Alex joined HLB Melbourne as an audit grad and over the past 13 years has grown with the firm. He has embraced every opportunity that has come his way and today he is responsible for managing clients and audit teams all over the world.
I joined HLB Mann Judd Melbourne 13 years ago as a graduate. It wasn’t long after the GFC that I was graduating into a challenging job market which made securing my first job harder than usual. I knew it was important to stand out, make a good impression and to highlight my enthusiasm for learning and continuous development. The approach paid off and it kicked off a career that has supported me through CA, a post graduate degree, a secondment to Los Angeles and a recent promotion to partner in the firm’s Audit & Assurance division.
Starting out
I always wanted to work in a professional setting. I enjoyed studying business related subjects at high school which lead me to completing a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) at RMIT University. I also come from a family of accountants… my dad, three uncles and an aunty are accountants, so working at a respected professional accounting firm was a natural fit!
When I was applying for graduate roles, I appreciated HLB Mann Judd’s interview approach. I got the impression that the firm was interested in getting to know me. They placed a strong emphasis on communication and work ethic, rather than over-the-top screening exercises.
I was particularly keen to start my career in Audit and Assurance, as I knew it would help accelerate my learning and provide a solid foundation in multiple areas of business. I was excited to accept a role at HLB because it’s a fast-growing firm where I felt I could make a real difference.
Fast-forward 13 years and the firm has really changed! The audit division has substantially grown. We have more staff, larger clients and a strong reputation in the market. It has been really rewarding to be a part of this journey with the firm and the audit team.
In my earlier years I was unsure whether I wanted to pursue a long-term career in audit. However, each year there’s been new opportunities, greater expectations, and something new to learn which, I’ve really valued. There’s also a clear and transparent career path for audit professionals with frequent career discussions which I’ve always appreciated.
The importance of investing in yourself
Like most graduates, when I started out I felt a little out of my depth, but over time, I understood more and my confidence grew. After a couple of years, I was responsible for running engagements as an audit senior and operating as a team leader. When I became a manager, I really started to appreciate how business works outside of audit – including the accounting/ finance function, IT, sales and marketing and strategy. I was able to attend board meetings, audit committee meetings and internal meetings with CEOs and CFOs which had a profound impact on my career development.
I have been fortunate enough to participate in the HLB Mann Judd secondment program, working and living in Los Angeles. I met some incredible people, developing professionally and personally. I was given the freedom and support to complete my Executive MBA and I’ve developed some life-long friendships along the way. Over the years, I’ve also had opportunities to attend gala dinners, participate in industry sporting tournaments and travelled overseas to visit clients.
I recently became a partner at the firm which has been a rewarding and fulfilling achievement after starting out as a graduate. I’ve been given more responsibility, focusing on the HLB business, understanding the intricacies on how we operate, and mentoring and developing our next generation of auditors. I often consider that if I had pursued alterative career avenues and left the industry, I would have missed out on these incredible opportunities which have really helped shaped my career.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a broad range of clients across multiple industries, including not-for-profit peak bodies and public sector entities. I’ve also been exposed to a number of different types of audit engagement including full year audits, half yearly reviews, risk assurance and consulting and other agreed upon procedures.
My current client portfolio consists largely of ASX-listed companies and privately held groups, ranging from small owner-managed businesses to large multinational corporations. I’m responsible for managing teams across multiple jurisdictions where I work closely with HLB affiliate firms all over the world.
Alex’s advice
Looking back at my career to date, I can’t stress enough the importance of investing in continuous professional development – whether it’s through further study, requesting to work on challenging engagements or getting involved in networking events. The idea is to get out of your comfort zone so that you can learn and develop as much as possible.
It’s also important to be yourself – it is your career. Recognise what’s important to you and then work together with your employer to achieve your personal goals.
Outside of work
I enjoy staying active by running, swimming and going to the gym as often as I can. I’ve always been a keen supporter of AFL, cricket and tennis and I try to attend as many sporting events throughout the year as possible. I also like to travel, having recently spent two months in Europe, as well as catching up with friends and family.
Most excitingly, I recently got married to my wife Mariah, which was a wonderful personal milestone for the both of us and something we’ll forever be grateful for.