Julie (Merryman) Gerlach, C’99

Shaping Your Foundation

Julie (Merryman) Gerlach, C’99, never imagined that her career would take her from Uniontown, Pennsylvania, to a partnership at one of the world’s largest professional services firms.

After graduating from Saint Vincent with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Julie began her career as an internal auditor with the US Department of the Navy. In 2003, she brought that expertise to KPMG, joining the firm during a time of heightened focus on financial reporting and internal controls. More than two decades later, she remains firmly rooted at KPMG, serving as advisory lead partner on one of KPMG’s largest global financial services clients and as US people leader for the firm’s national internal audit and controls practice, supporting the development of more than 500 professionals.

Julie credits Saint Vincent with shaping the foundation she relies on daily. “The coursework mattered, but what really prepared me was the sense of community,” she says. Deeply involved in campus life, she learned how to step outside her comfort zone and build lasting relationships.

That philosophy extends to her work. “I’m not just a CPA,” Julie explains. “My liberal arts education helped me become a more well-rounded professional, someone who can think through complex problems and understand what they mean for a client.”

She also points to a few courses, including Accounting 101 that was taught by now-Archabbot Martin Bartel, O.S.B., and a course about women in business, as instrumental in shaping her confidence. “There are still rooms where I’m the only woman,” she says. “Saint Vincent gave me the confidence to be that senior voice.”

Her advice to students reflects that foundation: “Never stop learning. Be curious, think beyond your major, and embrace change.”

Julie lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, Jeff, and their children, Tim and Chris.