In 2018, I was coming to the end of my school journey, going from a comfortable environment over the past 12 years, to wondering what was the next step? I knew I had a passion for maths, economics and accounting but never knew what any could entail as a career.
After discussions with my accounting teacher, I was provided with a flyer to attend an SRJWW cadetship information night, and at the time I never knew what an accounting firm really did or even where Brendale was. However, with a bit of drive from my parents, I attended and during the night I was truly blow away by the cadets that where presenting. Many had only finished school 2-3 years ago, however, were outlining and describing experiences something I thought was only reserved for tenured professionals.
At that moment I knew it was for me, and hastily sent my resume over.
Induction
Six months down the line I began my journey at SRJ, from a year 12 student with no work experience, to an Auditor. Upon starting I was assigned a buddy, an experienced auditor, Andrew. Initially, Andrew helped me grasp the landscape of the audit team and the purpose of our work. Now as of late, Andrew is continuing to challenge and drive my own personal / professional development, aiding in learning advance audit technicals and the ins and out of managing a client base.
During only my second month at SRJ I was fully enveloped in the true audit experience, no two days would be the same from here on out. Visiting one of Queensland’s largest RSL’s at the Sunshine Coast to an internationally recognised law firm in the Brisbane CBD just a week apart. There is a constant level of energy in the audit team as there is always something different on the horizon.
Whilst initially taken away from the significant increase in workload of a new job and starting university, it soon became apparent that working in the same field I am studying in, is only a positive. Where theoretical knowledge gained at university, would be directly applied to my work, practical experience could be applied right back onto university.
ork feels like university without the grades and university feels like work without the timesheets.
Managing 2 subjects, whilst having a dedicated day for university has never felt a burden or taken away from my educational experience. I’ve been able to enrol in my universities various clubs and develop a large social group because of it. Flexibility with my uni day has proved to be invaluable, with managing university commitments, I have been required at times to adjust which day of the week I take off in order to make room for exams and presentations.
Opportunities
During my period as a cadet at SRJWW, I have always been motivated by my colleagues and managers to stive for progression in my career. Continuously looking for areas of professional growth and ways to upskill. During my second year, I took the leap of requesting to manage my own client base. From there and with the assistance of other team members who have previously been in the cadetship program and my managers, I have been able to gradually grow my list of clients to 30 organisations. With a wide range of clients from North Queensland all the way to Regional Victoria, including small bowls clubs to globally recognised charities. Of those 30 clients, it brings me a great sense of joy knowing I look after and manage a representative body of the Queensland Government that tasks us to audit and visit 250 law firms across the state.
Due to the nature of the team and our firm’s passion to be innovative leaders in both our clients and community, I have always felt involved in strategic planning of my team. We discuss and collaborate on new ways to attract clients or ways to improve our current auditing processes. During this year’s off season, our whole team has been tasked with researching and providing vital improvement in our key audit systems. Ensuring we’re always striving to efficiently meet our clients demands.
At not one point of my schooling years did I imagine any of the experiences SRJ and the cadetship program has offered would ever be achievable or come to fruition. Moments such as visiting a client on my own for the first time. Rushing to complete a university assignment at 10pm in a hotel at Townsville while the next morning visiting North Queensland’s largest law firm. Or emailing my first client saying I will be their go to SRJ contact and auditor from here on out. Engrained in my memory is filled with unique experiences such as these and vital lessons I would have never learnt in a classroom or via my parents. My experience as a cadet has laid the perfect foundation to my professional journey going forward. Where in 2018 I was asking the question what’s next? I now ask I wonder what city or company I will travel to next week.
Imagine being given opportunities, Imagine being the professional of the future, #ImagineBetter with SRJWW and start your own journey today here.
