History-making accountant for Caribbean conference

Highly respected United States-based accountant Kimberly Ellison-Taylor will be among high profile speakers confirmed for the 37th Annual Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean Conference to be held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, June 20-22.

The conference will be held under the theme ‘Navigating Global Disruption: Creating Opportunities’.

Ellison-Taylor is the global accounting strategy director for Oracle Corporation, a California-based American multinational software and technology company. She has had a distinguished and outstanding career, including being the first African American chairperson for the more than century-old American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).

Ellison-Taylor is also a past chairman of the Association of Certified Professional Accountants, the world’s largest accountancy body of more than 670,000 members in over 180 countries.

Life’s ABCS

From the streets of inner-city Baltimore, Maryland, to the top of the accounting and finance profession, Ellison-Taylor upholds the importance of what she calls life’s ABCs – Attitude; Belief in oneself; and Courage to act with compassion; and take chances, and to be different.

“My path is a testament to the power of high expectations,” said Ellison-Taylor, who encourages her colleague accounting professionals to always demand more from themselves, no matter their achievements.

Ellison-Taylor, who was named one of the most powerful women in accounting in 2018 by Accounting Today, earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland, a master of business administration (MBA) at Loyola University, and a master’s in information technology at Carnegie Mellon University.

ADVICE

Asked what advice she would give to female college students about the opportunities for women in the accounting profession, Ellison-Taylor answered:

“There is no box. Let’s dream big and reimagine our future. In order to leverage and maximise the many opportunities that are available, we must refute stereotypes and ‘can’t’ from our thinking,” she said.

“In locations throughout the United States and around the world, in organisations of all sizes and in every industry, CPAs and CGMAs are mission critical. There is a seat for all of us. Please be sure to own your own truth, say yes to roles and opportunities that will increase your skills and visibility, and seek a personal board of directors that includes mentors, coaches, and sponsors,” she encouraged individuals.

She is a past chair of the Maryland Association of CPAs, and has served on many of its committees, including the New Young Professional Network and Tomorrow’s CPA.

Before rising to her current position at Oracle, Ellis-Taylor previously served as Oracle’s executive director and global practice team leader for health and human services.

Prior to Oracle, she worked in leadership roles at numerous major companies and organisations, including the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Motorola; KPMG; and Prince George’s County Government, where she served as chief information technology Officer.

Celebrated American author Steven Covey will be keynote speaker at the conference.