Will Turney

What's your job about?

I work in the DDX team, which is part of Private Enterprise, and I am responsible for doing compliance work for a range of businesses and high net worth individuals. Day to day I prepare annual financial statements and tax returns.

As a Junior Advisor I work part-time alongside studying to finish my degree. Working in DDX is beneficial to my studies as it helps me embed the knowledge I get from uni as well as providing context for what I learn. The work I do daily gives me a solid base in technical accounting and I’m always learning on the job.

What's your background?

I was born in Porirua and have spent most of my life in Wellington. I’ve moved away from Wellington twice to Australia and Christchurch but always find myself coming back. I started studying accounting at Victoria University of Wellington at the end of 2020 while working at a bank. I chose accounting because it provides a solid and versatile skillset to build a career on.

I’m a bit of an older student so when I decided to study accounting I was keen to get through my degree and get my career started as fast as I could. Working at KPMG as a student provides a great opportunity for me fast-track the start of my career.

I’ve been at KPMG for six months now and in that time I’ve built a strong foundation of accounting knowledge.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Absolutely. This job is perfect for anyone who is keen to learn and wants to improve their technical accounting skills. Managers work closely with you to help you learn and improve your work. The key is a good attitude and a drive to do your best.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

There is a lot of problem solving in this role. I get to see a range of accounting problems and I feel a great sense of achievement when I find a good solution. Sometimes this takes a few members of the team, but it’s great how even in a discussion with people higher up, my opinions on the problem are still considered equally.

What are the limitations of your job?

The work can be mentally demanding. This isn’t the kind of work where you can come in and chill out all day, you’ve got to be willing to put in the mahi.

Another limitation is hot desking. If you want a good desk you need to be in early! Definitely not great if you like to lie in in the morning.

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

• Problems can always be solved. This applies professionally and personally – people will usually help you if you ask.
• It’s never too late to achieve in your career. If you feel like you’re on the wrong path that’s okay, there are still steps you can take to get to the right one.
• Always have a goal for how you’d like your life to be in the future. It doesn’t have to be a rigid goal and it can always change, but if you have an idea of what you’d like to accomplish you’ll find the actions you take in the present will tend to lead you in the right direction.