Iniciar sesiónMatter Stories: Theresa Utibe-Ukim, Director, International & Tax Accounting
Tell us about yourself. (Where are you located, career journey, what brought you to this industry?)
I’m located in Oakley, California. I have a bachelor’s degree in accounting and have built my career across various industries, including shipping, banking, and finance. Before moving to the United States to pursue a master’s in information technology, I spent seven years in banking in Nigeria, specializing in foreign exchange trading and managing the bank's international bank accounts. After completing my master’s, I joined a technology company and have remained in the tech sector ever since. Recently, I celebrated my seven-year anniversary at Matterport, where I lead global tax compliance and oversee our international accounting operations.
What excites you most about your role?
I enjoy meeting people from different countries, learning about them, their culture, tax laws and other operational guidelines. Tax rules change often, and I enjoy learning and creating solutions.
Tell us about your biggest accomplishment or favorite project at Matterport? What was it, were there any challenges, and how was it successful?
Preparing for our 2021 IPO was one of my biggest accomplishments. Prior to 2019, Matterport had not previously undergone a financial statement audit. I was part of the team that completed an intensive two-year audit (covering 2019 and 2020) in just four months, often working long hours to achieve this milestone. Securing a clean audit report was essential for the IPO, and our efforts were key to making it possible.
As Matterport expands into new markets, I oversee our registrations and tax obligations to ensure we're properly structured and compliant in each region. By implementing streamlined workflows and disciplined processes, I help minimize exposure and maintain seamless operations in our tax and international accounting. I've established an efficient, reliable system that upholds compliance while supporting our growth trajectory.
Are you involved in any programs such as EMERGE, Matterport Cares, ERGs etc., if so why? What’s been a memorable experience?
I was the Black at Matterport Employee Resource Group Lead for 2022 and a Co-Lead for 2023. I appreciate the effort that the Matterport Executive Leadership Team makes to foster an inclusive workplace.
My most memorable event was the Juneteenth event I organized with the help of some of my fellow colleagues. We were honored to host an external guest speaker to discuss the history and relevance of the federal holiday and its relationship to the literacy crisis in Black communities. The event took place approximately one year after Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday. I believe it still holds the record for the most attended ERG event in Matterport. At some point, there were over 300 people logged in.
