Rising Stars of the Profession: Kristen Birkeland

Kristen Birkeland is a director with Protiviti's Business Performance Improvement practice, based in the firm's New York office. She has more than 13 years experience in providing audit and financial advisory consulting services to international companies, including IPO services, supporting public companies with implementation of various accounting standards and partnering with clients on Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

Kristen is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and management information systems from the University of Delaware.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

Getting accepted into a work abroad (secondment) program and spending over two years working in London as an audit manager. This experience really helped me break through many barriers both personally and professionally as I had to go out of my comfort zone on many levels. It offered me countless life experiences as I was able to expand my network professionally, work in a new environment with a variety of cultures, travel Europe, and make lifelong friendships (including my husband!).

What advice would you give a professional just beginning a career in consulting?

Be open-minded and willing. Not all projects or clients will be equally exciting, but with a good attitude you can make anything fun and rewarding

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

I have spent my entire professional career doing client-facing consulting, and what I love most about the profession is that no two days are the same. I am constantly meeting new faces and helping to solve new challenges, and I always look forward to seeing the impact we make on our clients' business. There is nothing better than seeing a client team reach a deadline or solve a problem, and knowing you helped them get there.

What's the best advice—personal or professional—you've ever received?

To stop and smell the roses. Never forget to take a moment to look around and take it all in, both professionally and personally, to appreciate how far you've come.

What does being honored as a Rising Star mean to you?

I believe being nominated as a Rising Star speaks to the team around me and to the clients I support. They say you are only as good as your team, and I'm thankful to have a great one around me and grateful to have great clients. I have always lived by the mantra of treating others as you wish to be treated, and that includes making sure that my clients are well taken care of and their needs are met.