Yvonne Pascual, a Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU-H) alumna, reflects on her remarkable journey from college to her current role as a Senior Audit Associate at Ernst & Young (EY) in Huntington Beach, California.
Her story showcases perseverance, dedication, and the unique academic and personal support she found.
Table of Contents
- From the Philippines to BYU-Hawaii
- Career and Family Balance
- BYU-Hawaii: A Foundation for Success
- The Journey Forward
- Related Content
From the Philippines to BYU-Hawaii
After high school, Yvonne began her studies in accounting at Saint Louis University in the Philippines. While there, she learned about the International Working Experience Scholarship (IWES) offered at BYU-Hawaii and immediately seized the opportunity. Her application process, however, was not without its challenges. The events of 9/11 delayed her admission, but she was eventually accepted for the April 2002 semester.
During this time, Yvonne reconnected with Kamille, a high school friend of her cousin. They became close and started dating, and Kamille, too, applied to BYU-H. Despite initial concerns from her parents about how this relationship might affect her studies, Yvonne pursued her dream. Yvonne and Kamille were accepted and began their studies in Hawaii, where they built their academic careers and relationships, eventually marrying in the Laie Hawaii Temple in April 2007.
Career and Family Balance
Following their marriage, Yvonne graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in June 2007 and started her career in the BYU-H Student Activities Department. However, the birth of her first child, Kohath Liam, in early 2008 led Yvonne to step back from full-time work to focus on supporting Kamille’s flourishing career in forensic accounting. She dedicated herself to her family, but when her son started school, Yvonne felt it was time to return to the workforce.
Her first significant role was as an Accounts Payable Specialist for Axiom Healthcare. From there, she transitioned into public accounting, working for small firms like White Nelson Diehl Evans LLP (WNDE) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) before landing her current role at Ernst & Young (EY). Through it all, Kamille encouraged her to pursue her career and excel. He wanted her to find fulfillment in her chosen profession and feel capable of providing for the family if needed.
BYU-Hawaii: A Foundation for Success
Looking back, Yvonne credits much of her career success to her experiences at BYU-H. “The challenges I faced, from securing the IWES to balancing work and studies, made me determined to pursue accounting,” she recalls. As a Student Activities Senior Accountant at BYU-Hawaii Service Association (BYUHSA), she taught invaluable teamwork skills that she applies to her auditing role at EY, where collaboration is crucial.
Yvonne’s involvement with the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) and the diverse BYU-H community also shaped her perspective. Exposure to various cultures enhanced her communication skills, allowing her to lead and work effectively with different people—whether clients or colleagues at EY.
The Journey Forward
Now, as a Senior Audit Associate at EY, Yvonne navigates the complexities of audit processes, managing engagements, and working alongside teams to ensure clients’ financial statements are accurate and compliant. While she admits balancing work and personal life is challenging, she finds support in Kamille, who shares the demands of their careers and family life. EY’s commitment to work-life balance also allows her to manage both worlds effectively.
Yvonne’s advice to recent graduates is clear: pursue your Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification as early as possible, as it will significantly help in technical areas of the job. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasizes the importance of passion, hard work, and a support system, which she has found through her husband and their shared love for accounting.
For Yvonne Pascual, the path from BYU-H to a career at one of the world’s top audit firms has been filled with lessons in resilience, teamwork, and the power of family. She continues to inspire those around her, demonstrating that a fulfilling career and a happy family life can go hand in hand.
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