Financial Management Group
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Cecilia
Associate, Finance “you soon realise after joining Macquarie that people you work with are high calibre individuals who are passionate about what they do” |
What attracted you to the Financial Management Group (FMG)?
With a commerce and law degree, and background in accounting, tax and business advisory, FMG was the perfect place for me to amalgamate my skills and interests. The Finance division also offers a one-year rotation program for graduates upon joining, whereby you are given the opportunity to work in three business areas. This gives you exposure to an incredible range of business knowledge and responsibilities which will provide a solid foundation for your permanent role.
What is a typical day for you?
I am currently in the Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Financial Control team. There is a great variety of work that ranges from cash management to tax planning - no one day is the same as the other, as there are constant challenges and intricate issues to resolve - and that I find, is the most enjoyable part of my role.
What type of training and development have you undertaken to date?
Macquarie definitely encourages continued professional development. There is a constant availability of internal training, both organised and on the job. For example, I have attended seminars on networking, new regulations and standards and new systems implementations. Macquarie also supports external development and qualifications such as the Chartered Accountants qualification.
What advice would you give to a graduate joining Macquarie?
I think it is very important to build on your graduate network. For example, I have on many occasions completed something designated to me through the help of a fellow graduate. Macquarie provides a myriad of opportunities for you to keep in touch such as seminars, the Graduate Volunteer Network and social sport teams - make the most of these!
What is the work culture like?
The work culture that I have been exposed to has been both positive and motivated - you soon realise after joining Macquarie that people you work with are high calibre individuals who are passionate about what they do - and this definitely rubs off. It is an environment where a positive attitude and enthusiasm is encouraged and reciprocated. Furthermore, collegiality is valued, especially when it comes to helping and developing junior staff.
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Amy
Senior Associate, Finance “Macquarie’s investment in the graduate program is underpinned by a strong commitment to long-term professional development” |
What level of responsibility are you given as a graduate?
As a graduate within the Finance division of the Financial Management Group (FMG), you are given the opportunity to rotate through three different business groups in your first year. Throughout each rotation, you are entrusted with real responsibility and real ownership of tasks, as a real member of the team. This creates a platform for graduates to springboard into a role where their contributions are valued and their ideas actioned.
Why did you choose to work at Macquarie?
Macquarie builds a strong framework for graduates to take advantage of opportunities and grow from these experiences. The initial induction program and ongoing training and support for both technical and professional skills are fundamental features aimed at maximising graduate potential. Macquarie’s investment in the graduate program is underpinned by a strong commitment to long-term professional development.
What advice would you give to a graduate joining Macquarie?
As a graduate, always be on the lookout for new ideas that can drive innovation. In a dynamic and fast-paced working environment such as Macquarie, it is the ability to think differently, generate fresh ideas and spark creativity within a team environment that becomes a fundamental skill to success.
Describe the people you work with.
Macquarie prides itself on maintaining a high-performance culture, which is reflected in the high-calibre, driven and disciplined people you meet day-to-day. This provides a constant opportunity to absorb the talents of others and leverage from their experiences.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Due to the dynamic business environment at Macquarie, there is a broad range of opportunities for the application of traditional accounting skills. From monthly management reporting analysis, to project-based tasks based on process efficiencies, the nature of work is constantly evolving to account for the ever-changing environment which is a key part in maintaining high levels of motivation.
What type of training and development have you undertaken to date?
In line with encouraging strong professional development, Macquarie offers a broad range of opportunities to further your technical skills. I am currently enrolled in the Chartered Accountants’ qualification; Macquarie provides first-class support through the coordination of external tutorials and supplementary notes. This is an invaluable resource to assist in completing this globally recognised qualification.
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Dan
Associate, Group Treasury “The dynamic nature of the Group Treasury function means that repetition doesn’t feature very heavily in my role” |
What attracted you to the Group Treasury division of the Financial Management Group (FMG)?
Having done an internship at Macquarie I was fortunate to see firsthand the amazing opportunities that a job in Group Treasury presented. Looking to begin my career in finance I could see no better place to learn how a bank really operates. The fact that it was a central role was also very attractive to me as I’m a “big picture” type of person who enjoys dealing with people.
What is a typical day for you?
I don’t know that such a day really exists. The dynamic nature of the Group Treasury function means that repetition doesn’t feature very heavily in my role. Typically I would spend my day working on one or two medium term projects, meeting with team members and talking to contacts outside of Group Treasury. We have some monthly reporting tasks but even these are always evolving as we seek to ensure that information delivered to senior management remains relevant.
What advice would you give to a graduate joining Macquarie?
Stick with it. There’s no doubt that it’s hard to transition from university into work. Especially given that you are likely to be working in an environment with lots of people that are much more experienced than you. At first it can be hard to keep pace but if you ask the right questions and apply yourself you will be become a valuable addition to the team in no time.
What is the work culture like?
The work culture is fantastic! The people I get to work with everyday are not only brilliant at what they do but they are always willing to lend a hand. This was something that I was extremely grateful for when I first started. You do of course have to work hard but when you perform well people are quick to recognise this. Your ideas are listened to from day one and the support is always available for you to achieve some really amazing outcomes.