Resettlement Success: From the Army to Project Management at KPMG
Category: Job Finding
Publish date: 27/02/2019
“I was initially concerned that my lack of commercial experience would serve as an obstacle to finding a new career but it was a relief when, in fact, businesses were mostly interested in the management and leadership experience I gained through serving in the military.
I hadn’t really considered Professional Services, assuming instead that I’d enjoy going into banking like so many of my friends had done! However, I met the Chairman of KPMG’s Forces in the Firm Network, Mark Parr, at a networking event and learnt about the breadth of roles available at KPMG through their Programme – you are really encouraged to explore opportunities across the Firm.
Project Management is often considered a natural fit for ex-military and my first six months at KPMG have definitely required skills that I developed as an officer. I’m responsible for supervising critical aspects of audit delivery, including tracking workstream progress and holding teams to account with their deadlines. The transferrable skills that I’ve used most are the ability to positively engage with a wide variety of people, to recognise when something is not going to plan and have the confidence to be decisive in directing remedial action.
Working in audit is often wrongly considered the sole preserve of trained accountants! Although I do predominantly work with accountants in this team, there is a growing need for Project Managers in Audit and it has given me exposure to an important and profitable area of the Firm that has strong promotion prospects.
After a rewarding six months, I was delighted to be offered a permanent role here. The stand-out feature of KPMG’s Military Leavers Programme is that you are filling a genuine vacancy in the Firm and so I’ve had the chance to deliver in the role and add genuine value to the team. I’ve also had plenty of chats with colleagues who work in a variety of fascinating, wildly diverse areas, demonstrating the huge range of opportunities working with both private companies and public-sector agencies here.
For those currently going through resettlement, you should be confident and reassured that you have a huge ex-military network already out there, willing to provide you support and guidance as a Service Leaver. From my experience, people who have successfully landed in industry are more than willing to chat and act as a signpost – they’ve all been in your position and received help themselves, so are keen to pay it back. I would also recommend keeping an eye out for insight events run by organisations such as the CTP, OA and companies themselves. My first interaction with KPMG was at an event run by the City Veterans’ Network, which brings together a wide range of Financial Services institutions. They all provide excellent opportunities to build on the positive start that many of you will have made at your CTP workshop and there are always a couple of social drinks afterwards where you will hear something new and no doubt expand your network further.”