Author: Jennifer Walleman
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of the South Carolina CPA Report
Accounting can open doors far beyond the traditional path. Ashley Devasia is proof of that.
Now an Accounting Manager at Universal Music Group, Devasia has carved out a career in the global music industry — all while living in her home state of South Carolina. From her remote office, she supports the company’s California-based operations, proving that accounting skills can take you places you might never expect. Her path to this dream role wasn’t linear — but it was entirely her own.
“Coming out of school, you’re only focused on two areas: tax or audit,” Devasia said. “But you don’t want to put yourself in a box.”
That perspective didn’t come overnight. It grew from years of education and early career experiences that shaped where she is today.
After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a focus in accounting, Devasia pursued her master’s degree in accounting at Clemson University. While balancing school and full-time work, she began building the foundation that would eventually lead her to the music industry.
Devasia’s career began like many others — close to home and focused on gaining the right experience. In her first role, she supported vendor transactions and third-party sales channels, all while pursuing her master’s degree. After more than three years in that position, she set her sights on earning her CPA license — a goal that required experience under a licensed CPA. That next step led her into a new accounting role and company, where she advanced from Accountant to Senior Accountant over the course of three and a half years. During that time, she earned her CPA license and continued to refine her technical skills.
Devasia reassessed her goals when the COVID-19 pandemic shifted workplace norms. She began looking for more flexibility and fulfillment — especially outside of traditional accounting paths.
“In industry when companies acquire other companies or start growing very quickly, that whole work-life balance kind of goes away,” Devasia said. “I feel like it’s very important to have, because you can get burnt out very quickly if you don’t have it.”
What she didn’t expect in her job search was to find a career that connected her to something she had enjoyed since childhood: music. She came across a job posting on LinkedIn for a remote accounting position at Universal Music Group.
“I thought I wouldn’t get any response from it, but I still went ahead and applied,” Devasia said. “That was probably the one out of all the ones that I applied to where I was like, ‘There’s no way.’ It still happened.”
In August 2022, Devasia was hired as a Senior Accountant at Universal Music Group. Just two years later, in August 2024, she was promoted to Accounting Manager — a role that allows her to combine her accounting expertise with her lifelong love of music.
Growing up, Devasia was always drawn to music. While some people followed movies, she found herself immersed in songs and artists. So, the opportunity to bring her accounting skills to Universal Music Group felt like a natural fit.
“I just like music a lot,” she said. “Just to be a part of that industry and see behind the scenes, it’s really cool.”
In her current position, Devasia manages one team member and focuses on reconciling artist accounts, tracking advances and royalties, and ensuring costs are reported accurately. She also works with record labels to provide detailed breakdowns of artist earnings. The fast-paced deadlines and complex financial puzzles are challenging, but for Devasia, they’re also the most compelling part of the job.
“I think it’s because of the speed,” Devasia said. “We usually have to turn things around in three days, and so you get that adrenaline rush of having to meet a deadline. I feel like that’s pretty exciting.”
Another perk of the job, Devasia says, is seeing some of her favorite artists come through the system as they begin working on new albums.
“I do get to see the beginning of contracts when an artist decides to make their next album,” she said. “It takes years before you see the album, but to see what goes on the back end of that is kind of cool. I’ve seen a lot of artists I like personally. They’re not very big, but when I see something come through for them, I think, ‘Oh, that’s going to be cool to see an album come out.’”
Those moments remind Devasia how grateful she is that she pushed past her doubts and applied for the position. That experience, she hopes, can motivate future CPAs to not hold back from the job of their dreams.
“Just go for it,” Devasia said. “If you feel like it’s not part of a tax path or accounting path, don’t fear going for it. You never know what you are going to get from it.”
