As the chief financial officer (CFO) of Paychex, Bob Schrader ’96 helps guide strategy and financial operations for the Rochester-based public company.
“Being the CFO of a public company, I have responsibility for accounting, tax, treasury, and investor relations,” Schrader said. “More broadly, I work very closely with the CEO and the rest of the leadership team to develop and execute the strategy of the company.”
Paychex is a leading provider of integrated human capital management (HCM) solutions, supporting thousands of small- and medium-sized businesses with HR, payroll, benefits, and insurance services.
“You must have a strong, compelling value proposition for all your stakeholders,” said Schrader. “That’s where we spend a lot of time and focus our efforts on a day-to-day basis.”
Before joining Paychex, Schrader held several leadership roles, including as CFO for Unither Manufacturing, LLC, and more than a decade in finance leadership at Bausch & Lomb, where he was vice president of finance and controller of global quality and operations.
“It’s fun to be involved in running the business and making an impact,” he said. “Especially with a public company, there are many stakeholders you need to think about — your customers, employees, shareholders, and the communities where we work and live.”
“When I took my first accounting class, it came to me naturally.”
Bob Schrader ’96
Schrader began his college career as an engineering major at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and took classes at Monroe Community College (MCC). When he decided to pursue accounting, SUNY Brockport became the clear choice.
“I was a nontraditional student. I was in my early 20s when I came to Brockport,” Schrader said. “When I took my first accounting class, it just came to me naturally. Accounting is the language of business, and it provides a strong foundation to build on, regardless of your goals.”
Schrader mostly attended evening courses where he learned from adjunct professors who brought real-world experience into the classroom. But there was one faculty member in particular, Professor William Dresnack, who made a lasting impact on his career.
“He was my mentor,” Schrader said. “He took an interest in me, believed in me, and pushed me to challenge my thinking. He painted a picture of what a career in public accounting could mean for my future.”
Dresnack’s guidance played a key role in shaping Schrader’s career, particularly early on when he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“Your Brockport education is the beginning of your learning journey, not the end of it.”
Bob Schrader ’96
“I don’t think I would be sitting in this role as CFO of Paychex without spending that time in public accounting,” he said. “One of the lessons I learned early on was the importance of attitude and work ethic as keys to success. You can really set yourself apart from others, and that will create many opportunities for you.”
“It’s also important to align yourself with successful people,” said Schrader. “You become a product of your environment. Success is very difficult to achieve on your own.”
Looking back, Schrader said Brockport played a pivotal role in his career.
“Brockport really helped me solidify where I wanted to go in my career,” he said. “Your Brockport education is going to be the beginning of your learning journey, not the end of it.”