Manager, Financial Services

Kerri Patrick

Education: BBA in Accounting and MBA from Pace University, both 2000

Kerri Patrick took an INROADS internship at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the summer after her freshman year of college. She enjoyed the opportunity so much that she returned every summer, and came on fulltime after graduation. Now having worked her way up to manager status, she values her role as a diverse employee for PwC and enjoys mentoring younger recruits following in her steps.

This has been your only job since you were 17. Has it met your expectations?
Absolutely. I think the thing that I expected and the thing I enjoy the most is everything is in a constant state of change—there’s always something new and different, like new clients, new accounting guidelines, and new issues, especially given the current market situation.

How does a typical day look?
There is no typical day—there’s always something new. The thing that remains constant is my interactions with clients and the staff. If I’m not reviewing the work that they’ve done, I’m understanding new concepts and documentation. I’m always dealing with people above and below my level, and managing relationships with them. It’s a lot more talking than you’d think.

What are you most proud about in your work?
I’m most proud of helping to take a mutual insurance company public in 2001. It was an unbelievable experience participating in the process. I got to see first hand how companies interact with the SEC and how those discussions result in various disclosures in the filing process. It was very intense, but very rewarding. Also, through this transition I made a lot of networks and contacts, and many of the relationships I formed I still value as close career contacts.

What is your advice to students who want to work for PwC?
Students need to keep in mind that nothing worthwhile comes easy. They need to be open minded to all opportunities that are presented—it could be traveling internationally, teaching, being a mentor, or even just specific projects for clients that aren’t the normal audit project. You should be open to these things, because these are the things that people remember.

What role do you play in making your company diverse?
I’m Jamaican American with immigrant parents, so I grew up differently then most people I know. What I bring to the table and what has been instilled in me is to work hard, but not forget to play hard! I like to get involved in things that help people like me, like being an INROAD S mentor, and participating in PwC’s Minority Circles and Women’s Networking Circles in New York. I think by being an active participant in these groups, I help bring different perspectives that people can learn from. I love NABA’s [National Association of Black Accountants] motto, “Lifting as we climb.” I try to live by that, in work and outside of work.

Why is diversity important at your company?
It’s important because we need to mirror the people that we service—our clients. It’s not about black, white, yellow, red. It’s about thinking differently. Being cognizant of these things and understanding how people think is important when building rapport and trust with clients. It no longer feels like I’m an auditor. It’s a relationship.

Has your diversity influenced your success?
I don’t know if necessarily influenced my success, but through the things that our company has done around diversity, I have really gotten a leg up and made great connections. From a career perspective, two of my mentors—two female partners in the firm—I have met and developed relationships with through PwC’s diversity initiatives and organizations.