Careers

What do you like about working in the Advisory practice?

Financial Risk Management (FRM) Manager #1

I think you get a very good cross section of skills, especially in our group. I get to work on a lot of different projects from project management to process review, process improvement. So I think that's one of the great things, the variety of work and dealing with different clients.

Financial Risk Management (FRM) Manager #2

I like the aspect of always looking for a solution, analyzing a current solution and seeing if there's a more efficient or revenue enhancing aspect to it. And it's coming up with more strategic options rather than reconciling. You see different operations within all the different clients. You work with a lot of key players, people that you wouldn't usually have exposure to otherwise.

FRM Manager #1

I like the flexibility that I have in managing my own schedule. Often times we work with more than one client on more than one project, for more than one partner. I can arrange my life and my work life because of the business that I'm in, versus if I was in industry and I had responsibility for a whole department and managing a lot of people.

FRM Manager #2

You never get too tied down with anything too mundane. You're always learning something new. Learning new skills. Learning, meeting new people.

FRM Manager #1

I think I have a lot more flexibility here than in industry, because I've been on both sides. And I really do see the difference.

How does working in Advisory help you develop your skills?

FRM Manager #2

I think that KPMG provides you with a very strong foundation for skills across the board that can be applicable with any other industry or field that you choose.

FRM Manager #1

I have been spending quite a bit of time with the Regulatory Risk group, which is within FRM, they like my project management skills, and thought that I could really move the process along. And I think the skills that I got from working on that, I will definitely use on an engagement.

FRM Manager #2

Relationship building is really critical, both internally and externally. In Advisory, we're in front of the clients, and you have to be very personable, and very social. But I think also internally, it's also good for the relationship building aspect to build your network, that has really helped me along the way.

What skills do you need to do well in Advisory?

FRM Manager #2

I think that coming out of college, when you don't have that depth in the industry, the basic skills that you should have are strong analytical skills, where you can think out of the box. Strong technical skills, I think that works to your benefit. Being very open to learning, and quick to move. You learn quickly on the job, and all your seniors, your managers are more than willing to help you.

FRM Manager #1

I think having good people skills is really important. Technical skills are good, but I think being able to deal with the client, and listening, and understanding their needs, having good perception, reading people well, in terms of, I've learned enough, I've heard enough, let me stop and now listen, is very important. Working with teams is very important. Not always being a me person, and someone who needs to have a lot of power. Just work together and roll your sleeves up and get it done.

How has working in Advisory helped you build your career?

FRM Manager #1

I think the exposure to so many different firms and seeing how they do the same processes, clearing trades, or cashiering, or any operation, how different firms do things, and how they all want to learn from each other.

FRM Manager #2

I've been helping out with a lot of proposals, a lot of relationship management and tracking at our key clients, and working on other discussion documents that we get requested for our proposals.

FRM Manager #1

Managing my own engagements. Having managed revenue under my name. Doing more business development with some of the partners and senior managers in the group. Going on more client presentations. I'm just having more of those opportunities. So all those things are important. I think the flexibility that we have to choose a specialty. I think it's important to do that and maybe have specialty A, and specialty B, first choice-second choice. And always try to get experiences in those two areas, so you become known as the subject matter expert on those topics.

What would you tell someone who is interested in working within Advisory?

FRM Manager #2

I think that I have made really great contacts within KPMG. I have a lot of allies I feel like, and a lot of mentors. All the mentors, I hope to become, someday ... they're all excellent, very well spoken, very persuasive ... partners within the firm that have always had open door policy, and I've always talked to them about everything.

FRM Manager #1

I think I would tell them that KPMG is a great place to work. It's a very entrepreneurial environment. You have to be comfortable working in that kind of environment, be self motivated.

FRM Manager #2

I think that we have a really great team within our practice, and would encourage any manager that comes in to take the initiative and not expect to be handed things, to get out there, to meet people, and to see what projects are going on, to see how they can involved. That's one aspect of our culture, is to take the initiative to sell yourself.

FRM Manager #1

I think our practice does a great job of keeping people involved, even when we're not on client business, in business development, in training and product development. And I think that's a really, really good thing.