ANAO

The day to day for a SADA ANAO graduate!

6.30 AM

Wake up time, not too early

Have a quick shower and make a reminder for myself if there are any meetings today which require a suit and tie

Pack the work bag and make sure laptop is fully charged

7.30 AM

A quick walk to work, living close by in Forrest is quite the benefit

8.00 AM

I get my desk set up and check any emails I may have received for audit requests as final is a bit busier compared to normal

Starting the day strong I check my notes list for any important tasks that are time-sensitive

8.30 AM

I make a start on some of my audit work which will eventually go up to my audit manager for review

I’m always keen to try something new and this is heavily encouraged within the ANAO office and my team in particular

9.30 AM

I started on another new audit, so it was time to talk to my team leader and discuss what needs to be done

This can be a little daunting but with some guidance is an easy task to work through and get a coffee.

10.00 AM

Make a start on some of my new audit work – sending requests out to the auditee and planning how to best document my allocated procedure

10.30 AM

Time for a team meeting – this is where we discuss anything we have finalised or any problems we may be facing

Always an interesting discussion to see the direction a new audit is taking

11.30 AM

I have a meeting for the new audit I am working on later today, so I decided that it would be beneficial to read up on any potential issues

When meeting new audit managers, I find it best to show up prepared and start the relationship on a positive note

12.00 PM

Lunch time!

Big highlight for the day – you’ll catch me sitting around and chatting it up with some grads or team members from around the office

12.30 PM

After lunch I take some time to do some Linkedin Learning, an activity heavily encouraged during the graduate year. I have found it quite beneficial to help develop my technical understanding of IT audit.

1.30 PM

Meeting time with the new audit managers, an interesting discussion with a new dynamic. I’m excited for what’s to come.

2.00 PM

Now for an exciting task, a meeting with an auditee. This is where we answer any questions or raise issues that need to be escalated. Forming a productive working relationship with the auditee is a crucial part of our audit work.

2.30 PM

After the meeting it’s time to send some email follow-ups. I find it helpful to get them done straight after we’ve had a discussion, that way everyone remembers what happened.

3.00 PM

For the last hour of my day, I decide to complete some more audit work. The work we do in IT Audit is important to supporting the work of our Financial Statement audit colleagues, so it is vital that I get on top of my allocated procedures.

4.00 PM

It’s home time!

The day at work is done and it’s now time to hit the gym.

5.30 PM

After a fun gym session, it’s time to head home and call the family back in Melbourne. I make it a habit to call them daily and give them some updates about life in Canberra.

6.00 PM

After a quick call and a shower, it’s dinner time. Once dinner is done, I typically unwind by watching whatever show I’m currently into (today was a Chicago Fire binge)

8.30 PM

Get everything ready for the next day (laptop, phone and work clothes)

9.00 PM

In bed nice and early to get a good night’s sleep to help me perform the following day.  

The day to day for a FSASG ANAO graduate!

05:30

My day starts off pretty early to get my daily morning walk.

06:00

After walking, I come back in to make myself breakfast and coffee. I quickly pack my lunchbox with food I made the night before and afterwards; I’d get dressed and ready the day.

07:30

I get all of my bags and put them into my car. It’s roughly a 20-minute drive to the office for me but it isn’t too long of a drive as I get to listen to two full plays of Taylor Swift’s All Too Well (Taylor’s Version of course!) and get a scenic drive of the Arboretum.

07:55

Once securing a spot at the office car park, I walk in and put my lunch for the day in the kitchen, set my work area with my laptop, keyboard, mouse and notebook.

Because of how the office is set out, you’re able to sit anywhere but I like to come in to get a spot in the collaborative space.

08:45

Around this time in the morning, especially as most of our audits are at the final phase, my team usually like to do morning check-ins. This allows everyone on the team to set out our priorities for the day, what has been completed, and often share a highlight.During team check-in meetings, I like to write down a ‘To-do List’ in my notebook. I found this helps a lot with being up to date and to be able to tick off items feels good.Team meetings often go longer than others depending on whether there are some critical areas. But today, my team only had to go through a few areas.

10:00

I like to get the bigger items ticked off from my list around this time in the morning and often go for a quick coffee break with colleagues. At the moment, Maple and Clove have been the best with matcha. Going for this quick break also allows me to stretch my legs, have some sun time, and re-fresh my brain.

12:00

For lunch, I often bring my own food and either sit in the office kitchen or outside. Today, my friends and I decided to eat in the kitchen area. Today I had Japanese Curry with rice.Lunch times for me can vary but because of the audit I am in at this time, I needed to get back a little early than usual due to meetings.

16:30

The after-lunch focus time was much needed and I’m ready to go home. Before leaving, I like to inform my team the tasks I completed for the day. Today, I finished off two testing workpapers. I pack my laptop, keyboard and mouse, tidy up my desk before leaving and say ‘bye’ to my friends.

The day to day for a PSASG ANAO graduate!

7:00 AM

I wake up to my alarm at 7.00 AM most days. I spend the next hour and a half eating breakfast, preparing lunch, catching up on the news and enjoying the first coffee of the day while I get ready for work.

8.30 AM
Stepping out the door on a Canberra winter morning, I’m greeted by clear blue skies and cool fresh air. If the coffee didn’t wake me up, winter mornings in Canberra always find a way to.
My walk into work takes me between 20 and 30 minutes. While my pace isn’t brisk, I find that by the time I arrive my body and mind are warmed up and ready for the day ahead. 

9.00 AM
By the time I get in the office is already buzzing with activity. 
The desk I sit at has its perks, it’s in a corner near the natural light and it gets less traffic than some of the other spots in the office.This part of the office is always lively; there’s always conversations and banter which makes for a fun environment to work in. Part of why it works so well is that there are designated quite spaces to work everywhere in the office, so I know that if I ever need to knuckle down and work without distraction there is always somewhere to do that. 
It doesn’t take long for me to set up, once I have, the first thing I usually do is check in with my team and then head to the kitchen for the second coffee of the day.
With coffee in hand, it’s back to my desk to start work.
I like to spend the first 30 minutes of my day reading and responding to emails, checking my calendar and doing the media monitoring for my team.

9:30 AM
It’s that time of the week where my team meets to discuss our audit progress. This usually happens at 10 AM, so I spend the next 30 minutes making sure I’m across any updates on my performance measures that I might need to brief my audit manager and team about.

10.00 AM
These audit team meetings are a great way to make sure everyone on the team is on the same page for both of our audits. After an around-the-table update from everyone, our audit manager outlines what our priorities will be for the next week, and we get back to our work.

10.30 AM
After the meeting I get back to my desk and settle into the work I’ll be doing until lunch. The good thing about working in performance statements is that there is always something to do.

12.30 PM
You can always tell lunch time is approaching by the sounds of laughter and aroma of delicious meals being reheated in the microwaves coming from the kitchen. Even if I wasn’t hungry before, I am now.
The office kitchen is a nexus of break-time conversation and good vibes. I always find that if I’ve been busy, this time of day helps by bringing me out of work and letting my mind refresh and recharge for the 30 minutes it takes for me to devour my food.

1.00 PM
With lunch out of the way it’s back to my desk. This afternoon’s schedule is comprised of an audit meeting and graduate training
I spend the next 30 minutes preparing for the audit meeting. I do this by going over my notes and the agenda, making sure I am across what I need to be to ensure the meeting goes smoothly and productively.

1.30 PM
Meeting time!

2.30 PM
The meeting was a success; After a quick debrief with my manager, I now have roughly 30 minutes before graduate training. I take my things back to my desk, grab my mug and make a beeline for the kitchen; it’s time for coffee #3.
Freshly filled coffee mug in hand, I make a brief stop by the social club snack bar. It stocks everything from drinks and chips to Easy Mac and the proceeds go to activities organised by the club. Now armed with caffeine and sugar, I return to my desk. 
I spend the time up to graduate training compiling my notes and actioning items from the audit meeting and getting up to speed on today’s training topic. The good thing about the graduate program here is that while most learning is done on-the-job, it’s also supported by general training at the graduate program level and then more focused role specific training at the service group level.

3.00 PM
Training time. Today’s graduate training is for Performance Statements Audit Service Group (PSASG) graduates. It’s called ‘Measuring Up’ and it’s generally hosted on a fortnightly basis. We take turns presenting on topics relevant to the work we do during the year. But what I like most about it is that whoever presents brings snacks for everyone else.

4.00 PM
After an informative and delicious training session, it’s back to my desk for the last hour of work for today.
I split this hour into two halves; the first half is used to complete the tasks I have left to do. The second half of the hour is used for any administrative work I need done in preparation for tomorrow, like responding to emails, sending out meeting invitations and preparing agendas.

5.00 PM
Sunset beaming through the window next to my desk tells me it’s time to call it a day. I pack up my workspace, say goodbye to my colleagues and head outside. The sky is a lovely shade of deep orange, and the air is crisp but still pleasant.  Perfect conditions for a stroll home.

The day to day for a FSASG ANAO intern, now APS4 financial statements auditor!

6:30 AM

My alarm goes off -- but really, it's my cat jumping onto my chest that gets me up. She's a sweethear, especially when she's reminding me it's time for her breakfast.

7:00 AM

Morning gym with my husband.
Honestly, nothing wakes me up better -- though I'll admit, post-workout coffee is still non-negotiable.
 

8:30 AM

I arrive at the office, scroll through emails from auditees, and start sketching out my plan for the day.
If I decided to skip gym and arrive at 7:30 that day, I would usually treat myself with coffee from the cafe, fresh air is always important :).

9:00 AM

Usually, the time for me to report my plan for the day to my audit manager, it's usually a call or a message left on Teams.
I prefer writing everything into my calendar, it's easier for entering timesheets at the end of the week.

 
12:00 PM

Lunch time with my colleagues in the office, we usually will take a stroll outside to get some sunshine, and share some insights around the projects we are currently working on.
Many of us started as interns at ANAO -- some of us have moved to Graduate roles while I've stepped into APS 4, it's nice we still catch-up on a regular basis.

12:30 PM

Back to my desk for round 2, I usually prefer to stand at my desk during the afternoons, it's one of my strategies for fighting off the post-lunch slump. 
Mornings are for high-focus testings, afternoon is more for work that is less intense and lighter.

3:00 PM

Tea break! I grab my teapot and tea leaves from my locker and brew some tea -- a calming ritual to rest and revive before the day ends. 
Usually, I also wash my lunch box if the kitchen is not too busy along the way.
 
4:30 PM

Before logging off, I brief my audit manager on what is left to be done tomorrow morning and what is ticked off for today. 
We also chat about our plans for the evening and weekends.

5:00 PM

Everything wrapped up for the day, I lock my laptop away and head for home to get ready for dance class. My high-Intermediate exam for dance is end of this year, so no slacking allowed!
Plus, after sitting indoor, my body craves for movements.

I am a financial statements auditor in the Financial Statements Audit Services Group, currently assigned to the Australian Taxation Office audit, along with responsibilities on other audits.

With a Bachelor of Accounting from the Australian National University, I was excited to accept a position in the ANAO Graduate Program. What attracted me to the ANAO was the opportunity to learn more about auditing, as well as the flexibility offered by a career in the public service. I previously worked in the private sector and from my experience starting my career in the public sector, I found conditions more flexible.

I particularly enjoy the problem-solving aspect of my work. When something does not turn out as expected, I like to solve the puzzle and work out why it was not as anticipated. As technology has progressed in the office, I have tried to use new tools to efficiently complete my work; like using PowerBI.

My role has involved spending a lot of time at various client sites and interacting with staff at different levels in the department throughout the audit process. From the graduate level onwards, I have been involved in high-level audit progress meetings and this has given me an insight into the processes of a large department, and the challenges they face. As a director, I now discuss more issues with the auditee and work through what recommendations are appropriate to give to the auditee.

My graduate year was about continuous learning and developing my skills. When I started with my team they took the time to explain many aspects of our work, such as the tools and systems we use. Even mistakes are a learning opportunity, as this is the year to have a go at new things.

I have loved my time at the audit office, still remaining after 7 years! During this time, I have had the opportunity to provide support in Papua New Guinea, work in other areas within the office and even expand my social skills by becoming the Social Club Secretariat!

The ANAO Graduate Program is not just about academic ability; the graduates in the program have been selected for their personal qualities, such as communication and teamwork, as well as their technical skills. If you are interested in analysis, numbers, information and data this might be the program for you, and I encourage you to apply.

“The ANAO has been an excellent place to work, providing me with many opportunities to develop my skills and experience. Two of the most valuable aspects have been the diversity in the nature of the work that I have done, and the level of responsibility that I have been given. After 11 years, I am still being challenged and continuously improving my skills and experience.”

“From knowing little about audit to leading a team on one of ANAO’s largest audits (and managing multiple others), it has been an amazing journey. The ANAO has not only provided me with the opportunity to develop and improve my understanding of financial statements, but has helped me extend my skills and knowledge into other areas—like my analytical rigor and leadership skills.”

“I graduated university with an Honours degree in psychology, but my work at the ANAO has taken me in a direction I never expected while I was studying. I use the research and analysis skills from my degree to evaluate a portfolio of military equipment worth over $60 billion, and only six months after completing my graduate program, I was selected to be a senior analyst on this portfolio. The ANAO is a great place to learn new things and apply your degree in a different way.”

“I feel that the ANAO as provided me with a diversity of different experiences, which have allowed me to develop a variety of useful skills and gain an understanding of how various parts of the Australian Public Service operate. I’ve also been provided with opportunities to challenge myself, like presenting to important stakeholders, develop solutions for complex issues, and be involved in improving to the way we work. The work I am doing is always changing, which has in turn meant that I’m always learning new things and developing myself further.”