When Masha Freyvert was an undergraduate at Boston University, she wasn’t certain where her education would lead her. “To an extent, I let fate decide. Although I was committed to accounting, I wasn’t yet sure which specialty to pursue,” she says.
At the time, the economy was reeling from the Great Recession, and she knew she faced a challenging job market. “The university encouraged students to explore different tracks through internships that often led to full-time offers, so I applied for internships across all areas of accounting,” she says. “Rather than feeling tied to tax or audit early on, I investigated which opportunities arose and what direction would best fit me.”
That initial fit was at Deloitte. “I started as a tax consultant in the R&D [research and development] tax credits group, a very specialized and project-based team. I felt like it made sense to do public accounting. I loved learning about ongoing innovation within so many companies and industries, even as I felt humbled about how much I had yet to learn,” she says. During this period, Freyvert also began her master’s degree in taxation.
In 2015, she moved to EY and joined its quantitative services group as a tax manager. “The position allowed me to continue to work on R&D tax credits but also to branch out to other areas of tax,” she says. “That exposure led me into a rotation with the global compliance and reporting group, where I discovered an appreciation for tax provisions and preparing corporate tax returns.”
Moving In-House
As Freyvert worked more closely with heads of tax and better understood the scope of their responsibilities, she found that she wanted to experience what they were doing. “My career had been on the consulting side, but I became very interested in learning how things really work within a business. I wanted the chance move in-house and drill down into all aspects of tax,” she recounts.
Since 2025, Freyvert has served as the senior director of tax at Warby Parker, the eyewear brand and retailer of glasses and contact lenses based in New York City. “I really love working here,” she says. “I was initially drawn to the company’s mission, and getting to apply my skills for an organization committed to doing good in the world has been incredibly rewarding. Even though Warby Parker recently celebrated its sixteenth birthday, it still carries that exciting startup energy. There’s a spirit of experimentation, finding scrappier ways to work, yet still pushing for big, meaningful results. That environment has been energizing, and it’s one of the reasons I feel so fulfilled here.”
She adds that people are attracted to Warby Parker for the same reason: the mission truly matters. “Practicing accounting here feels purposeful, because the company is so focused on increasing access to vision for all. That commitment and culture permeate the organization,” she says. “On top of that, the people here are exceptionally talented and deeply engaged in what they do. It all makes Warby Parker not just a great place to work but an inspiring one as well.”
Why TEI Matters
Freyvert notes that one thing she missed most about public accounting was the network of other tax professionals. “At EY or Deloitte, experts on every tax issue were a call or email away. I lacked that sort of access moving in-house. Then I found TEI,” she says. “Once I joined, I was exposed to so many incredible resources. It’s such a powerful network. As a member, I’ve grown a lot as a professional. I’ve been able to connect with leaders via Engage, in-person events, and committee Zoom calls. Through this network, my pace of learning and adapting to change has really accelerated.” She is a member of the New York Chapter.
Freyvert also states that Warby Parker has dealt with many issues related to state and local taxes, part of the reason she joined her chapter’s SALT committee. “With so many developments happening all the time, it can be hard to keep track of everything. I’d love to read up on every detail, but time is limited. TEI has really helped me quickly get up to speed on the most critical items without having to sift through all the information by myself,” she says. “TEI allows me to distill what truly matters so much faster, especially with all the complexities we handle at work.”
She adds, “The ability to talk to people who have spent decades building tax functions at Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and everything in between has been priceless. Being able to ask experts questions about their perspective and approach has been tremendously helpful. The guidance from that community has made a real difference.”
Life in the Big Apple
Freyvert was born in Russia, but her family moved to the United States when she was two years old. She grew up in New York City. “Much of my extended family moved to the US after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which is ultimately what brought me here,” she explains.
In 2019, she traveled back to Russia with her father and sister. “The trip was a meaningful chance to see where my dad grew up, where my grandparents were from, and to reconnect with our roots.”
Freyvert and her husband are the parents of a five-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter. “I will always love New York City and want my children to take in all it has to offer. Whatever free time we have is dedicated to the kids, and [we] love spending time with them. It’s exciting to be there for their first experiences,” she says. “As a family, we love exploring museums, parks and playgrounds, and restaurants, making the most of the city and the region.”
She adds that the family also makes it a priority to travel abroad once or twice a year to places that engage the children’s interests. “Lately, they have been fascinated by marine life, which has led us on memorable trips like whale watching in the Azores and swimming with dolphins in Mexico.”
