PricewaterhouseCoopers

Sheryl Walker first became interested in the industry when she took her first accounting class. As a subject, it made sense to her, and she knew that it was a strong profession. It would be a good choice no matter what she ended up doing in her career.

Q: How did you first learn about PwC?

A: We had a number of firms recruiting on campus – including PricewaterhouseCoopers. My interaction with the recruiters was always very positive and that created a lasting impression. I was a part of the INROADS program (www.inroads.org) which is an independent organization that assists minority students with training and career development. PwC is a platinum INROADS sponsor and historically hires a large number of interns as a part of our diversity recruitment efforts. When they offered me an internship, I didn’t hesitate for one minute.

Q: And then you had the chance to represent PwC yourself on campus…

A: Yes, that’s right. My first internship was similar to an HR internship, I worked with the NY Metro campus recruiting team. The following summer I had a client service internship in our audit practice. I also applied for and was granted a $3,000 eXceed scholarship, which the firm offers to diverse accounting majors. As part of the scholarship, I also attended a summer conference with many of the minority professionals in the firm.

Q: You have had different roles during your time here. Where did you start and what do you do today?

A: My first full time role was as a Real Estate Assurance Associate. I would examine accounts to ensure the client’s financial statements were free from material misstatements. Day-to-day I was reaching out to the client for specific supporting documents or meeting with my audit team to discuss the status of the audit. After two years, I expressed my desire to try something new. I had just completed my book, “The Black Girl’s Guide To College Success,” and was ready to move into a role I felt capitalized on my strengths and interests. I am a National Sourcing Associate coordinating and managing projects that impact our campus and diversity recruitment strategy. Some examples include our distinguished internship program, our diversity scholarship program, eXceed, as well as the Diversity in Business Leadership Conference. Now that I have moved into this role, I have that much more respect for the firm. There are so many career opportunities PwC has to offer.

Q: What are you most proud of in your work at PwC?

A: I meet a number of faculty and students during various sourcing events. When I speak to them, they are so appreciative. People recognize the hard work. That’s probably the most rewarding part of the job.

Q: How do you think PwC supports diversity?

A: We’re definitely a diverse firm. We are constantly trying to evaluate how to recruit and retain diverse employees. The breadth of programs that supports diversity and inclusion demonstrates that diversity is a top priority at PwC.

Q: When you’re hiring for your team, or you’re working a campus recruiting event, what characteristics are you looking for in future employees?

A: We seek candidates that have the intelligence and desire to prove themselves. People who are creative and self starters. We have opportunities for people right out of school, who are looking to go into our auditing, tax, or advisory side of our business. We’re also seeking experienced hires that possess an accounting background. Generally, candidates will have an undergaduate or master’s degree in accounting or taxation.

Q: What’s your advice to a young professional who wants to join PwC?

A: My advice is for students to be open to opportunities, step out of your comfort zone… and be willing to be the best. We have a lot of mentoring programs in place – but at the end of the day, you should take charge of your development. Once an employee is working with PwC – they may not have experience with a specific industry or job and they get nervous they haven’t done it before – they shouldn’t be afraid to take on new challenges. Understand what’s being asked of you on a project and
don’t be afraid to tell people you’re not sure how to do something. You’ll get the guidance you need, and you’re in a better position to succeed.

Q: You’ve been at PwC for twenty years, how did your career begin?

A: Back in 1987 I wanted to work in Tax. At that time, to work in Tax, you had to work in Audit first, but I didn’t want to do that. Instead, I worked for the IRS, took the CPA exam, and I was able to come directly into the tax department. I received offers from some of the Big Eight but chose Coopers and Lybrand, one of the legacy firms of PwC, because of their reputation.

Q: What diversity and inclusion programs help employees feel connected to the company?

A: We have a number of programs in place, but to name one, we have minority circles that are set up throughout the country in a variety of the offices. They give employees the chance to network within a group that share similar concerns or interests. The programs may host a panel discussion of minority partners where people can ask the hard questions of how these minorities made it to the partner level.

Q: Is this a diverse company? If so, how?

A: In my opinion, PwC is a diverse company. We put a lot of emphasis on diversity, not because our clients are doing it – it’s because we believe it is the right thing to do. When I first joined the firm, there were no affinity programs to promote diversity among the group. Here we are now in 2007, and there are number of diversity programs in place and diverse employees continue to hold leadership roles.

PricewaterhouseCoopers is the largest global network of professional service firms - offering a wide range of Assurance, Advisory and Tax services to many of the world’s largest and most prestigious companies. PwC people have access to unparalleled knowledge, learning and technical resources around the world. www.pwc.tv