When Camila Cote graduated from the University of Miami with her accounting degree in 1994, she intended to work at Ernst & Young (EY) for two years before heading off to law school or to get an M.B.A. That’s not to say she hadn’t enjoyed her accounting education. “Accounting made sense to me, and I was excited to go to class,” she recalled.
As it turned out, Cote continued to be excited about accounting. Twenty-eight years and much international work later, she’s still at EY—and remains actively engaged with her alma mater, most notably as a member of the Citizens Board and Miami Herbert Business School’s Dean’s Advisory Committee, and as a steadfast donor.
In fact, had it not been for the scholarship support she received, Cote never would have become a ’Cane. “I’ve been a donor since graduation,” she said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity I was given and feel passionate about the opportunity being given to others. I’m a firm believer in paying it forward and being active, not just with my checkbook but with my time.”
Cote was instrumental in establishing the EY Scholars in Accounting Scholarship, rallying with her fellow EY partners to fund scholarships when Miami Herbert launched its accelerated accounting program that enables students to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four-and-a-half years. During her time as managing partner of the Miami office, the EY Scholars scholarship was endowed.
Cote is particularly proud of the cluster of data analytics courses that are included in Miami Herbert’s master’s programs in accountancy and taxation, which were conceived during her time on the Accounting Advisory Council.
A member of the EY Latin America North Assurance Leadership group, Cote currently leads efforts in the region to implement the International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM) 1, the new international standard that covers firms’ responsibilities to design, implement, and operate a system of quality management for audits or reviews of financial statements.
“When I think of Camila Cote, I think of the ultimate professional who loves her job and is passionate about everything she does, both on a professional and personal level,” said fellow alum George Pita, B.B.A. ’83, who worked with Cote on the Accounting Advisory Council. “She gives back to the University of Miami in ways that help benefit our students and the profession overall.”
Fresh off an overnight business flight from Peru, Cote reflected on how her career evolved, recalling a path that has allowed her to live all over the world, work on transformational deals, and hold coveted leadership positions. “It hasn’t been a typical journey, but it has kept me super engaged,” she said.
Born in Colombia and raised in Miami, Cote realized early in her accounting career that she wanted to leverage her Spanish fluency and travel savvy. She gained international assignments that opened her mind to the advantages of working for a public accounting firm with global operations. While still in her 20s, Cote found herself working on a huge deal for a Fortune 100 company and on initial public offerings that she never imagined she’d have the opportunity to do.
After five years at EY and with a desire to live abroad, Cote transferred to the firm’s Madrid office. “I worked on deals all over Spain, Europe, and the Middle East for two years, opening my eyes to the power of having a diverse team and bringing the best skills to the table to serve our clients,” she recounted.
The dot-com boom took Cote to Boston, and while she loved the work, she missed Miami. When EY absorbed Arthur Andersen’s Argentina, Chile, and Peru practices, Cote asked to train her new EY colleagues in those countries.
This position brought her home to Miami, but she soon found that she missed working in client services. So, Cote spoke up and rejoined that practice as a senior manager. “Life is too short to do something you’re not excited about, and when I wasn’t excited, I voiced my concerns,” she said.
When she was promoted to partner in 2007, Cote noticed that more than half the new partners had previously taken assignments outside the U.S. She realized then that “to be successful, you have to step outside your comfort zone and embrace the global world.”
A few years later, Cote returned to Latin America to address challenges in practices there. When her son, then five, asked why she traveled so much, Cote took the helm at the Miami office as managing partner.
Her current role has Cote back in Latin America, traveling some 20 weeks a year. “With connectivity, I still do homework with my son every night,” she says. She recently married fellow ’Cane Todd Misemer, B.A. ’91. “We’ve known each other since college, and life and Hurricane football brought us together,” Cote says.
She says that her University of Miami degree and public accounting experience have opened her up to opportunities far broader than she ever could have dreamed. “I’m excited for what’s to come because I don’t know where I will go from here, but I know it will be good things,” she added.
