Moss Adams Voices

Manuel Arroyo (he/him) has been a senior at Moss Adams since October 2022, but his road to the firm wasn’t easy. His family’s immigration introduced barriers to pursuing higher education and a professional career, yet Manuel never gave up. His resilience through financial insecurity, language barriers, and cultural differences paved his path to Moss Adams—and it’s this reason the LatinX business resource group (BRG) chose Manuel to share his experiences during Latinx Heritage Month.

This year’s theme is Shaping the Future, and Manuel’s tenacity in the face of adversity exemplifies the values of the BRG’s celebration.

Are there any Latinx leaders whose words or actions have inspired you?

I’ve been inspired by many activists in the United Farm Workers of America over the years, but United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has a quote that has summarized the life I’ve had. She said, “There are uses to adversity, and they don’t reveal themselves until tested.”

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the challenges I’ve had.

Can you speak to how your challenges have shaped your future?

Our immigration was pretty difficult. My dad had a good job in Sinaloa. We had a house and several cars. When the area got dangerous, my dad moved us to Washington. He was job hopping for the first few years, so it was hard to come from where we were comfortable to somewhere new where we didn’t have a house. Our family slept in one room in my uncle’s basement. We finally became more independent when my uncle and dad partnered to open a restaurant.

I always thought I would go to college, so I got good grades and tried to be a leader at school. I wanted to be a medical student. Then, in my junior year, everything came crashing down. I learned I couldn’t get financial aid because of my immigration status.

My grades started slipping because college admission offices told me to “be more realistic.” They shut the door on me.

How did you get through that experience?

I decided to go to community college. I set up a payment plan with the college and worked two jobs to pay for it. While there, one of my professors mentioned an accounting scholarship that would give me a full ride and cover some of my other expenses, making it more affordable.

My options were still slim because I didn’t have a work permit, meaning I couldn’t start my career. Thankfully, President Obama implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. That program and the Real Hope Act in Washington were game changers because they helped me finish my degree at a four-year university, which is where I met my wife Cynthia. Without DACA, I wouldn’t have been able to apply for a job at Moss Adams. It changed my life.

Many immigrants fear what could happen if an employer one day decides we’re not needed anymore. I worried about that when there was a gap in my DACA renewal and again when there was an issue with my permanent residency paperwork. Moss Adams worked with me through both processes, but I always try to work harder to show people my value.

That’s why I didn’t give up. Immigrants are sometimes at the mercy of others, but my perspective is that I don’t pity myself for that. I let it push me forward.

In honor of this year’s theme for Latinx Heritage Month, how are you shaping the future for others with experiences like yours?

It’s important to me that I better myself and those around me. It’s part of my family values—my mom was a big supporter of mine. I enjoy sharing that with my brother’s kids so they can see what’s possible for them. I also still help with my fraternity from the four-year university so I can guide the guys coming up on their careers and personal things like buying a home. A couple of us in the LatinX BRG are hoping to get involved on campus to recruit students to the firm.

It would have helped me tremendously in my career to have guidance on navigating the corporate world. We have an opportunity to share that as working professionals. I never considered doing an internship, for example, because I never saw anyone Mexican at an accounting firm. I’m honest about what I’ve gone through because it hasn’t been easy for me, but my wife and I have achieved a lot to reach the stability we’ve earned.

I share my story because it’s important to see the adversity, not just the success, so others struggling to make it know their challenges might mean they’re on the right track.