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David Pate, BS’88

David and his wife, Sandra, enjoy traveling in their free time.

CFO, Richardson Independent School District

Pate, a resident of Rowlett, has spent almost all of his professional career in the service of education. When he first graduated from UT Dallas, he went to work for Deloitte, as an auditor specializing in local governments. He left Deloitte as a senior manager after nine years to become director of finance at Garland Independent School District. After 18 years at Garland ISD, the opportunity to join Richardson Independent School District as the CFO presented itself. Pate always knew he wanted to be CFO of a school district and this opportunity to join RISD came at the perfect time. He and his wife, Sandra Pate, BS’88, have a daughter, Alex, who is now a junior in high school. The Pate family planned to be back on the UT Dallas campus for a prospective student tour.

Tell us the highlights of your professional career. What are your proudest achievements?

During my time at Deloitte, I audited several school districts and cities in the DFW area. While at Deloitte I was part of the team that wrote the Financial Accountability System Resource Guide for the Texas Education Agency. This is the accounting manual TEA requires all 1,000+ school districts in Texas to use. While finance director at Garland ISD, I helped the district achieve a bond rating of AAA, the highest available. I was part of the team that implemented a very successful purchasing card program with 800 cards in circulation. I have also served on the Accounting and Auditing Advisory Committee for the Texas Education Committee for more than 18 years. This committee provides feedback to TEA on the implementation of governmental accounting standards, laws and regulations.

What brought you to UT Dallas?

My parents both went to Texas Tech, but I got a job the last week of high school at a public accounting firm, McKinnon and Associates. I wanted to stay local and UT Dallas had a great reputation for accounting and the flexibility of evening classes.

Who was your favorite professor and/or what was your favorite class and why?

I have fond memories of the marketing class where I met my wife. There was also a professor of a cost accounting course that was memorable. He was the only professor I ever had who would diagram sentences from our accounting textbook!

What’s the best advice you have received?

Two things:

  1. Never leave a job because of one person.
  2. As a manager, firing people can difficult.
Early in my career, I had to fire someone and was very hard on myself afterwards. My uncle, a retired school superintendent, gave me the best advice. He said, “Jesus hired 12 people and one of his didn’t work out. Do you think you can hire better than Christ?”

What advice do you have for current students hoping to succeed in the business world?

I didn’t do this, but should have: Take every opportunity to improve your public speaking and written communication skills.

What makes an effective leader?

Openness to others’ ideas. There are always multiple ways to do something. Also, a willingness to admit when you’re wrong and to change if necessary.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I love fly fishing to relax and recharge. I picked it up as a kid and have loved it ever since. I also collect autographed fly fishing-related books. I also love to travel and read, mostly mystery/suspense novels. My favorite author is Stephen Hunter.

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