KPMG is one of the leading providers of audit services. In Poland, the Audit Department alone employs over 700 people, including more than 100 certified auditors. We provide our services not only in Warsaw, but also in local offices in Kraków, Katowice, Wrocław, Łódź, Gdańsk and Poznań. We offer independent audit services aimed at increasing the credibility of information prepared by our clients for investors, creditors, and other interested parties, as well as to meet the requirements of applicable laws. Our offer also includes many other assurance services.
Why did you choose the auditing profession?
I became interested in auditing while still at university and gained my first experience by doing an internship at a small auditing firm that ran workshops at my university. What I liked the most then was the dynamics of this work, its unpredictability and lack of routine. It was also then that I understood that auditing is not only about working with numbers, but also about teamwork and the ability to communicate with others. That is why I decided to continue on this path and apply to KPMG after graduation. I do not regret my choice – the opportunity to learn about the specifics of running a business in many organisations and industries is an invaluable experience that cannot be gained in any other profession in the field of finance.
What do you do?
In my work, I am responsible for projects both in terms of their content and organisation. I coordinate communication between the audit team and the client, I am responsible for the distribution of work, supervision and verification of tasks performed by the team members.
What is it like to work on projects? What have you learned through your work?
In fact, every project is a new challenge because it is a new environment in which the company operates and also means working with new people. Companies even in the same industry operate differently, and therefore our audit procedures and risk assessments have to be adapted accordingly and one has to have a fresh perspective. What I have learned in the few years I have been working here is that there is no problem that cannot be solved, sometimes you just need to devote more time to finding the right solution.
Tell us about your career path.
The career path of an auditor at KPMG is clear. It starts with an internship or an assistant position. During this time, you are responsible for your part of the job. Then, after 2-3 years, you can become a senior assistant and here the responsibility is much greater. A senior assistant not only manages his or her own work, but also that of the trainees and assistants. In retrospect, I can safely say that this was the most demanding and intensive moment of my career, which, however, resulted in further promotions. You can become a manager after 5-6 years and that is how it was in my case. I started at KPMG as an assistant and now I am an Assistant Manager.
How can auditors develop their knowledge? What opportunities have you used?
Development opportunities at KPMG start from day one. All new employees first go through a month-long training cycle designed to prepare them for work. This is a time to gain valuable knowledge from experienced auditors, as well as a time for integration and team building. Younger employees undergo regular training every year, which prepares them for a greater range of responsibilities. The nature of our work requires continuous improvement and updating our knowledge of changing legal regulations and standards, which is why KPMG has an e-learning platform that helps us keep up to date with all the changes in a simple and transparent manner. Additionally, employees can choose one of two qualification paths – PCA (Public Certified Auditor) or ACCA. In my case, it is the Certified Auditor path, and KPMG enables me to take advantage of training courses and exam preparation materials. It also finances preparatory courses and the exam itself.
What does your day at work look like?
At our firm, all those who make up the audit team work together, often occupying a conference room in the client's office. This fosters a formation of good relationships over a shared morning coffee and helps maintain the team spirit. One of the biggest challenges for me is to maintain a high level of motivation of the whole team, as well as to supervise the quality of work, which is why video chats with summaries of project stages are a daily occurrence. It is also a way to maintain the atmosphere of cooperation. I also take care to maintain relations with clients, in the form of stationary meetings, teleconferences or videoconferences.
