Tom C.

Intermediate Accountant
Bachelor of Business

My favourite part of my job is getting to conduct thorough investigations into the affairs of a company.

What's your job about?

In Restructuring Turnaround and Insolvency (“RTI”), we assist businesses in financial trouble by providing solutions to their debts. My role in a general sense consists of assisting senior staff with day-to-day tasks required in managing the affairs of an externally administered company. My workload and tasks change each week given the nature of the work we do, some common tasks I engage in involve reporting to creditors, recovering assets, and conducting investigations. More recently, I have been assisting with debt restructuring for several small businesses to enable them to continue to trade. The Small Business Restructuring (“SBR”) process involves determining the eligibility for a company to participate in an SBR, receiving and recording the debts of the company, preparing a report and plan setting out how the debts of the company will be dealt with, and monitoring the company’s ongoing compliance with the plan.

What's your background?

I was born in Belgium but have lived in Australia since I was 3. I started school at Ivanhoe East Primary before completing secondary and tertiary studies at Ivanhoe Grammar School and RMIT University doing a Bachelor of Business specializing in accounting. My university course was structured so that my third year was completely industry placement at my chosen place. I started the application process a bit later than I should have but still managed to snag a spot at PKF in the RTI division. Last year I continued at PKF in a part-time capacity whilst I finished my course, now that I’ve completed my degree, I’ve started as a full-time graduate in the team, whilst I complete my Chartered Accountancy course. Aside from work, I recently moved out of home and into a shared house with some old primary school friends and two dogs. I play basketball weekly and recently won a premiership in C-grade amateur football.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes, I think that if you are willing to work hard and embrace the sometimes chaotic nature of this industry you will do fine in a role in insolvency. Insolvency comes with a steep learning curve for most people as it is only briefly covered in most business-based university courses. Despite this, I have found that everyone in the division sympathizes with the learning adjustments, as they’ve gone through similar experiences in their careers. As long as you are committed to learning and willing to make a few mistakes along the way, there won’t be any issues with someone undertaking this role with a different background.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

My favorite part of my job is getting to conduct thorough investigations into the affairs of a company. Delving deep into the financials of a company to locate abnormalities in the financials or locating potential avenues for asset recovery can feel almost like putting a puzzle back together. These tasks can be very rewarding and are something that I always put my hand up for. I also look forward to the end of monthly drinks that we tend to put on as an opportunity to unwind and get to know your colleagues a bit better outside of a work setting.

What are the limitations of your job?

The ebbs and flows of workload are something that can take a bit of getting used to. When we get freshly appointed to a new job, it is generally pretty full on trying to meet statutory deadlines and ensure everything gets out on time. Unfortunately, appointment dates are essentially out of our control, so there are phases where you can get 2-3 jobs started in the same week, and then there are other times where you don’t work on a new appointment for a couple of months. This fluctuation means that you have to manage your time as effectively as possible.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

Enjoy your time as a student before you begin full-time work, and don’t stress too hard about your career, a university degree isn’t necessarily the only pathway into your chosen job.
Put effort into building connections. It makes university life so much easier when you have a competent group partner. It may also help you down the line in your career.
Get familiar with Microsoft Office programs. Almost every job uses at least one program, whether it be Word, PowerPoint or Excel. Knowing the shortcuts and other tricks will make your life so much easier.

Olivia H.

Junior Finance Administrator
Bachelor of Business (Accounting)

The coolest part of my role is working in a professional corporate culture while gaining valuable hands-on industry experience!

What's your job about?

PKF Melbourne is a progressive accounting firm that works with small to medium sized business across Australia, and beyond, while giving development opportunities to students and graduates to propel their future. I work in the Restructuring, Turnaround and Insolvency (RTI) division specifically working in daily cashbook operations. My role is an entry-level accounting position specifically designed for a student currently completing their university studies, seeking to gain real-world industry exposure and build a foundational base of knowledge in accounting. The main responsibilities of the role include, ensuring the correct classification and general upkeep of receipts and payments in the cashbook for the RTI division and lodge any necessary tax returns. A typical day would involve importing transactions incoming to firm and sending to various case-based operatives to classify transactions into cashbook, processing relevant receipt advices and making any payments such as employee wages or invoices sent to firm. Additionally, reconciling bank accounts on a monthly basis and preparing tax returns or Business Activity Statements (BAS) on a quarterly basis, making phone calls to ATO re various matters for the firm and assisting with statutory ASIC and ASFA forms.

What's your background?

I grew up in suburban Melbourne but spent my senior years of secondary education at boarding school in the countryside. After completing my final school year and first year of university during the extended Covid lockdown with restricted movement and online rather than face-to-face, I decided it was the right time to travel overseas and explore the world. I solo-travelled across sixteen different countries and three continents over the course of a year. During my travels, I had some diverse experiences such as working as a counsellor at a summer camp in Canada to working in an old-world pub in Edinburgh. Upon returning to Australia, I was faced with the challenge of re-adapting to student life in Melbourne after spending months overseas and was unsure of whether I was ready to resume a full-time study load. After some consideration, I applied for my current position at PKF through RMIT Internship Career Search Program while returning to my studies on a part-time basis. Since commencing with PKF, I have been in my current role for over ten months and have recently been offered to a more client focused role within the same division.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

This role would be suitable for an accounting student seeking an opportunity to engage in hands-on industry experience. To be successful, strong communication is key. The ability to take initiative and raise your hand when needed in tasks such as correctly classifying receipts and payments for the firm, which assists colleagues in important decision-making and communicating various queries with the ATO. In addition, further skills include time management to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines and work efficiently, especially during peak periods such as EOFY or quarterly deadlines, for tax return lodge.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The coolest part of my role is working in a professional corporate culture while gaining valuable hands-on industry experience. I really enjoy that this role provides the opportunity to interact with all levels of the company, from junior employees to senior partners.

What are the limitations of your job?

As an entry-level accounting operations role, there is limited opportunity for direct client interactions. The role potentially may not suit someone who already has a solid foundation and wants to advance their skills beyond entry level accounting functions.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

Push yourself to step out of your comfort zone—while challenging at first, this is where growth comes from.
Have a balanced approach—work hard but remember to make time for what you love doing the most.
Time management is critical – learn to prioritize tasks in order of what is most important, as this will benefit you when starting in the workplace.

Joy H.

Accountant
Bachelor of Commerce

The coolest thing about my job is the endless learning opportunities. Unlike working in a specific industry, I get exposure to a new client for almost every task I do.

What's your job about?

PKF is a full-service accounting firm and part of a respected international network with offices in more than 360 locations. The firm offers experienced and expert advice to private businesses, professionals, and individuals. I work in the Business Advisory Services (BAS) division, specifically working with individuals and family groups. My responsibilities include not only compliance work such as tax returns and company financial statements but also assisting clients with their specific requirements through tax planning and accounting software support. Moreover, I have had the opportunity to participate in cross-team collaboration within my division for one of our clients. These interactions involve tasks such as processing monthend journals, preparing financial reports, and resolving any queries the clients may have. No two days are the same in this job, as every client's business is unique. I enjoy learning about their businesses and providing tailored solutions to meet their diverse needs.

What's your background?

I grew up in China and came to Melbourne to study in high school. While pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Information Systems at the University of Melbourne, I explored different areas of interest such as accounting, consulting, data analytics, and information governance through part-time jobs, internships, and student societies. After university, I initially started my professional career in the utilities sector. However, I was intrigued by the diversity of work and responsibilities offered in a professional services environment and therefore made the transition to accounting.

Starting at PKF Melbourne has deepened my enthusiasm for accounting and has been instrumental in advancing my career through study and practical experience. I am currently undertaking the CA program after being with the firm for just over 7 months. I landed my current job through an online application advertised on Prosple, followed by a series of interviews and aptitude tests.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

This job is perfect for a graduate who is currently studying towards a degree in accounting! To excel in this role, you would need to have a curious mindset, great interpersonal skills, and attention to detail. This position strikes a balance between completing compliance work under supervision and interacting with a diverse range of clients.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The coolest thing about my job is the endless learning opportunities. Unlike working in a specific industry, I get exposure to a new client for almost every task I do. The opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and industries is rewarding, as I get to understand how different business models operate. Moreover, PKF Melbourne also offers monthly professional development sessions where I can further hone my technical knowledge.

What are the limitations of your job?

Due to the nature of accounting work, it is crucial to have attention to detail and a passion for numbers. This aspect of the job could be stressful for individuals who dislike working with numbers. Additionally, Excel plays an important role in my daily work.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

Be active—participate in some extracurricular activities at university if you have the capacity to; you might meet some lifelong friends there!
Be bold and curious—choose subjects that you know nothing about instead of the ones that you know everything about.
Try to maintain a balanced lifestyle; things can get hectic when trying to excel both academically and socially. It is important to take some time for your personal well-being.

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