Courage to seize opportunities took Anna from trainee to director

Anna Liedes has been with the same employer for more than a decade, simply because she has never felt the need to look elsewhere. As an auditor at KPMG, she continues to encounter new challenges that keep the work interesting even after years in the profession.

“I joined KPMG through the trainee program, and 12 years later I am still finding new directions that motivate me. Audit offers a broad range of work and a unique perspective on the business world. And in a large organization, there are countless opportunities to develop and take on new responsibilities. That is a big part of why I have enjoyed building my career here,” Anna says.

Early in her career, Anna wanted to gain experience across as many different industries and types of organizations as possible. Her client portfolio ranged from limited companies and foundations to listed companies and family-owned businesses.

After gaining her professional qualifications, she soon took responsibility for her first client engagement and began taking on leadership responsibilities. Today, she works primarily with listed companies and leads one of KPMG’s Audit teams in Helsinki. 

“Learning is a continuous part of the job. Developments such as artificial intelligence are changing the skills we need and the ways in which our roles can evolve. At the same time, new and evolving reporting requirements place new demands on our expertise.”

“It takes courage to pursue roles that interest you and step into the unknown. When I was still relatively early in my career, I was offered the opportunity to take on a key role in the audit of a listed company. I was nervous about saying yes, but the engagement partner trusted me and supported me throughout. It turned out to be an incredibly valuable learning experience."

"It is worth regularly thinking about the kinds of assignments and roles that motivate and interest you and discussing them with your manager. And when new opportunities come your way, I would encourage you to take them. They may not always feel completely within your comfort zone at first, but having the courage to say yes can lead to some of the most valuable experiences in your career.”

“For many auditors, the first few months of the year are particularly busy. But the busy season has an atmosphere of its own.

It is rewarding to see an engagement progress step by step toward completion. And although we work to tight deadlines, we do it in close collaboration with both the audit team and the client. That creates a very strong sense of teamwork.

Audit is certainly not about working alone. Quite the opposite – it is a highly collaborative profession. Audit teams can range from two people to teams of twenty or more, and we work closely with colleagues across different teams and areas of expertise.

We solve challenges together and learn from one another. When people with different strengths and expertise come together, the quality of the outcome is better. 

When I joined KPMG as a trainee, I wondered what the culture and team spirit would be like. I was very positively surprised. The atmosphere is supportive, motivating, and open. There are many like-minded people here, and several of my colleagues have become friends I also spend time with outside work.”

“Even though I have progressed to Director level, there is certainly no standing still in this profession. Technological developments and evolving regulatory and reporting requirements mean there is always something new to learn.

And audit is about much more than reviewing receipts and supporting documentation. Understanding a client’s business and operating environment, assessing risks, and making effective use of data analytics and technology are all central to the work. The role also involves regular dialogue with management, as auditors are often trusted counterparts on matters relating to financial reporting and the audit.

At the same time, auditors perform an important statutory role built on trust. By providing independent assurance over financial reporting, we help strengthen confidence in the information companies provide to their stakeholders. 

That is why I can see myself continuing to work in audit in the future. I want to keep working with a diverse range of clients, continue developing my expertise, and remain a trusted discussion partner for the people I work with.”

This article was produced in collaboration with Duunitori.