Three employees of professional services firm KPMG in Bermuda have successfully completed their accounting designations.

Ranisha Simmons earned the Chartered Professional Accountant, CPA Canada designation, while Ciara Rego and Jahlae Outerbridge each earned the Certified Public Accountant, CPA United States designation.

Ms Simmons joined KPMG in Bermuda’s private enterprise department in 2018 after graduating with a 4.0 GPA degree in accounting from Mount Saint Vincent University.

She said: “It is a blessing to have successfully completed my CPA CA designation journey after two years of hard work. I’m filled with joy and relief that this process has come to an end, and I look forward to the new opportunities it will bring. Through the challenges, obstacles, and moments of self-doubt, I’m thankful for the unwavering support I received from KPMG, family, and friends.”

Ms Rego joined the firm’s private enterprise department as an intern in 2016. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA Masters’ degree in accounting from the University of Tampa. She was the 2015 KPMG Scholarship recipient.

She worked at KPMG on three occasions as a summer intern before joining as a full-time member of its private enterprise audit team in 2019.

Ms Rego said: “The two-year journey has finally ended – I have successfully completed the US Certified Public Accountant exam process. From the moment I found out scores were released for my final exam to the moment I found out my results, my emotions were a rollercoaster. I can say that I am extremely relieved and grateful to be finished. I am thankful for my family, friends, colleagues and KPMG for providing support during the process of accomplishing something for my career and my future that was extremely draining, but so worth it at the end.”

Ms Outerbridge is a member of KPMG’s tax practice, having joined the firm as a graduate trainee within the financial services audit department in 2019 after graduating with a 4.0 GPA Bachelors’ degree in accounting from Georgia State University. She was the 2016 KPMG Scholarship recipient.

She said: “After two years of studying, I am proud to finally say that I have successfully completed all four parts of the US Certified Public Accountant exam. It was a tough journey, but this feeling of accomplishment has definitely made the entire process worth it. Thank you to KPMG for their investment in my education and career.”

Each of the newly qualified employees has taken part in the firm’s KPMG Lift Off Programme. Twelve Bermudians are now in various stages of achieving the CPA CA, CPA US and ACA designations. During the past five years, KPMG said it has seen eight Bermudians achieve their CPA professional designations.

Mike Morrison, CEO of KPMG in Bermuda, said: “I congratulate Ranisha, Ciara and Jahlae on these milestone achievements. Each of them exemplifies what we want from our Lift Off programme where talent, opportunity, learning and development and dedication can produce professional designations and the platform to build a rewarding career. We are very excited about their future opportunities with our firm.”

Steve Woodward, managing director and lead of the Lift Off programme, added: “It is wonderful to see our graduates continue on to become qualified accountants. It takes on an additional significance when we are able to support the growth of Bermudians.”

Adam Smith, managing director and head of people, said: “At KPMG, we are focused on excellence and developing our people to reach their full potential. We continue to invest in our learning and development programme, led by Garita Coddington, aimed at developing skills and behaviours crucial to becoming a leader. Well done to our graduates for reaching this major milestone in their career and I look forward to seeing them continue to develop into leaders in our firm and the community.”

Wanda Armstrong, senior manager for the Lift Off programme and vice chairwoman of the graduate committee, added: “It is rewarding and a joy to witness the transition of our Bermudian students’ growth and development from internship through to experienced qualified accounting professionals. I am so pleased to see our three female graduates achieve these significant accomplishments and look forward to them becoming our future leaders.”

The Lift Off programme has three robust curriculums, KPMG said.

The first is a summer internship/co-op placement programme where employment is offered to a select group of Bermudian undergraduates – a 12-week period for interns and four to six months for university co-op placements.

The second is the KPMG Scholarship programme whereby an award, valued at $20,000 annually for up to three years, is granted to a Bermudian university student interested in pursuing a career either as a chartered professional accountant, a certified public accountant or an associate chartered accountant.

The firm said many interns and scholarship recipients also take part in its graduate trainee programme, joining as full time employees and supported with on the job training, mentoring as well as sponsorship of further education towards their professional accounting designation.

All three curriculums are available through an application process which can be found by visiting www.home.kpmg/bm/liftoff.

For more information, contact Ms Armstrong at 294-2679 or wandaarmstrong@kpmg.bm.