Meet an Auditor: Kim O’Connor

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? For Kim O’Connor, Boston Office Managing Partner at Grant Thornton, the ability to try new things means no two days on the job are the same. Thanks to her career in audit, Kim is always learning. You can discover her story through the Share Your Road portal. 

When Kim was starting off in her career, she tried lots of different avenues to find out what aspects of audit and accounting were the best fit for her. Trying new things can be difficult, and Kim often struggled with whether or not she would be able to learn quickly enough, but her work ethic and willingness to try new things enabled her to succeed.

Kim knows that trying new things can be intimidating. At the beginning of her career, she was often the only woman at the table and had to be intentional in leveraging her opportunities. Now, Kim enjoys advocating for women in the profession and creating more inclusive environments. She hopes that her story can inspire a new generation of women interested in the field to step out of their comfort zone and be curious.

When Kim was just starting out, she was often concerned she would fall behind. By paying attention, having an open mind, and asking questions, she was able to adapt to all the different roles she fell into. What Kim appreciates about her career is that there are always opportunities to learn something new, which means she never gets stuck doing the same thing every day. 

Does one of your students remind you of Kim? Point them to our resources for High School Students and start them on the journey toward an exciting career in audit. 

Kim wants people starting out in the field to know that they’re not alone in being afraid to try new things, but that they’ll be rewarded for sticking with it and learning something new. Kim has proven that a career in audit means you’re always developing new skills and taking on new opportunities. 

What advice does Kim have for students interested in a career in audit?

• Be your authentic self.
• Practice taking risks and learning as you go.
• Teamwork and collaboration are key.

If you want to know more about Kim O’Connor’s journey, check out her Share Your Road profile. 

Adding the Share Your Road portal to your lesson plan is a great way to teach your students about a career in audit, without leaving the computer.