Udanda Clark

Partner, Financial Services Office Assurance

Ernst & Young

New York, NY USA

“Understand that it is okay to have a dream, but then choose to pursue something that you could have never imagined doing...be open to going beyond your dreams.”

Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Udanda Clark

Milestones

My road in life took a while to figure out.

I grew up in a small town in South Carolina, where a majority of the African-American residents that I was surrounded by were either doctors, educators, or lawyers.

Due to the environment I grew up in, I thought that I wanted to be a doctor and focused my schooling around that.

Attended the University of North Carolina (UNC), where I earned my bachelor’s degree in biology—during my junior year in college, I began to doubt if medicine was the right path for me.

After graduating, I continued on at UNC to receive my master’s degree in accounting through a program specially designed for non-accounting undergraduates.

I still had the goal of becoming a doctor and wanted to combine my CPA understanding with running the business of a medical practice, but I ultimately decided not to pursue that dream.

After receiving my graduate degree, I got a job working as a senior manager at Ernst & Young (EY).

I’ve had the opportunity to work in many different EY offices around the world, including in Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago, and London.

I am now a partner at EY, where I work mainly in the financial technology sector, helping startups grow their businesses.

Keep following my journey

Education

High School

Bachelor
Human Biology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Graduate
Accounting
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Career

Partner, Financial Services Office Assurance

I am an assurance partner with a focus in the financial technology sector.

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

Numbers

Technology

Working with Others

Day to Day

As an auditing partner, I am mainly there to help my team. We are a collaborative environment. I manage financial services for companies that are mainly in the technology space. We call it FinTech and help startups in the Bay Area. I help build out our go-to-market strategy on how we execute in the market on FinTech, particularly when it comes to engaging with prospective clients. I help to bring our whole firm to our clients so that we can help them grow.

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for college students

Take a class in accounting and see if you like it! Follow wherever your interests may lie and try it out. Start studying and get your CPA early.

Recommended Education

Bachelor
Human Biology

Graduate
Accounting

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Myself:

"I'm never going to be a doctor."

Challenges I Overcame

Changed Major

Work Stress

Imposter Syndrome

Udanda Clark

Partner, Financial Services Office Assurance

Videos

Udanda Clark

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Numbers

Technology

Working with Others

Day to Day

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Myself:

Challenges I Overcame

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