The 2017 Women Leaders on Consulting: Nancy Aubrey

After 20 years in audit with Andersen, Nancy Aubrey, a Partner with RSM, transitioned into consulting when she joined Caturano and Company in Boston, which became part of RSM in 2010.  "I was asked to develop and lead a risk advisory services practice–at the time, the risk practice was just a concept without a designated team and little to no market share," she says.

Aubrey leads the firm's New England risk advisory services practice including internal audit services, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance readiness consulting, risk management services, and System and Organization Controls (SOC) consulting and reporting. In addition, she also leads the firm's New England Life Science industry practice group; a dedicated team of partners and staff focused on delivering strategic innovative solutions to companies ranging from start-up to emerging and prominent public companies. She has extensive expertise in the areas of risk management, internal controls, Sarbanes-Oxley, SOC reporting, operational and process auditing, and financial statement audits.

Ask her what she loves most about consulting and the work she does day to day and she'll say, without hesitation, that it's the people. "The client relationships I've built over the years and being able to help them address their business challenges has been very rewarding," Aubrey says. "I also really enjoy coaching and mentoring our people and helping develop future leaders. Creating opportunities to advance the careers for members of my team, including adding new partners to the firm, is a key priority for me."

In addition to her consulting and industry leadership roles, Aubrey also serves on the regional board for RSM's women's employee network group and co-leads its Boston group. "We are focused on the advancement and retention of our women, which I feel is critical to our long-term success," she says. "My advice to a female consultant just beginning her career is to focus on creating opportunities to cultivate and expand your network of contacts in all aspects of your life. As you progress in your career you'll find that these contacts will be important to you on many levels, from providing advice and friendship to creating business opportunities for you."

Aubrey says she would also advise her to challenge herself and take advantage of opportunities that may present themselves.

Meanwhile, the best advice Aubrey's ever received, she says, is don't be afraid to take a different path than planned. "I have had a number of twists and turns in my career," she says. "I may not necessarily have stepped down those paths without people really encouraging me to approach the next steps in my career differently than I had originally planned."

Consulting: What is your greatest personal or professional achievement?

Aubrey: "My greatest achievement has been being able to successfully balance a career and family life. Building a successful risk advisory services practice from the ground up and creating additional partnership opportunities while being able to watch my children grow into young adults and celebrate their accomplishments has been very rewarding."