC shortened the standard cycle from two days to one.

Like everyone at K&B, Joyce intimately knows each client. “One of my responsibilities is to support the advisory team to review clients’ financial statements, review meeting notes, and help develop financial and life goals,” she says. “I feel like I know our clients just as well as the people who were in the room, even though I wasn’t actually in the meeting.”

For Joyce, this is a gratifying part of her job—especially since she no longer works directly with clients. The firm’s focus on client service is something Joyce was proud of 19 years ago, and she’s still proud of it today. “K&B clients receive exceptional service,” she says. “When you call us, you speak with a real person. When you tell us your name, the whole team knows you already. We have a general idea of who you are, your family, and your background without having to look up any notes. I think that’s pretty cool.”

Nearly 20 years in, Joyce still thinks K&B is pretty cool. “We’re a boutique firm, so I have contact with everyone,” she says. “I’m never bored. There have always been opportunities for growth and development. Once I mastered what I was doing, I was always given additional responsibilities that kept me going and kept me interested.

This constant engagement, combined with K&B’s respect for personal time, works for Joyce. “I love the work/life balance, especially now that I have two children waiting for me at home,” she says. “The partners here are very accommodating and understanding and supportive of our needs. That’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed for so many years.”

It’s those details—the understanding, the support, and the genuine empathy—that characterize K&B and that have made it a second home to Joyce, her colleagues, and the firm’s clients.