Employee Spotlight: Becky Dederer

What is your current role, and what does a typical day look like for you?
My current role is Financial Controller, managing the company’s accounting and financial operations. While my focus shifts depending on the timing of month-end, quarter-end, or year-end activities, every day involves reviewing and analyzing financial transactions to ensure they are properly categorized and align with the company’s budget.  

Ultimately, my role is to provide accurate financial reporting that helps our leadership team understand not only where the company stands today, but where it is headed in the future, and how business decisions may impact financial results.

What drew you to accounting/finance as a career?

My mom worked in accounting and finance, and she gave me an appreciation for numbers and their importance, both personally and in business. It’s a career that allows you to work in any industry. I have worked in manufacturing, consulting, healthcare, and now wealth management.

While each industry has its unique financial needs, the fundamental principles of accounting remain the same, providing a strong foundation while continually offering opportunities to learn something new.

As Controller, you're responsible for balancing financial stewardship with supporting the needs of the business. How do you approach conversations when budget considerations require difficult decisions?

While it’s vital to have a budget and monitor actual expenses against it, it’s also crucial to be able to pivot or shift gears when needed. Being able to illustrate how changes can impact financial results is a critical part of any decision-making process. My approach is to always make sure I fully understand the situation at hand, so that I can provide factual data and realistic projections. My goal is to remove as much uncertainty as possible, to hopefully make tough decisions a bit easier to make. 

What do you enjoy most about working at Badgley? 

I love how passionate everyone is about the work they do and how they always go the extra mile for our clients. It’s also a place where coworkers support and encourage one another. Badgley celebrated its 60th anniversary this year and I love working for an organization that has a long history but is always looking forward and trying to improve on what they do!

What makes the company culture here so special?    

It’s the people who work here that make it special. Everyone is passionate about the role they play, while understanding that success is ultimately a group effort. I also enjoy that we take the time to celebrate not only the major accomplishments, but the smaller ones as well.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?  

I enjoy spending time with my husband, Chris, and when he is in town, our son Matthew. We are all sports and music fanatics, and you will often see us cheering on our favorite local sports teams or enjoying live music. I do plan to start taking golf lessons, as I would love to be able to golf with my husband. Otherwise, I’m not sure I will ever see him once we retire! We also enjoy getting over to Lake Chelan as often as we can. 

Do you have any hobbies or passions people might not know about?

I love to bake, but don’t seem to find the time to do it as much as I used to. However, at Christmas, I do go a little overboard with my baking, along with my holiday décor – both inside and outside! I also love all sorts of puzzles – jigsaw, logic, word, numbers. I play all the LinkedIn puzzles each day, always seeing how my time compares to the average time. Hoping it will help keep my mind sharp as I get older!

If you weren't working in finance, what career do you think you'd have pursued?

I might have become a cat veterinarian. Growing up in a small town in Eastern Washington, I didn’t realize that you could become just a cat vet. If I had, I might have pursued that career instead. I have loved cats since I was very little and have always had cats. We currently have two 7-year-old cats, Mia and Otis.

Work can sometimes be fast-paced and demanding. How do you approach stressful or high-pressure situations while staying focused and composed? 

I usually just try to make sure I have a list of everything that needs to be completed, organized by priority and due date, making sure I have set realistic timelines. It’s also important to have someone to talk to during stressful periods. It’s good to have someone else listen and remind me that I can’t control everything!

What’s your dream vacation and why? 

Italy is at the top of my travel bucket list. While the food and wine are certainly part of the appeal, being able to experience the history and culture would be amazing. Whenever I see pictures from there, I just know it’s a place I must experience.

Closing Thoughts 

Becky’s thoughtful approach, attention to detail, and ability to see the bigger picture make her an important part of the Badgley Phelps team. Her steady presence helps support informed decisions while reflecting the collaborative culture she values at the firm.

We’re grateful for all Becky contributes and enjoyed learning more about the experiences, interests, and perspective she brings to her role each day.