KPMG LLP (No. 11 on the Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies list), the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, announces that James Powell has been named National Partner-in-Charge, Campus Recruiting and University Relations for the firm.
In this role, Powell will work with the Human Resources vice chair and recruiting leadership team to maintain and enhance the firm’s university relations by building relationships with students and faculty. He will continue to serve in his role as Office Managing Partner for KPMG’s Nashville office. Powell succeeds Becky Sproul, a KPMG Audit partner, who led the firm’s campus recruiting efforts since 2013. Under her leadership the firm increased intern and minority student hiring, launched KPMG’s Global Advantage Student Leadership program, and created a new KPMG Careers website and Faculty Portal.
“Working with the academic community to attract talented new professionals with the skills to meet today’s challenges is the foundation of our success,” said Darren Burton, KPMG vice chair, Human Resources. “James has already been a leader in the firm’s campus recruiting activities and I look forward to working with him as he takes on this national role.”
Powell recently served as the Partner-in-Charge of University Recruiting for the East region. He is also a member of KPMG’s Diversity Advisory Board and was a nominating committee member for the firm’s Board of Directors since 2015. Powell became a partner in 2005 and has 25 years of experience providing financial statement audit and audit of internal control services to clients in the Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Nashville offices. His clients span a wide variety of industries including consumer goods, retail, transportation, pharmaceutical, and life sciences.
“I am delighted to represent KPMG and work with the academic community in this new capacity,” commented Powell. “KPMG’s vision is to be the Clear Choice for our clients and communities, and an integral part of that equation is recruiting professionals who will work with passion and purpose to further our vision.”
Powell earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University in Fresno, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a licensed CPA in Georgia, Tennessee, and California.
