Natalia Danil on what your first year in Audit at Deloitte really looks like

Natalia Danil didn't arrive at Deloitte with a grand plan. She studied business, majored in accounting and finance, heard someone speak about audit in a uni class, and thought it sounded interesting. It felt like a natural fit, so she applied and was thrilled to accept a Graduate role in the Audit & Assurance team.

What she didn't expect was how different the reality of the job would be from what she'd imagined. 

"Coming into my graduate role at Deloitte, I had this conception that audit was going to be super serious, very rigid, highly competitive. That was definitely debunked."

One year in as an Analyst in Audit & Assurance, working across banking and investments, Natalia's picture of the job looks a lot different now.

What a career in Audit actually looks like 

Ask most people to describe audit and they'll say something about numbers, spreadsheets, and not much else. Natalia had the same assumption. 

"Before I started, I thought audit was just data entry. It's very collaborative, you really work as a team, you make judgements together, you bounce off each other." 

That collaborative nature runs through everything. Understanding a new client means getting across their business, their industry, and their specific risks. It's not a checklist exercise. It requires curiosity, communication, and the kind of critical thinking that builds over time. 

"When I first joined, I was focused on understanding the fundamentals. But as time has gone on, I've started to want to understand the bigger picture, why we're doing what we're doing, what risks we're addressing, approaching work with professional judgement." 

The support that surprised her 

Walking into a graduate role when you don't fully know what the job involves takes some courage. Natalia was upfront about that. 

What settled her nerves wasn't one thing. It was several things arriving at once. A large graduate cohort where everyone was in the same boat. A buddy who made the hierarchy feel flat. A coach she could ask anything. A team that genuinely wanted her to grow. 

"One of the greatest things about working at Deloitte is the culture and the people. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences, and everyone is genuinely willing to help each other learn and grow." 

Growing into the role 

Natalia is studying towards her CA, and the support Deloitte provides around that is something she talks about with real appreciation. Study leave, exam support, and a team that actively prioritises her progress alongside the work.

Beyond the qualification, the growth has come from exposure. She's now working across both Australian audit standards and PCAOB audits, the US equivalent, something she didn't anticipate and has grown to enjoy. 

"Working across both Australian and US audit standards was a big learning curve. But it helped me grow a lot, and I'm actually starting to really like PCAOB audits. Most people go 'oh, stay away', but I find it really fun." 

That attitude runs through how she talks about the job more broadly. The challenges are part of it. The complexity is the point. 

Finding your stride 

A year in, Natalia is clear on one thing: the job rewards the people who lean into it. The work is complex, the learning curve is real, and the clients keep you on your toes. That's exactly what she's come to enjoy most about it. 

"What excites me to go to work every day is the people and the team. Having a really good team motivates you to work efficiently and make sure you're delivering everything on time."

For a graduate weighing up where to start their career, that combination - meaningful work, genuine development, and people who want to see you succeed - is a pretty compelling place to begin. 

Exciting careers start here.

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