Georgia North

Graduate Accountant

I have been very impressed with the culture at HLB. Everyone is very friendly and inclusive. I always enjoy getting involved in the after-work activities that are organised… on top of that I feel genuinely supported to succeed and progress in my career.

After graduating, I was seeking to work for a firm where my contribution and input mattered. HLB Mann Judd ticked several boxes for me including:

Being involved with real clients from day one;
Working closely with partners and directors;
Training and career development including support during CA studies; and
Valuing work-life balance and understanding staff enjoy time out of the office.

6.30 AM

I wake up early so that I can aim to be in the office at 8:20am. The workday doesn’t “officially” start until 8:45am but I enjoy using the extra time in the morning to set up and plan for my day. However, if the weather is nice then I will take the ferry to work and arrive at 8:45am.

Once I’m in the office, I find my desk for the day and have a quick chat to whoever is around - whether it is catching up on the latest episode of a show or asking about someone’s upcoming holiday. Then I like to plan my day by listing the weekly tasks and prioritising what needs to be completed. After that, I head to the large communal kitchen and make myself a coffee. One of the Sydney partners bakes cakes and other goodies for everyone in the firm… every week. So I grab the latest delicious treat on offer!

10.30 AM

Once planning has finished, I dive straight into my client projects. As an accounting and tax graduate this involves working through calculations for client’s income and deductions, making sure we have supporting documentation for each step, and informing the manager or reviewer of any missing information on which we need to contact the client for.

1.00 PM

Lunch is usually around 1pm. It depends on how work is progressing or if we have a training session scheduled for that time.

For lunch I like visiting the nearby food courts or exploring the local restaurants (especially if I am going out to lunch with colleagues).

3.00 PM

After lunch I enjoy another coffee from the kitchen and get back to work. Most projects take the better part of the day. I will update the manager or reviewer on my progress and if there are any issues that need to be addressed. There may also be meetings with my mentor, coaching manager, or coaching partner who provide support to my career development.

5.00 PM

After work the possibilities are endless; especially since the office is situated in Barangaroo. We are surrounded by lots of great places to grab post-work drinks with co-workers and friends.

If I am in the middle of the study period for CA, then I will usually head home to do my readings or work on assignments.

What’s an HLB Stand-out…

I have been very impressed with the culture at HLB. Everyone is very friendly and inclusive. I always enjoy getting involved in the after-work activities that are organised, such as bowling or karaoke nights. On top of that I feel genuinely supported to succeed and progress in my career. I been exposed to many great opportunities in terms of variety of work and range of clients. Throughout all this I believe that HLB holds up their promise of a good work-life balance. I have never felt pressured to neglect my personal life for the sake of work.

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UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.