What's your job about?
KPMG is a global professional services firm that provides audit, tax and business advisory services across virtually all market segments.
I am a consultant within our midmarket strategy and operations consulting team, assisting mid-sized organisations in understanding their market, making strong business decisions and effectively implementing change.
The mid-market is a fast-paced segment, consulting teams often work directly with c-suite and executives to achieve results in short timeframes.
What's your background?
Melbourne-born, I moved to Queensland and grew up in the Sunshine Coast before moving to Brisbane for university. School and university were critical times in my life, and the connections I made during this time have opened the door to opportunities that led me to where I am now.
I applied for the graduate pathway and have been at KPMG for 8 months.
Getting into consulting straight away was not always the plan. I was on the pathway to becoming a clinical psychologist before connecting with several team members at KPMG. I’d always thought I’d end up as a consultant, but later in my career. I didn’t think that someone fresh out of university would be allowed to work at the pace and collaborate with executive-level clients, but the flat organisational structure within teams allows for great exposure early in your career. On one of my very first jobs, I travelled from Brisbane to an isolated coastal town in the Pilbara, helping a local council revolutionise its workforce strategy. I don’t think I ever would have visited such a place on my own accord, but the experience and perspective you gain from talking to people from a completely different geographic and business landscape hugely broaden your perspective.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes. There is no consulting degree, all you need is an aptitude to learn and the humility to follow the direction of those around you with experience and take feedback in stride.
A critical and discerning lens is important when conducting research and strong communication skills are pivotal when collaborating with clients. The art of consulting is making the complex simple. Leave your ‘uni-essay’ vocab at the door when you walk it and learn to speak the language of your clients.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The people. It may sound cliché, but the opportunity to work day in and day out with hugely talented individuals is an incredible catalyst for growth. Clients demand high-quality work with tight timeframes, driving our teams to bring a high-performance mindset and our managers and directors both model the behaviour we need to be successful as well as teach the junior to deliver excellent work.
The main benefit (and challenge) of our work is its diversity. Just when you think you’ve nailed a type of work or wrapped your head around an industry segment, you pivot and start working on something completely different. For young professionals who want to get out in the market and gain broad experience, this is ideal. Since working at the firm, I’ve worked on 6 projects and delivered work across 5 industries.
What are the limitations of your job?
The job is demanding, the expectations for quality work are high and you are expected to pick new things up quickly. You ‘build the aeroplane whilst you fly’ it so to speak. While this type of consulting where I’m working across lots of areas is great for me, for those looking to build specific expertise in a unique skill or area of industry, the type of generalist consulting we do in the midmarket may not be right for you. KPMG’s larger consulting division has specialist teams across, procurement, asset management, financial modelling and economics which may be more suitable.
At KPMG Enterprise, we don’t believe that people should be doing huge amounts of overtime or working weekends, and we almost always don’t. Our philosophy is one of sustainable work-life balance.
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