Kristen Ortuso, CPA of East Hampton Receives CTCPA Women to Watch Award
January 19, 2022
Kristen Ortuso, CPA of East Hampton recently received the 2022 CTCPA Women to Watch Award from the Connecticut Society of CPAs (CTCPA). Ortuso, a Partner – Tax at KPMG LLP in Hartford, was one of seven women honored during the January virtual celebration recognizing excellence in leadership and management in the accounting profession.
As a young girl, Ortuso would read her father's accounting textbooks with great interest. “I enjoyed the organization of it all,” she said. While studying at the University of Connecticut in 2006, she became an intern at the KPMG Hartford office and has been there ever since. In 2021, she was promoted to tax partner and is involved nationally with the firm's technical and technology initiatives. “I wouldn't be where I am today without the help of my husband. It really has been a team effort as we balance raising our two young sons while growing our careers.”
Ortuso shares her experiences in work-life balance as a local leader of KPMG's Network of Women (KNOW). She is also a highly effective role model for staff and managers interested in developing strong technical, client relationship, and business skills.
Throughout the COVID pandemic, she has been able to successfully navigate parenting, juggling working from home, childcare, and homeschooling a school-aged child. She is also engaged with her older son's many extracurricular activities.
“She fully supports the needs of her managers and staff and promotes workplace flexibility as not just a feature of a career at KPMG, but a necessity to be successful,” said Mark Caplan, KPMG partner and nominator. “She is candid and honest about the challenges she faces as a working mother to help others understand that balance is not only important but welcomed.”
“It is so important to strike a balance and to give yourself grace,” said Ortuso. “You won't be able to get through your to-do list every day. You just have to find what works best for you and your family.”
Ortuso was recognized as a Stacey Lewis Rising Star in 2016 and was a recipient of the Local Office Chairman's Award. She has also participated in many KPMG leadership development programs including the Tax Management Leadership Council, the Lead Tax Partner Academy, and the KPMG Leadership Advantage Program at Cornell.
Ortuso finds time to give back as a member of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut Board of Directors, where she also serves on the Executive and Nominating & Governance committees.
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