Senior Accountant in Assurance

William Love

Education: BS, Accounting, Michigan State University, 2006; MS, Accountancy, University of Notre Dame, 2007

Accounting wasn’t even on William Love’s radar when he started undergrad. But as a pre-law student, he wanted a more focused career goal. That’s when some friends invited him to a National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) meeting. The next semester, he switched his major to accounting because it was more focused, yet still allowed him to build a broad knowledge of business. Now, after two years at Big Four firm Ernst & Young LLP, he not only feels he’s still learning, but also that he’s imparting knowledge to new hires.

When did you know Ernst & Young was the place for you?
It was fall semester senior year at a NABA recruiting conference. I knew about the Big Four firms and the wonderful opportunities they provide, but my interactions with the people at Ernst & Young stuck out. Instead of just asking questions about my coursework, they were genuinely interested in hearing about me as a person.

What’s a typical day like?
Busy! In the morning I communicate with the client to get the information I need to complete testing for whatever accounts or business processes I am analyzing. Also, I usually supervise a team of more junior staff. I never imagined that in just two years I’d be teaching newer employees, but it’s a very rewarding part of my job because I can see the effects of my guidance.

What are your career goals?
I hope to use the knowledge I’ve gained to give back to the community. Many executives here have the opportunity to sit on boards and use their professional experience to help non-profit organizations. I aspire to that. I work now with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and I’d like to continue with them. As an African-American male who grew up in the inner city and forged a path in the professional world, I think I can inspire underprivileged young people to reach further.

Do you think your generation sees diversity differently than past generations?
Definitely. Previous generations were focused more on the struggle to show that diversity is important in the workplace. Now, employers understand that diversity is not only the right thing to do, but that it’s also a smart investment. Having employees that represent a wide diversity of ideas and experiences makes a company stronger and more competitive.

How does Ernst & Young foster inclusiveness?
One way is that all employees are encouraged to share their opinions and perspectives. I’m involved in programs that promote this sharing, such as our Learning Partnership, which pairs minority employees with firm leaders to establish a mentoring relationship. We’re also the first of the Big Four to hold an annual diversity event called the Minority Leadership Conference. Building relationships, networking, and strengthening leadership skills are really important, and Ernst & Young provides a lot of opportunities to do that.

Any advice for today’s undergrads?
Get involved, at school and work, because involvement is important to employers. Not to mention, if I hadn’t gotten involved with NABA, I wouldn’t be at Ernst & Young today.