Meet Mr. Pope

By Juliet McShannon
Special to The Lookout

Nov. 13 -- Graham Pope seems to buck the stereotype of the number-crunching accountant living in a world of spreadsheets and numerals. With his easy demeanor, ready smile and level gaze, you could well-imagine joining him for round of golf, which, along with travel, is one of his passions.

He is the first to admit, however, that his accounting skills and considerable expertise in commerce helped secure him a seat on the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees last week.

"I think the board decided that with my financial background and involvement with the college, I could make an immediate impact and help them get a good handle on what is going on," Pope said.

A sole practitioner in his own Santa Monica accounting practice, Pope is confident that he will be able to juggle both responsibilities. He has a personal connection with Santa Monica College -- one of his daughters attended the college nine years ago, then transferred and graduated from UCSD.

Pope believes his philosophical view of education is the primary reason he became involved in SMC's affairs.

"As a friend of mine says, it is an 'age of hopelessness,'" Pope said. "We need to provide educational opportunities for those unable to pay for their education so that at least there is a hope that by commitment they can make a better life for themselves. If they don't see that, then society will pay the cost."

Married with two daughters, Pope acknowledges he has more than his financial experience to offer. His nomadic lifestyle and exposure to other cultures has allowed him to bring a different perspective to the projects he has worked on.

Born in Scotland in 1945, he crossed the Atlantic with his mother and twin brother on a "war bride" ship, which reunited war brides and their children with serviceman who had returned to their homelands after World War II.

The family was reunited with Pope's father, a Canadian serviceman, in Timmins, Ontario. After the war Pope's father became an accountant, and father like son, Pope followed in his footsteps. After obtaining an honors degree in Business Administration, he qualified as a chartered accountant.

Pope went on to serve on numerous government committees and other advisory agencies. "Eventually though, in my thirties, I just got to that stage where I thought, 'What am I going to do now?'"

Tired of living in Northern Ontario, which at the time he found lacking in positive challenges, Pope immigrated to California with his family in 1984.

"My wife's brother practiced medicine in Santa Monica and on previous visits we always remarked on how wonderful the city was -- especially the weather!"

This move was not without its challenges. Pope had to rewrite all his chartered accountancy exams, and, interested in tax controversy, realized that it would be prudent to get his Masters in Taxation.

This entailed attending night school downtown at a satellite campus of Golden Gate University three nights a week for two and a half years. He celebrated by opening his own accounting practice, Pope and Associates, in Santa Monica.

Pope laughed off speculation that swirled shortly after his appointment that he wasn't a "legal citizen."

"I went through the normal procedure of applying for a green card," he said. "My family felt really grateful for what we had in America and felt that by becoming citizens it would somehow complete the cycle."

Pope became an American citizen in 1999, but still retains his British citizenship. "It seems I have accumulated citizenships along the way," he said, "but I definitely consider myself to be an American citizen. In fact collectively, I don't think there is a more caring group of people."

Despite a heavy workload, Pope still finds time for recreation. "I'm a golfer -- wait I take that back -- I attempt to play the game! Fortunately I don't have to make a living out of it!"

A passionate traveler, Pope's eyes light up when he considers places yet to be visited. "I haven't been to Alaska, or the plains of Nebraska, and there is nothing like flying over the mountains in the Carolinas -- the scene of crimson, reds and yellows."