Finding the right balance makes me Auditor Proud

When I was a senior manager at Ernst & Young LLP, I made a decision that changed the course of my professional life and set me on the path for the fulfilling, balanced career and lifestyle I have today. I decided to ask my manager for a flexible work arrangement that would enable me to spend time raising my three young sons while also continuing to grow my career. I wanted to be with my family — but I still found work incredibly stimulating and rewarding.

Before starting my career, I never fully considered what it would take to have a satisfying career and family life. It’s not always the first thing on one’s mind in college. I just remember thinking that one would have to suffer. I thought this would be especially true for an auditor, a client-facing role that required long hours.

Fast forward to today, and I am proud to say that I am a highly engaged mother of three and an auditor and the talent leader for the EY Assurance practice in the Americas. In my role, I coordinate people issues for a practice of almost 20,000 professionals throughout North America, Central America, South America, and Israel. This is a big job, and I earned it through my achievements — even going on a flexible work arrangement. I am proud of that accomplishment, but what I find most powerful is that I get to work with clients and develop EY people by making sure they have world-class skills in auditing, all while picking up my kids up from school and having dinner with my family (most nights).

Two principles have contributed to making my work arrangement a success:

1. Flexibility goes two ways

In spite of a reduced workload for ten years, I was the first person in our Southwest region to make partner under a flexible work arrangement. A lot of this had to do with my understanding that I needed to get my job done well, no matter what my stated hours. At times, this meant answering emails on weekends, some late nights for client work or early morning conference calls. The key was that I did it on my own time, and I am grateful I had the freedom to make those choices.

2. Delivering requires discipline

Discipline is key to flourishing in a flexible work arrangement. I still had many of the same deliverables as other audit partners — client engagements, recruiting on college campuses, business development and more. Sometimes just with less time to check the boxes. I relied heavily on discipline and my laser-sharp focus to follow through on my commitments.

Anyone with a flexible work arrangement in the EY network can follow the same path as me — whether your passion is to make time for family, volunteer in your community or pursue a hobby. It’s about living your purpose while building the career that is right for you. I am proud that we give people that opportunity.

Working flexibly has given me the power to design each and every one of my days and, by extension, my life. But it was really the choice long ago to be an auditor back in those days at college that first opened the door. Reflecting on what it means to be Auditor Proud, for me it’s the idea that there are no limits. I didn’t have to choose between two things I love — I was able to say, “I’ll take both.” And that’s what makes me forever proud, #AuditorProud.