Updating Results

McGrathNicol

4.2
  • 100 - 500 employees

Tess Mitchell

I come from what would be considered an ‘unusual background’ within the industry... Despite not studying Accounting, I was able to use the foundational skills I learnt in both degrees and transfer this to everyday work.

What's your job about?

McGrathNicol is a professional Advisory and Restructuring firm. I work within the Restructuring team with my area of responsibility as a Graduate assisting with insolvency engagements. This often involves communicating with a range of stakeholders and employees and assisting with statutory processes of the engagement. 

Recently I have assisted in preparing reports to ASIC which may be used as supporting evidence for cases where serious misconduct has been involved. This differed greatly from my most recent project on the Triple MMM Holdings Voluntary Administration. This involved hotel development and was a great opportunity to work with my interstate colleagues and learn from a variety of experiences in construction and property development. 

What's your background?

I grew up in Melbourne, Victoria where a lot of my important stages of life have been – gaining an education, working in multiple different industries and travelling abroad. 

I attended University in Melbourne which gave me the opportunity to work on social committees, make new friends and even tutor and mentor younger students as I got further into both my degrees. I studied both Engineering and Commerce, which has meant I worked on a broad range of jobs to see what was out there and might be enjoyable for me. 

I landed in Restructuring after interning at McGrathNicol in early 2020 and really enjoying my time. After returning to university to finish my degrees I worked in Hospitality, Engineering and Education, and found myself still putting my time at McGrathNicol in the lead. I have been at McGrathNicol in an Analyst role since February 2022. 

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes, 100%. Personally, I come from what would be considered an ‘unusual background’ within the industry, having studied both Engineering and Economics. Despite not studying Accounting, I was able to use the foundational skills I learnt in both degrees and transfer this to everyday work. This included complex problem-solving, working in a team, navigating difficult client conversations and general business analysis. 

What's the coolest thing about your job?

I love the culture of the firm. Ultimately, you come for the work and stay for the people. I genuinely enjoy working with the people at McGrathNicol which means when work gets really tough or busy, you have a sense of community to get through it together. 

What are the limitations of your job?

Restructuring is a cyclical industry which means there are always quiet and busy periods. This job limits you in the sense that a job may come through last minute and you find you’re really busy for a few weeks, and then can drop off quickly. As a result, you have to be flexible and adaptable to changing conditions. 

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

  • Go at your own pace – avoid comparing yourself to others’ timelines, because ultimately you will find your place at the right time. 
  • Similarly, take your time to find what you enjoy. Working out what industry to begin your career in or even what subjects to choose can be overwhelming, so give yourself time to trial and error a few options.
  • Have fun! University is a time to make new friends, explore what you enjoy in life and learn along the way. Although it can seem that it is all about finding a job and getting great grades, making sure you have fun along the way will make it much more worthwhile.