Karmen Ward
Managing Director, Audit
KPMG
New York City, NY USA
“Every year, I ask myself: Who am I and what are my priorities? That’s how I try to keep myself grounded.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationKarmen Ward
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
I went to a liberal arts college and accounting wasn’t on my radar until my mother suggested it during my sophomore year.
I took an internship opportunity at KPMG during the summer after graduation and then went back to graduate school for a master’s degree in accounting.
My double major was in accounting and Hispanic studies, and thought I would work more closely in Hispanic studies, but my aspirations at KPMG held a stronger grasp.
My internship with KPMG led to a full-time offer to work in the firm’s Norfolk, Virginia, office.
I chose to work for KPMG over the other Big Four firms because interacting with others was important to me and the connections I made with people from KPMG felt most natural.
Shortly after getting married, I transferred from KPMG’s Norfolk office to Dallas, Texas.
After four years in Dallas, I was asked to come to New York for a rotation in KPMG’s international office, so I moved back to the East Coast.
When I complete my rotation in the New York office, I plan to move back to Dallas and continue working in the audit practice for KPMG—I aspire to eventually become a partner in the firm.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Managing Director, Audit
I'm responsible for leading audit engagements for clients.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Numbers
Working with Others
Day to Day
I'm a senior manager for KPMG's audit practice, so my daily responsibilities include planning and executing audit reports, advising on audit processes, and managing auditors on team engagements.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
Communication is key. It opens doors. If you communicate the things that are important to you, they're much easier to attain. For example, moving to KPMG's Dallas office wasn't on my radar at first but as soon as it became important to me to move, I communicated that to my managers and they helped make it happen.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"You have to be a workaholic if you want to be successful."
Challenges I Overcame
Relocation
Work Stress
Interviewed By
Making it Balance
Paths in accounting and auditing
