Elyssa Nagle
Senior manager
Johnson Lambert
Personal bio: I live in Colchester, Vermont with my husband, dog, cat, and one-monthold daughter. In my free time, I enjoy taking walks with my family, boating on Lake Champlain, and travelling to new cities.
My interests revolve around anything that involves spending quality time with my family and friends.
I also love listening to country music or getting lost in a suspense novel.
Professional profile: I graduated from Bryant University in 2012 with a degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in accounting and a minor in applied statistics. I became a certified public accountant in 2014. I have worked in the captive insurance industry as an auditor since 2013 when I took a job at Johnson Lambert in our Burlington, Vermont office. Since working at Johnson Lambert, I have worked on many different types of captive insurance clients, as well as other types of insurance clients. During this time, I completed an Associate of Captive Insurance designation from the International Center for Captive Insurance Education.
I am now a senior audit manager at Johnson Lambert. My role involves facilitating audits for many types of companies, including, but not limited to, pure captives, group captives, and risk retention groups. I also have prior experience auditing not-for-profits, governmental entities, and schools from when I worked at a small regional firm outside of Boston.
How did you end up in the captive industry?
I began working for Johnson Lambert when I first moved back to Vermont after obtaining my degree. Johnson Lambert provides audit, tax and consulting services to insurance clients. Our Burlington, Vermont and Charleston, South Carolina offices specialise in working with captive insurance clients, as the industry is very prominent in both domiciles. I began working on captive insurance audits as an audit associate and have since worked with many different captive managers, owners, and other service providers in my role as a senior manager at Johnson Lambert.
What has been your highlight in the captive industry so far?
A highlight of working in the captive insurance industry for me is getting to work with many different types of companies and using my knowledge of the industry to help clients solve problems.
Part of being in the captive space is working with parent companies in all different types of industries, so there is never a dull moment. It’s exciting getting to meet with and work hands-on with parent companies, captive managers, investment managers, actuaries, third party administrators, and more, all for one captive client. As an auditor, I work directly with different service providers within the industry and have been able to form working relationships with them over the years. This is one thing that I think is unique to the industry, and also something I enjoy the most.
Additionally, in my role as an auditor, I am able to attend board meetings for many of my clients and am able to help them get ahead of upcoming accounting changes that will impact their captive.
Coming from a firm that specialises in insurance and does extensive training specific to captives, I’m able to help clients understand how upcoming accounting standards will impact their specific captive, as well as provide resources for how to implement these changes. Providing this type of service and working with clients in this way is something I enjoy the most about my career.
What/who have been your influences in the captive industry?
My greatest influences in the industry are the people I work with that have helped me learn and grow my knowledge of captives. This includes the people within Johnson Lambert that I work with, but also the actuaries and captive managers that I work closely with.
Additionally, this past year I started working with a group of individuals that have formed the Vermont Captive Insurance Association emerging leaders group.
This group of professionals was formed from all different types of roles and aspire to be the next group of leaders within the industry. I am inspired by the talent in this group and look forward to continuing to work more with these emerging leaders in the industry.
What is your impression of the industry?
The captive industry is always evolving. Captive owners are creative individuals that are looking for new ways to manage different types of business risks they face. The industry encompasses many types of services providers that are crucial to the success of captives. It is an exciting industry to be a part of.
What are your aspirations for your career in the captive industry?
I aspire to continue working in the audit and assurance practice serving captive clients. I’m always learning new things and looking for new ways to help provide great service to my clients. I aspire to be on the cutting edge of new things happening in the industry and hope to be looked at as a leader and trusted resource for clients as I continue in my career.
What advice do you have for someone considering a role in the industry?
To someone considering a role in the industry, I would advise to soak in as much knowledge as you can at the beginning. The insurance space is unique and can be intimidating at first, but as long as you keep working and learning you will be successful.
Josh Partlow, certified public accountant, partner at Johnson Lambert “Elyssa has done a fantastic job leading our engagement teams, providing guidance and an outstanding level of service that our clients have grown to expect. We look forward to watching her grow into a leader for the captive insurance industry.”
