SAN JOSE, Calif. — As a credit union accountant for nearly three decades, Hal Carroll decided to put some of his observations into action by actually entering the credit union industry.

Approximately 100 days ago, Carroll took over as president and chief financial officer of $116 million San Jose Credit Union after doing credit union accounting for about 27 years, the last 18 as a partner at McGladrey & Pullen LLP and its previous merger partner O'Rourke, Sacher, & Moulton. "My whole experience was 100% dealing with credit unions…I was seeing how wonderful these organizations were and wanted to be a part of it from the inside, not just from the outside," he explained. At just 51 with three daughters, the oldest entering college this fall, he has no plans to retire anytime soon.

Carroll was also looking to improve his lifestyle by traveling less; he performed accounting for eight of the firm's billion dollar credit union clients. During that time, he observed what makes credit unions successful–and what does not.