Kelly Grier, CPA – 2019 Most Powerful Women in Accounting

What advice would you give to female college students about the opportunities for women in the accounting profession?

There’s never been a better time to start a career journey in accounting – it’s full of promise and opportunity. And even though the jobs you will have one day may not have even been created yet, the language of accounting is universal and is an incredibly valuable asset. In these fast-changing times, it’s a skillset that has transcended all of the technological changes that have impacted other businesses. Fluency in this language will help you succeed in countless roles across all sectors of the global economy and is a launch pad to the most impactful careers in business.

What would you suggest to accounting firms that are interested in retaining and advancing more qualified female staff?

It’s important for people to see themselves in your culture. Having a culture where everyone feels like they belong and can bring the best parts of themselves to work is fundamental to engagement, retention, innovation and thriving in these dynamic times. When people feel a sense of belonging, they bring their passion and diverse ideas to the table, which ultimately helps an organization offer the best solutions to its clients.

Equally as important is providing access to opportunities that support career development for all employees, including mentoring, sponsorship, coaching and learning, as well as programs that support flexibility, paid parental leave and mental and physical well-being.

Why did you choose to work in – and stay in – the accounting field?

I have stayed with EY for 28 years because I really love what I do each day. I’ve been lucky to have diverse opportunities to work and live overseas while working on some of the firm’s biggest clients. I spent almost five years in EY’s Zurich, Switzerland, a transformative leadership experience that taught me about the power in drawing out different perspectives to create the most innovative solutions.

In addition to other roles, I also served as Vice Chair of Talent for the Americas. This was an incredibly rewarding experience, one that has shaped me into the leader I am today and has driven my passion for cultivating a culture of belonging where all employees can thrive. 

At a time of tremendous change, I have such conviction in our people and where we are headed as a firm. We are transforming our own business and the way we deliver quality services to our stakeholders, at the same time we’re helping to transform our clients’ businesses. It’s incredibly gratifying. 

What book(s), blog(s), podcast(s) do you recommend?

Simon Sinek’s “Leaders eat last”

What changes do you foresee in the accounting profession of the near future (3-5 years)?

Coming into this role, I recognized that we are in a time of profound change. Digitization and the technical revolution are transforming the way we work with each other and the way we deliver services and offerings to our clients. To seize the opportunities of the Transformative Age, we need to evolve our service offerings to be responsive to what the market will need tomorrow, not just what the market needs today. We also have to think about how we modernize, innovate and continue to improve the way that we deliver our product offerings, including in some of the traditional areas around Audit and Tax. In fact, we’ve already made an investment in how we enable the digital audit which has been a differentiator for us amongst our competitors. And there is an upside to all the automation we are experiencing. Work that has historically been done by human beings – transactional type work – is now being automated; freeing up our people to engage in meaningful work across all aspects of our business. Opportunities like this allow our people to focus on conducting true business analysis, helping them to learn, grow and better serve our clients. Just as important is ensuring that you have a culture where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging and is empowered as a Transformative Leader to embrace change, inspire innovation and take risks that will help us meet the changing needs of our clients. 

Describe one person who has been an important mentor to you and how that person helped shape the direction or focus of your professional life.

The relationships you cultivate in the workplace can be a springboard into many roles and experiences. When I returned from Europe as a young EY partner, a partner that had always been a strong sponsor of mine gave me the opportunity to lead on a large account. Realizing that it was a critical time in my career, he vacated his leadership role so I could assume the post and gain the experience I needed to make the next step in my career. I will always remember and be grateful for his support, and have tried to pay it forward to help talented and hard-working people advance their own careers at EY.

Please share a personal rule or principle that you follow.

I think one of the most important things you can do as leader is to build a diverse, dynamic team and empower them to bring bold, forward-thinking ideas to the table. Only by listening and drawing all people into a discussion – and giving them permission to speak freely even when they disagree with you – can you fully unlock the potential of your team, drive innovation and deliver the best solutions to your clients.   

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Learn more about the 2019 Most Powerful Women in Accounting.