Siobhan

University of Queensland
Bachelor of Commerce - Major in Accounting

Can you let us know what company you are working for and which area of the business you work in or which rotation you are currently in?

McGrathNicol - Forensic

What was the first 6 months like? What have you really enjoyed?

The first 6 months at McGrathNicol have been both exciting and challenging. I have learnt so many new valuable skills and have made some really close friends. In my role within the Forensic team, I have enjoyed being involved in a vast range of workplace investigations. Each investigation is different and has its own challenges, which has kept me engaged and willing to learn more.

Was your position with the McGrathNicol Grad Program as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

I was surprised at how quickly engagements can change and adapt. My role is definitely more exciting than I would have expected for a graduate. The projects I am involved in are definitely not something I would have expected coming out of university.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put in and have you worked weekends at all?

Since starting as a graduate, I have had one long day and night spent on finalising a report for a client. Myself and the other two members of the project team stayed back after work to get the report completed. We went out for dinner halfway through to keep us fuelled!

I haven't had to work a Saturday since starting.

On a day-to-day basis, what do you work on?

On a usual engagement, I am involved in assisting with workplace investigations. Throughout this process my typical tasks usually begin with meeting with the client, setting up the admin side of the project and creating an investigation plan. Once the investigation kicks off, I usually accompany my manager and attend interviews with the complainant, witnesses and the suspect. My role in these interviews as the corroborator is to take notes and occasionally ask questions as the interview progresses. One of my main tasks throughout an investigation is to examine physical and electronic data that we have obtained, to determine the facts of a case. This can range from examining laptops, mobile phones and SharePoint data. Once we have examined the data and conducted the interviews, I assist in collating the information into a report to provide back to the client.

Have you worked on any projects at McGrathNicol?

Investigations in the following areas: financial fraud, bullying and sexual harassment, conflicts of interest, and various other misconduct and corrupt conduct matters. I have also assisted on governance and compliance reviews.

What systems do you use for your role in the graduate programme?

I mainly use data examination platforms including EDT, ADD and Cellebrite. We use these systems to analyse and review data relevant to our investigations.

What sort of support are you provided at McGrathNicol?

We have a really good counselling system at McGrathNicol. I have a Counselling Manager that assists me with day-to-day tasks and guides me through my performance and development. I also have a Counselling Partner who oversees and guides my performance and progression with the firm. Outside of my formal Counselling Manager and Partner, I feel comfortable reaching out to any of my colleagues and the other managers and partners.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role, and do they differ from what you envisioned?

Succeeding in my role is heavily dependent on having strong soft and technical skills. The firm offers lots of training to help develop us from when we start as grads, and we are continually encouraged to identify and seek areas we can improve on.

What are the best perks or benefits at McGrathNicol?

We are able to be involved in various community initiatives including volunteering days and corporate sports events. Our firm has a generous bonus system which is structured to reward high performing and dedicated employees. We also have a purchased leave system in place, and have flexible working arrangements allowing us to work from home a couple of times per week. The firm's social calendar is also a great perk, which includes mid-year and end of year events, trivia nights, and casual office drinks every Friday afternoon.

Liv

Monash University
Bachelor of Commerce – Major in Accounting, Minors in Behavioural Commerce and Business Law

Can you let us know what company you are working for and which area of the business you work in or which rotation you are currently in?

McGrathNicol – Restructuring

What was the first 6 months like? What have you really enjoyed?

My first six months at McGrathNicol were interesting, fun and challenging. I worked in Forensics for the first four months across investigations, disputes, anti-money laundering projects, data analytics and document reviews. I then moved into the Restructuring team, joining a complex voluntary administration and then liquidation of a workforce management group. I’ve really enjoyed working across a variety of projects and workstreams and being consistently engaged and challenged.

Was your position with the McGrathNicol Grad Programme as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

Completing the four-week Vacation Program prior to joining as a grad gave me great insight into the role. I was surprised at how quickly I was given autonomy and entrusted with important tasks.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put in and have you worked weekends at all?

In this industry, occasional long hours and weekends are needed to meet critical client deadlines. I’ve worked a few long nights prior to creditor meetings and a few Saturdays during the first few busy weeks of the voluntary administration. As a thank you for our persistent efforts during this voluntary administration/liquidation the team was given dinner vouchers and we’ll be having a big team lunch soon.

On a day-to-day basis, what do you work on?

There is enormous variety in my day-to-day work. When I was working on the voluntary administration, some tasks I was responsible for included replying to creditor emails, talking to creditors on the phone, preparing payments, assisting with the preparation of the creditor reports and preparing and lodging ATO and ASIC forms.

There is also always a business development, social and learning development aspect to my weeks; I might be attending a networking event, attending training sessions or going to a social event – no two days are ever the same!

Have you worked on any projects at McGrathNicol?

In Forensics, I worked across investigations (into financial fraud, leaking of confidential information and other misconduct), anti-money laundering projects, disputes, data analytics (including wage underpayments) and document reviews. In Restructuring, I’ve worked mainly across the one voluntary administration/liquidation of a workforce management group and assisted with tasks on other appointments.

What systems do you use for your role in the graduate programme?

In Forensics we used Nuix to conduct investigations and document reviews. In Restructuring, I’ve used Insol6 and clients' accounting software (such as Xero).

What sort of support are you provided at McGrathNicol?

We have a great support system – I have a buddy, a Counselling Manager and a Counselling Partner. My buddy was my first point of contact for day-to-day queries whilst I was settling in. I catch up regularly with my counselling manager to discuss my performance and development. My Counselling Partner oversees and guides my performance and progression with the firm. The project managers I’ve worked with have also been great mentors; always supportive and welcoming of all my questions.
What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role, and do they differ from what you envisioned?

Communication and a willingness to learn are key skills required. At this level, we have very limited technical skills so the ability to effectively communicate, and a drive to learn and ask questions is vital to our development.

Continuous development is embedded in McGrathNicol’s culture so there is a fantastic learning and development structure in place to support our growth.

What are the best perks or benefits at McGrathNicol?

We have multiple social events like cocktail making and bowling, BBQ lunches on the terrace, the biennial office retreat and of course, drinks in the kitchen every Friday afternoon. We have regular wellbeing and community events like our weekly walking and running club, volunteering days and corporate sports events. The firm has a 60/40 policy of working in the office/from home to support flexibility and there’s the option to purchase extra leave.

We also have team lunches to celebrate the end of big jobs.

Luke

Deakin University
Master of Cyber Security

Can you let us know what company you are working for and which area of the business you work in or which rotation you are currently in?

McGrathNicol – Technology & Cyber

What was the first 6 months like? What have you really enjoyed?

The first six months of my graduate program was rewarding and eye-opening. I felt trusted and included from day one, and that drove me to want to learn as much as possible my team. I was almost immediately put onto projects and gained valuable practical experience working across a variety of different engagement types on a national level.

I have really enjoyed the variety of work that our team gets involved in - every day is different in Technology and Cyber and that keeps things fresh and exciting.

Was your position with the McGrathNicol Grad Programme as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

My experience in this position has been far beyond anything I was initially expecting. I came from a career in teaching music and had zero experience in the professional services world, so naturally I assumed everything would be an uphill battle; this role has been anything and everything but that.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put in and have you worked weekends at all?

I'm not sure what the longest day was, but I'm sure it would have been a forensic collection onsite somewhere.

I can count on one hand the number of Saturdays I've worked. Our team does not encourage anybody to work on a weekend unless absolutely necessary (e.g., a cyber incident takes place, we may be called to assist).

On a day-to-day basis, what do you work on?

Like I mentioned before, no two days are the same in Technology & Cyber as day-to-day can vary between eDiscovery, Digital Forensics or Cyber Defence work. Typically, my day includes interacting with clients, being hands-on with software and tools for analysis, and working with the national team on various projects.

Have you worked on any projects at McGrathNicol?

I have worked on a number of projects including in data processing, discovery, recovery, and collection for restructuring, forensic, and litigation matters, in addition to work in cyber governance risk and compliance, investigations, and incident response.

What systems do you use for your role in the graduate programme?

On a day-to-day I use industry standard tools such as Magnet Axiom, EnCase and Forensic Tool Kit (FTK) and Cellebrite for Digital Forensic investigations. For eDiscovery I have used IPro, Nuix Workstation, Nuix Discover, and Microsoft 365. Scripting languages such as PowerShell and Python, in addition to other things like SQL and some Linux distributions like Kali come in handy too.

What sort of support are you provided at McGrathNicol?

McGrathNicol has a very strong support culture. I joined the firm during the COVID pandemic and have been constantly encouraged to take time off to recharge and recover. I really admire the firm's awareness of mental health, stress, and burnout as a result of the pandemic and the nature of our work.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role, and do they differ from what you envisioned?

Ultimately, I think a drive to learn and develop is the best skill you can have coming into a role like this. Sure, a bit of technical understanding doesn't hurt, but all team members have so much experience and expertise in their fields that you can learn everything you need from spending time and being hands-on in the role. I think people skills are another great feature as McGrathNicol is very social; knowing how to have some fun while working is always a plus.

What are the best perks or benefits at McGrathNicol?

Great working culture
Strong career development options
Freedom to find your feet and work where you want
Feeling of being a team member rather than a number
Strong business development opportunities
Diverse streams of work to keep the days interesting

Victoria

University of Sydney – Bachelor of Commerce (Professional Accounting and Industrial Relations & Human Resource Management)
Analyst in the Sydney Restructuring team

Can you let us know what company you are working for and which area of the business you work in or which rotation you are currently in?

McGrathNicol – Restructuring.

What was the first 6 months like? What have you really enjoyed?

My first 6 months at McGrathNicol consisted of new experiences, skills, and incredible memories. I initially started helping on a range of tasks covering all engagement types and dealing directly with clients, creditors and other third parties like the ATO. This exposure was beneficial in allowing me to meet new people in and outside the office, develop my practical skills daily, and land me on jobs that I still work on today. A highlight during this time was our first in-person national Graduate Development Program (GDP) training in the Melbourne office. I loved meeting my cohort across the different offices and getting to know them in our training sessions and socially as I formed some fantastic friendships.

Was your position as you expected it to be? Was anything surprising?

Starting at McGrathNicol, I didn’t have too many expectations for what my role would involve. I was surprised by the diversity of jobs I work on as well as being given responsibility from the get-go. I didn’t expect the partners and senior staff to be so approachable and open about talking about their personal and professional life, which I valued as a new member of the team.

What is the longest day you have worked, and have you had to work Saturdays at all?

My longest day was about 12.5 hours due to an upcoming report deadline and balancing other job responsibilities. However, this doesn’t happen often, and I haven’t had to work on the weekend since starting!

What sort of work do you do, day to day?

Every day is different, and I jump between most of my projects which I really enjoy. This has also taught me to be adaptable, as you may be working on a non-distressed/advisory report and have a call from a creditor/shareholder for a restructuring job. As a member of the Retail Client Service Team (CST), I am involved in collating research for a monthly release and have been putting together our Year in Review and Firm Forecast. Other day to day tasks involve statutory and administrative lodgements, payments to creditors, corresponding with solicitors, real estate agents and government offices, as well as dealing with non-circulating assets (land and property).

What projects have you worked on?

I have worked across projects for distressed and non-distressed businesses including some advisory projects. The key project I am on is as a member of the sales and marketing team for the Dyldam Group receivership. This involves reviewing contracts and settlement statements, assisting to make sure purchaser concerns are rectified, and liaising with solicitors, real estate agents, and third parties such as utility providers. An advisory project that I worked on required reporting to the ACCC. I found this experience particularly valuable as I worked on the project from start to finish (from completing conflict checks to the submission of the final ACCC report). Another project I worked on was the finalisation of the HIH Insurance liquidation which involved organising a mail out, preparing creditor reports and meeting specific ASIC deregistration requirements. As each project is unique, I am always learning from my team members who will take the time to answer any questions and run through the tasks, so I am aware of how my work fits into the larger scale of the job.

What systems do you use?

I use Insol6 and SAP on a daily basis and for some client projects there are specific industry related systems I use such as BuildingLink.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role? Is this different to what you thought you would need?

I think a lot of the skills are learnt as you go, especially as each job is different. As a result, an eagerness to learn, combined with flexibility are important. Communication skills and empathy are also significant as I am often emailing externally as well as receiving phone calls from creditors/shareholders or making calls to third parties such as solicitors or government offices. It also assists for Business Development (BD) as we’re encouraged to participate in events and meet others in the industry. These skills are consistent with what I thought my role would entail and were communicated with me throughout the interview process.

And finally, what sort of perks are offered by your organisation?

We have a variety of social events like Friday night drinks, Pub of the Month, End of Financial Year celebrations, Family and Friends night and Christmas parties. Other social events include lunchtime sport against other organisations, run/walk/swim club, and book club. McGrathNicol also participates in a range of charity events that we can be involved in. These range from the Balmoral Burn to making sandwiches and supporting our local Martin Place community.

The training and investment in your development is also extensive as there are tailored programs to your level. For example, the Graduate Development Program (GDP) for Analysts/Consultants. In Restructuring, we also have lunch and learn sessions which target specific focus areas while having a catered lunch.

I have also valued the support network when you first start of a buddy, counselling manager and counselling partner as there is always someone to go to in discussing questions, goals, and career progression. This support extends to the encouragement to participate in Business Development at a junior level. We are encouraged and invited to meet new people casually and at industry events, while also maintaining existing relationships.

Above all, the greatest perk is the people and culture which make McGrathNicol an enjoyable work environment to be in.

Piyush

Bachelor of Commerce – Professional Accounting
Restructuring – Senior Analyst

Can you let us know what company you are working for and which area of the business you work in or which rotation you are currently in?

McGrathNicol – Restructuring

What was the first 6 months like? What have you really enjoyed?

My first six months at McGrathNicol were during NSW’s hard COVID-19 lockdown and proved to be difficult due to the adjustment of working permanently from home, however it opened new mediums of communication and interactions which I would have not otherwise had. Virtual coffee catch-ups and weekly ‘hang-out’ sessions on Fridays became the highlights of my weeks stuck indoors. I was no longer dreading working remotely as it was being completed with the company of my fellow graduate cohort. I also enjoyed the variety of work responsibility placed upon me by senior staff early on whilst still on my learning curve.

Was your position as you expected it to be? Was anything surprising?

Completing the four-week Vacation Program prior to joining as a graduate gave me a great look into the life of a Restructuring professional at McGrathNicol. It was surprisingly easy to build a bond and friendship with everyone I talked to derived from the family-like, welcoming culture of the workplace.

What is the longest day you have worked and have you had to work Saturdays at all?

Long days are occasionally required to complete deadline-based work for clients, however hard work is always recognised at McGrathNicol and the nights where I worked late with my fellow colleagues hold some of the fondest memories of my time at the firm.

Every now and then I complete an hour of work over the weekend to push action items along due to the nature of our work, however it is never expected as stepping away from the laptop on the weekend is strongly encouraged by the firm.

What sort of work do you do, day to day?

As everyone is working on multiple projects at once, work always varies by day in accordance with respective deadlines. It can range from interacting with clients, being hands-on with software, replying to creditor emails, talking to creditors on the phone, preparing payments, assisting with the preparation of the creditor reports, and preparing and lodging ATO and ASIC forms. There are also opportunities to join internal client service teams which focus on industry research and reaching out to potential new contacts. On top of the already varied work, there is also always a business development and social event around the corner. One moment you could be at your desk writing an email to a colleague, and the next you could be at a client lunch accompanying a Manager!

What projects have you worked on?

I have worked on a variety of engagement types, ranging from receiverships of financial services organisations and shopping centres, liquidations of fraudulent companies and voluntary administrations of smart technology companies. Due to the fluency of service lines at McGrathNicol, I have also been involved on non-distressed Advisory projects, where the projects vary from your traditional Restructuring style of work allowing for a rounded, well-established skillset.

What systems do you use?

In Restructuring, graduates quickly become experts at using Insol6, SAP and Microsoft Office, software used daily to complete the various items of work we encounter.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role? Is this different to what you thought you would need?

As our work is client and stakeholder based, soft skills including interpersonal communication, presentation ability, time management and organisation are all vital. As graduates across most sectors, you are not required to hold technical Restructuring knowledge prior to starting, so a keen interest in the industry and McGrathNicol’s work, the ability to listen and understand information like a sponge paired with a willingness to step out of your comfort zone will go a long way to setting the correct and robust foundations for a successful career.

And finally, what sort of perks are offered by your organisation?

Community initiatives including volunteering days and corporate sports events.
Coffee catch-ups and lunches with clients as well as internal project team lunches.
Flexible 60/40 policy of working in the office/remote.
Countless social events such as swim/reading/walking club meets, casino/trivia nights, EOFY parties and casual Friday afternoon drinks.
Family-like firm and office culture.