It was a decision that came down to the wire for Brittany Bartlett. Would she enter Dalhousie’s Bachelor of Science program and follow her family into the medical field, or would she opt for the university’s Bachelor of Commerce program and chart her own course?

As it turned out, Commerce won out for two reasons: an aversion to needles and the opportunity to explore the world of finance through the co-op program. “I’ve always tried to keep as many doors open as I can ,” she says. “The co-op program enables you to test different industries and companies to figure out where you want to go in your career. If not for that and the encouragement of one of my professors, it would have never occurred to me to go into accounting.”

Bartlett did co-op work terms with the provincial government’s Department of Finance, KPMG and Exxon Mobil. Although Exxon Mobil offered her a job in Calgary, her desire to keep her doors open and her interest in the culture of the public accounting firm led her to join KPMG in 2009.

“I knew that if I started at KPMG, I could always go work for industry should I want to go that route, but it would be more difficult to make the shift to a firm if I started in industry,” she says. “It also was beneficial that I did my KPMG work term in the fall, a less busy time than winter/spring. I not only got to work on audits but learned about various other aspects of the firm. I really got a sense of all the excitement involved in the CA (now CPA) process and enjoyed the camaraderie.”

Over the years, Bartlett progressed from staff accountant to senior accountant and management, before being made a partner at the firm’s Halifax office in 2020. At 33, she is the youngest KPMG partner in Atlantic Canada and one of the youngest in the country. “A lot of things had to align for that to happen,” she says. “The biggest piece being hard work. But when people see you apply yourself, they are happy to mentor you and give you experiences that propel you forward. I’m very fortunate to have great mentors both internal and external to KPMG.”

Grateful that others opened doors for her to succeed, Bartlett is doing the same for Dalhousie Commerce students as KPMG’s point of contact for all co-op hires. “It’s one of my favourite parts of my job because it’s an opportunity to help kickstart someone’s career,” she says. “It does require a significant commitment but seeing them grow from a new hire to management and go on to mentor others is incredibly rewarding.”

Equally rewarding is Bartlett’s work with Migraine Canada. Diagnosed with migraines at the age of 19, she was delighted when she was asked to join the board as treasurer. “From my parents to the Dalhousie community to KPMG, the importance of giving back has been ingrained in me all my life,” she says. “But it is particularly important for me when it something like this where I have a personal connection. Between my financial expertise and my patient perspective, it is the perfect fit for me.”

Bartlett has also found the perfect fit in her career. Partnership has created opportunities to add new skills and focus even more on the most important part of the business, the people. “Our people are incredible and talented – they make coming to work each day rewarding. I am always learning from them.”

“I’m enjoying the new role and love that the learning is continuous,” Bartlett says. “Every day brings a new client, business, and challenge I can help with. I’m looking forward to seeing where these experiences take me because I know whatever path I follow, there is always something new around the corner and I’ll develop many relationships along the way.