UH Hilo accounting alum Nikki Jicha starts her career at prestigious global firm Deloitte
Nikki Jicha says her journey through the UH system played a significant role in shaping her professional development.
By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.
An alumna of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo business program has just started her dream job at one of the largest international accounting firms.
Nikki Jicha is beginning her career as an audit assistant at the Honolulu offices of Deloitte, part of the Big Four accounting firms that operate globally. She graduated from UH Hilo’s College of Business and Economics in 2024 with two bachelor of business administration degrees: a BBA in accounting, and a BBA in general business administration with a concentration in management. She also received a certificate in business analytics.
Jicha says her journey through the UH system played a significant role in shaping her professional development.
“The professors at UH Hilo, such as Professor of Accounting Andrey Simonov, provided amazing guidance and support to their students,” says Jicha. “Prof. Simonov was always so encouraging and he genuinely cares about his students, making him one of the wonderful professors at UH Hilo.”
Jicha also credits mentorship programs, career fairs, student organizations, and leadership opportunities at UH Hilo with preparing her for her career. She served as vice president of fundraising and later chancellor for Delta Sigma Pi’s Lambda Psi Chapter, and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. In her senior year, she interned with the Hilo accounting firm of Taketa, Iwata, Hara & Associates. She says she chose that firm because she was inspired to be part of a company deeply rooted in community engagement.
“These experiences taught me how to network effectively, lead with integrity, and engage in professional environments — all while building lifelong friendships and memories,” she says.
A path filled with support
Jicha, grounded in family and faith, was homeschooled by her mother, Carrie Jicha. “I attribute much of my success to her dedication and support,” says Nikki, who graduated from high school at 14 years old and began college the following semester.
After graduating from UH Hilo with her two BBAs and certificate, she completed her master of science in accounting through an accelerated program at Western Governors University. She has since passed all four sections of the Certified Public Accounting Exam and is currently working toward completing her education requirements for CPA licensure.
And now she finds herself at Deloitte. “To me, I feel like my path to Deloitte was truly led by God,” she says. A main component of that path turned up 2023 when she was skimming through emails and came across an invitation to apply for a UH mentorship program.
“It was originally based at the UH Mānoa campus, but they had opened it up to other campuses within the UH system,” she explains. “By chance, I decided to put my name on the list. I noticed one of the listed mentors mentioned that he had worked at a Big Four firm for years, and I thought, ‘How amazing!'”
At the time, she says she hadn’t heard much about the Big Four firms, as the firms in Hawaiʻi are based in Honolulu and typically only recruit from UH Mānoa. “Still, I was incredibly curious to learn more,” she says. She signed up with the mentor, met him, and “had the most wonderful conversations.”
“He taught me about Deloitte — its culture, its focus on making an impact that matters, and its global reach,” says Jicha. “I learned so much about what it’s like to work at Deloitte and about the incredible professional development opportunities available there.”
“Most importantly, I learned about the people at Deloitte, who are what truly make the company so special,” she adds. “My mentor turned out to be Joe Young, the current managing partner at Deloitte. To be honest, if we hadn’t been matched through that mentorship program, I don’t think I would have even considered that working for a Big Four firm was within my reach. The conversations I had with him were incredibly inspiring and motivated me to push myself further in my career.”
As she met more and more people from Deloitte, she realized “it’s the people at Deloitte who make it truly exceptional. I am now beyond thrilled to begin my career as an audit assistant at Deloitte’s Honolulu office.” Jicha is currently working on a life sciences client and looks forward to gaining experience across a wide range of industries. She feels grateful and excited for the opportunities ahead.
Counting her blessings: Family, faith, positive influence
Jicha’s academic path to her dream job as an accountant at a Big Four firm is just part of the journey. She says the story would not be complete without a mention of the more personal avenues of support she receives from family and faith.
“I’m deeply thankful to God for His guidance throughout my journey,” she says. “None of this would have been possible without His direction. I am also incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of my family. My mom has been my greatest advocate, dedicating countless hours to my education and personal growth. My dad has always encouraged my ambitions and believed in my dreams.”
She also talks about her sister Riana Jicha, who was a student writer here at UH Hilo Stories in 2023-2024 while a double major in political science and administration of justice.
“My sister, my best friend, continues to inspire me through her generosity and drive,” says Nikki. “She’s currently pursuing her PhD in organizational leadership at Columbia International University, focusing on the effects of COVID-19 on federal satisfaction and turnover.” Nikki says Riana has earned her master’s degree in public administration from Hawaiʻi Pacific University in Honolulu, and now devotes her time to nonprofit work for underserved communities, including language exchanges and English tutoring with Ukrainian civilians in an effort to promote democracy.
“Her compassion and determination motivate me daily, and I’m so proud to follow in her footsteps of faith, perseverance, and service,” says Nikki about her sister’s influence.
It’s through her hard work and this robust support system of family, faith, educators and mentorships that Nikki Jicha now finds herself in her dream job.
In a recent email she sent to her former accounting professor Simonov, she reaches out to tell him “thank you for being such a great professor. The way you clearly explained auditing concepts really intrigued me and contributed to my desire to become an auditor. The way you connected what you were teaching to how it would apply on the CPA exam helped me to focus on the knowledge needed not only to start off a career in auditing but also pass the CPA exams.”
And in full circle, she gives back the good will she has received. She tells Prof. Simonov, “Wishing you continued success in everything you do, and thank you again for being such a positive influence!”
This post is updated to clarify that Nikki Jicha received two BBAs from UH Hilo.
Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
