Kirsty Figg

Kirsty Figg is a senior audit associate at KPMG, where she’s worked for the last two years. She performs audits on public and private companies and has recently transitioned to a role where she will be providing training to associates and managing the audit. She currently lives in downtown Pittsburgh.

How did you choose your career path?

Both of my parents are CPAs, which initially sparked my interest in accounting. I graduated from Duquesne University with a major in accounting and continued on to receive a Masters in Accounting. Through my studies at Duquesne, I decided to venture into auditing. I enjoy auditing because you get to see a broader view of a company’s financials.

What excites you about your job?

I love that I get to meet a lot of different people. Sometimes we’ll travel to other cities and work with people from our other offices. This summer I spent time in New Jersey and loved meeting the employees in the KPMG office there. Also, on a personal note, I just passed my CPA exam, so I’m really excited about that! I’ve been studying for awhile now, and it feels so great to be done with the exam and officially be a licensed CPA!

Are you from Pittsburgh originally?

Yes, I would say I am. My hometown is Scottdale, PA., but throughout my childhood we were constantly visiting the city. When I was little, my parents worked in the city and on the drive in, I always said, “That’s my Pittsburgh.” I moved to Pittsburgh to go to college at Duquesne University and I’ve continued to live in downtown Pittsburgh. I love the convenience to work, and venturing out to new places popping up around the city.

What are some things you love to do?

I love spending time with friends and checking out new restaurants and breweries in the city. I also enjoy going home to visit my family, especially watching my nephew play baseball among other sports. One thing I really love to do is travel and explore new places. So far this year, I’ve gone to New York, Savannah and Boston, and later on this year I’m going to Nashville, TN!

How did you get involved with United Way?

I initially got involved with the United Way through work, but before that I’d been interested in volunteering more consistently. I recently became a member of LINC and joined the LINC committee, which is for young professionals under the age of 30. As a member of LINC, I will have the opportunity to become more involved with the United Way and give back to the community on a regular basis.

What events or aspects about United Way have you enjoyed most?

A recent event I enjoyed was Games for Good. There were close to 600 kids there and they came in from schools all around the city. We played games with them and taught them about healthy food. It’s great to be able to give kids exposure to important topics in a fun environment. I love that United Way events are fun, but always with the purpose of giving back to others. It’s a great experience for the people volunteering, but also for the people who benefit from the events. At every United Way event, I’ve felt like I was helping out and doing something worthwhile. When you donate money it helps support the initiative, but when you’re physically there and helping people, you feel so good when you leave and know that you’ve made a positive impact on someone’s life.

What makes United Way appealing to you as a person under 30?

There are always great people to meet at the events and it’s nice to expand my network with people who, like me, are also interested in community service. Plus, the events are always really fun.

Why is volunteering important to you at this stage in your life?

Over the past couple of years, my focus has been on my professional career and advancement. When I turned 25, I realized I wanted to have a bigger purpose in life and give back to the community more. I volunteered a lot in highschool and college, where it was easy to find ways to volunteer. But once I joined the corporate world, it was harder to find opportunities and I was missing that involvement. United Way has filled that gap for me. Volunteering at their events is relaxing and something different, and it helps to balance out the stresses of work. Plus, I’ve been fortunate to go to college and have some great opportunities, but some people are really struggling out there—and being there for them is a big thing that motivates me in life. I want to be able to give back and make a difference.