When I met with HLB Sydney, I liked that it offered plenty of learning and development opportunities. Particularly, the firm’s internal exchange program where employees can work temporarily in another business division. This approach stood out to me because its early days in my career journey. I want to gain experience in different areas of accounting before choosing a specialty. I don’t want to be five years into my career and ask “I wonder what working in audit is like?”
In addition, HLB Mann Judd places emphasis on cultivating a positive, social workplace culture which was highlighted during my interviews.
6.30 AM
I start off my mornings with green tea and a spinach, banana protein shake. My commute to work is about an hour and I spend the time reading a book (I am an avid book-reader!).
8.45 AM
Once arriving at the office, I choose where to sit for that day. HLB Sydney has a hot desk policy, so I am able to sit with different people each day. This gives me the chance to socialise and mingle with everyone in my team. I start my work off by managing my workflow and going through emails to respond to anything that I missed the day before.
10.30 AM
Up to this point I have been working on the engagements on my workflow list. This can range from preparing individual tax returns, trust returns and financial accounts to preparing corporate tax returns for listed entities and Significant Global Entities (SGEs).
I am now ready to take a little break. I head down with my colleagues to a nearby café and grab a large soy chai.
12.30 PM
I’ll have lunch with my colleagues at the ‘staff hub’ – a large breakroom with TVs, a PS5 and a foosball table – where we sit down, chat and unwind. Some days we head out to a nearby restaurant for lunch (working in Barangaroo we are spoiled for choice!).
3.00 PM
I continue working through engagements on my worklist. I will meet with managers and partners to go through any queries or sign off engagements. Sometimes, I’ll spend the afternoon helping a new grad answer any questions they may have.
5:00 PM
Having sat down for the majority of the day, exercising after work for me is a must! I will head off to the gym to do some weight training or train Muay Thai.
It doesn’t happen everyday however…
A highlight for me is HLB’s various social events. Most notably, Melbourne Cup and the Christmas Party. For the Melbourne Cup, we all dressed up, ate good food and watched the horse racing at a section of a bar that was rented exclusively for the event. And for the Christmas Party… we were on an island!
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