As an undergraduate, Isabella Williams ’25 received internship offers from all of the Big Four accounting firms, a very rare accomplishment.

She accepted an internship at PwC and is now an associate in the company’s Investigations & Forensics sector, based in Boston. There she found both a professional challenge and very welcoming colleagues.

“That was the magical moment of it all,’’ she said. “I realized, ‘This is my place.’ It felt right.’’

Strong grades and diligent networking helped Williams distinguish herself in the job market. She also believes that her two minors, one in crime and justice and the other in social responsibility in business, helped augment her accounting knowledge.

Talk About Things That Set Your Heart on Fire

During a trip back to campus in September, Williams spoke with accounting students and said that the key to landing a great job is persistence and being your own best advocate.

“I was always in search of people who can connect me,’’ she said. “I would say to take any opportunity that you can. Go to leadership programs, get your name out there, and talk to people. One conversation leads another, which leads to forward progress. You’d be surprised how eager people are to help you along the way.’’

Williams was very active in UConn activities, working as an instructional assistant, serving as the Scholarship Chair for her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, and participating in leadership roles for HuskyTHON for three years. She remains involved in that fundraiser as an alumna.

“If someone discovers a 25th hour in the day, let me know and I can fill it,’’ she joked.

“When interviewers would say, ‘Tell me about yourself,’ I could say that everything that I did I was always passionate about,’’ she said. “Everyone applying for these jobs is smart and a hard worker. But if you can talk about things that set your heart on fire, that’s something special.’’

Erin Leigh, the recruiting, career and external relations major for the Accounting program, said receiving an internship offer from all of the Big 4 firms is highly unusual. In public accounting, the biggest challenge is typically getting an internship, and 96 percent of UConn students receive a full-time offer from the same firm after completing an internship.

UConn’s Accounting program has a strong track record. Some 91 percent of UConn accounting majors had a full-time job or attended graduate school within three months of the 2025 graduation. Of them, 95 percent chose to start their careers in public accounting, and 74 percent of them secured jobs with one of the Big Four.

Williams Enjoys the Watchdog Aspect of Her Work

Williams, a native of Long Island, N.Y., said she always wanted to be an accounting major, from day one. However it took some time for her to realize that she didn’t want to pursue the traditional audit/tax pathway.

“I’ve always been a numbers person but I didn’t want to be an engineer. I thought I had the soft skills that matched well with business,’’ she said. “And as for the forensics…I like the ‘cop’ aspect of the job. I found the perfect intersection of my interests.’’

Professor, Mentors, Experiences Sharpened Career

“The day I toured UConn there was a basketball game and everyone was running into Gampel, and I thought that was great,’’ she said. “But UConn is much more than what you see on the surface. I found such supportive professors, I gained a lot of friends and mentors. Everyone in New England knows what a great university this is, and it is much more than a ‘basketball school.’’’

“At UConn, I learned to surround myself with people I wanted to be around, to develop great mentors, and to forge my own path,’’ she said. “Those skills have been invaluable to me in the workforce.’’