What's your job about?
My employer (team) works with governments and private sector clients to plan, procure, deliver, and optimise infrastructure and other major projects.
8:30 AM – email check and to-do list: I will spend a bit of time before my day starts to go though any new emails, as well as writing out my to-do list for the day.
9 AM – Internal team meeting: this is a great way to catch up with everyone after the weekend for a casual conversation. Additionally, this meeting entails going through all the projects our team is currently working on, and discussing future opportunities where work can potentially be won.
9:30 AM – proposal work: we currently have a proposal due at the end of this week, so I will spend the morning working on this. The longer you are at KPMG, the more responsibility you will have in preparing these. My tasks for this proposal include: gathering CVs; including case studies; creating a timeline; and synthesizing contextual information about the project.
12 PM – lunch: There are many great places around the KPMG building to go for lunch. I will usually grab something from outside before heading up to level 8 to eat with other KPMG people.
1 PM – workshop preparation: We have a reference group workshop coming up in a couple weeks for my main engagement, so I am working on creating a slideshow. This entails liaising with my PDM, who is also working on this engagement.
5:15 PM – home time: I do my timesheet before heading out of the office to catch the bus home.
What's your background?
Perth born and bred. School and jobs have been important stages of my life. As for most kids, attending school was a rite of passage, enabling me to develop healthy organisational skills which I still use today. I believe school is also a great way to ease kids into the structure of a full-time job, as you are attending five days a week. I had multiple part-time jobs during the end of my schooling and whilst at university. So many of the skills developed during these jobs are applicable at KPMG, such as communication, teamwork, networking, time management, interpersonal skills, and practical skills.
I applied for the 2023 graduate program online in early 2022. This entailed completing: an online interview; aptitude tests; and an interview with a couple people who are still in my team today. I have been at KPMG since early 2023.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes – the range of services KPMG provides nowadays is very extensive. To name a few, we provide audit, consulting, and advisory services, with a plethora of teams within each of these services. Whether you studied commerce, engineering, or medicine at university, there is probably a team for you at KPMG. Some of the skills KPMG looks for in the people they hire include: business acumen; curiosity; and leadership potential.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
What I love most about working at KPMG is the networking opportunities. Whether it’s a client or other people around the office, it’s always interesting to get to know other people from all walks of life. The tasks I enjoy the most include researching information if – as has previously occurred on a current engagement – a report needs to be submitted to a client. Doing general research relating to the work your service line does, is a great way to get a better feel for what the service line is all about.
What are the limitations of your job?
As I have found out, sometimes clients do need something completed by us, which would fall under ‘ad-hoc advice’ or would not be part of the original scope of work. Consequently, working at night/on the weekends sometimes is required to meet a deadline. There is also a double-edged sword to the concept of workload for a junior person: although Consultants can bear a lot of responsibility on projects, but for me it means I’ll be learning more and improving my skills at a fast rate.
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