It is understandable for young adults in college to be unsure of the careers they want to establish beyond the scope of their education, as was the case for Carl Jenkins, a leading professional at Kroll, a financial and risk advisory firm based in New York. Now, with over 45 years of professional experience, Jenkins’ uncertainty has led to a successful career, where he has distinguished himself as an expert in finance, accounting, and taxation.
An Educational Foundation
With years of experience, Jenkins attributes his success to his love of learning. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance, magna cum laude, from Boston University in 1978. Furthering his higher education journey at Bentley University, he earned a Master of Science in taxation in 1982. During his years in college, he also became an active member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Alpha Psi.
Jenkins has also furthered his knowledge, receiving several professional credentials, including a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Public Accountant Accredited in Business Valuation (CPA/ABV), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).
Professional Experience
At graduation, Jenkins was unsure of what career path he wanted to take. While not confident in becoming a CPA, he did have all the requirements and decided to interview for various related positions after college. All eight firms he interviewed offered him jobs, creating a complex situation that left him unclear about his choice.
To help Jenkins make a decision on which offer to take, his father encouraged him to consider which firm needed him most. At the time, KPMG was experiencing an office change, leaving it less organized. While other firms were better structured, KPMG was the offer his father recommended because it was the place that would benefit him the most. “Go to someplace that needs you, not just someplace that offers you a job,” said his father.
Jenkins accepted the offer from KPMG and began his career in 1978. After five years with the firm, he became a partner at MacDonald, Levine, Jenkins & Co. from 1983 to 1996, followed by a managing partner position at Brown & Brown LLP for 10 years. Furthering his work experience, in 2006, Jenkins became a managing director of audit, tax, and consulting services at UHY Advisors FLVS Inc.
With a career trajectory marked by significant positions, Jenkins has been serving as president, vice-chair, and now senior advisor of the governance and risk advisory business unit at Kroll since 2016. Having demonstrated strong leadership skills while leveraging his technical expertise, Jenkins has recently been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who, an American publisher that profiles selected individuals who have demonstrated significant contributions to society.
Beyond his professional passions, Jenkins is dedicated to giving back to the community and pursuing his passions. He currently serves as a second lieutenant of emergency services with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol and as the director of his town’s community emergency response team. Jenkins also mentors college students across the nation through his association with Scholars of Finance, which is an organization committed to raising the ethical standards of the finance profession.
