What do you get when a stand-up comedian becomes a certified public accountant? In the case of Greg Kyte, you get a CFO who manages millions in medical real estate while cracking jokes rooted in the Journal of Accountancy.
In a recent episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm, Greg Kyte sat down with host Roger Knecht to discuss his unconventional journey, his role as a fractional CFO for doctor-owned real estate entities, and why humor belongs in accounting. This article explores key insights from the episode—and why Greg’s story is a masterclass in career reinvention and financial leadership.
Greg Kyte’s Wild Ride: From Cashier to Comedy to CPA
Greg’s journey didn’t begin in finance. At age 14, he was unexpectedly pulled into the family business—his mother’s struggling pharmacy—where he started as a cashier and eventually became the bookkeeper.
“I loved doing bookkeeping,” he recalls. “But once I got into college, I went into math education instead.”
After spending a decade teaching middle school math—a job he says he “hated”—Greg began a mid-career transition. He went back to school for accounting, earned his MBA with an emphasis in accounting, and became a CPA in his late 30s.
Notably, Greg had already been performing stand-up comedy for years before entering the accounting field.
“I started doing stand-up in 2002,” he says. “I started my career in accounting in 2008. So I’ve been doing stand-up for about six years longer than I’ve been doing accounting.”
Why Doctors Need a CFO (And Don’t Even Know It)
Today, Greg serves as a fractional CFO for four medical office entities. These properties are owned by doctors who are, in his words, both the CEO and the lead technician of their practices.
“Being a doctor is one of the weirdest professions ever,” Greg explains. “If you’re an independent physician, you are the big boss of your company, but you’re also the one who installs every furnace—so to speak. You’re the technician.”
That dual role leaves many doctors vulnerable to financial missteps, often due to time constraints and lack of business training.
“I’ve seen so many cases of doctors getting embezzled by people they trusted,” Greg says. “They just don’t have the bandwidth to manage their finances properly, and that’s where I come in.”
The Business Behind Medical Real Estate
Greg’s CFO duties go far beyond basic bookkeeping. He manages complex financial models across multiple properties, each structured through LLCs that issue membership units instead of traditional real estate ownership.
“If a doctor wants to buy a 3,000-square-foot suite, they buy 3,000 membership units in the LLC,” he explains. “The bank doesn’t want to lend against membership units, but they’ll gladly finance an entire building that’s leased and owned by doctors.”
This structure allows the LLC to borrow large sums from banks and then internally finance individual doctor buy-ins. Greg is responsible for managing those cash flows, amortization schedules, refinancing processes, and lease agreements.
“Cash flow forecasting is a big deal,” he says. “Doctors come in and pay off loans early, or make extra payments, and I have to make sure the building’s cash flow still aligns with our obligations to the bank.”
How Comedy Makes Greg a Better CFO
Greg’s background in comedy hasn’t just stayed on the stage—it’s shaped his approach to accounting education and communication. Early in his career, he asked if he could perform five minutes of stand-up at every staff meeting at his accounting firm.
“It was all Journal of Accountancy jokes,” he laughs. “I’d read the whole thing each month—even if I didn’t understand half of it—and try to write material from it.”
His humor helped him become a standout in the Utah accounting community, eventually leading to opportunities to teach continuing education courses that combine technical knowledge with engaging delivery.
“One of the things that makes comedy effective is taking something dry and finding what’s weird or relatable about it,” he says. “That’s why accounting is such fertile ground for humor—and for insight.”
Key Takeaways from the Podcast Episode
Career pivots are possible at any age: Greg transitioned into accounting in his late 30s, proving that reinvention is within reach.
Doctors need trusted financial partners: As a fractional CFO, Greg protects his clients from risks they may not see.
Creative financial models can empower professionals: Doctor-owned real estate structured via LLCs can be powerful with the right oversight.
Comedy and accounting aren’t opposites: Humor can enhance education, build rapport, and make technical subjects more engaging.
Doing great work doesn’t always mean scaling: Greg intentionally chose not to grow his business beyond four entities, prioritizing depth over expansion.
Watch the Full Episode
To hear Greg Kyte’s full story and gain deeper insights into the intersection of finance, healthcare, and humor, watch the full episode of Building the Premier Accounting Firm on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform.
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