Randy Gardner

Randy Gardner

Audit Associate


KPMG

Denver, CO USA


Rejection does not define us. How we bounce back from rejection does.

Milestones

My road in life took a while to figure out.
International baccalaureate program in high school -This helped develop my ambition in the educational and professional sphere
Attending the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder - I was nervous to attend this school as it was relatively far from home but it really pushed me outside of my comfort zone
Joining clubs / organizations at university - I've always been shy and being among leadership in different school clubs pushed me to speak publicly and hone in on my soft skills
Getting rejected from a few internships - rejection is unfortunately a part of life but fortunately, rejection does not define us. How we bounce back from rejection does.
Landing an internship with KPMG - landing my first internship with KPMG gave me my first insight into the professional world.
Traveling - In college, I tried to go everywhere. From Australia, to France, to Sri Lanka & beyond - this made me realize that life isn't just about reaching goals, it's about seeking passions.
Starting KPMG - Even starting at the bottom of the totem pole in the professional world, you can make an impact. Having confidence in my abilities can go a long way!
Keep following my journey

Education

High School
Pueblo West High School
Bachelor
Business with Emphasis in Accounting
University of Colorado Boulder
Graduate
Accounting
University of Colorado Boulder

Career

Audit Associate

I work to ensure that different companies are presenting their financial to capital users fairly and accurately.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Numbers
Problem Solving

Day to Day

As opposed to the typical stereotype of accounting, I do something different nearly every day. Essentially I use different technologies, whether it's Microsoft Office, internal technologies, or otherwise to evaluate different components of companies' financial statements (like cash, accounts receivable, equity, etc). When I have questions, I reach out or meet with the client or internally with my team to get questions answered and make sure we are reaching our goals.

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for college students

Reach out to people who have experience. Connect with auditors and accounting professionals on LinkedIn and reach out. Most professionals love to mentor and want you to reach your goals, especially if you are passionate about them. So reach out and ask questions—the only thing it can do is bring you closer to your goals!

Recommended Education

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

undergrad
Bachelor
Business with Emphasis in Accounting
graduate
Graduate
Accounting

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Friends:

"You're too extroverted to be an accountant; you'll be stuck in a cubicle at your computer all day."

Challenges I Overcame

Mental Health Issues