Finding variety and flexibility in audit

In this team story we hear from Saskia Harrison who talks about her journey and her role in the Audit Team.

Before I worked at Gerald Edelman, I mainly worked in practice since I was an audit trainee (at Grant Thornton and Evelyn Partners (now S&W), but I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of years in industry at Warner Bros working on Royalty Audits with their licensees. Therefore, I’ve seen both sides of auditing and met some brilliant people along the way. I was even a Bridesmaid for one of the women I trained with at GT! I love the flexibility and diversity in your role that working in practice provides – you get the opportunity to be involved in various parts of your own business, as well as get to see behind the scenes of your clients’ businesses. At Gerald Edelman, I have a very varied role and portfolio and it means no two days are the same, and no day is boring!

What is your role at Gerald Edelman?

My main role is Director and RI within the Audit Department – which means I am responsible for managing my Audit Team, and signing the financial statements on behalf of the Firm. However, I am also involved in recruitment, leading the training strategy for the Firm, and being the Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QRPT) for trainees and their ICAEW files. My role involves a lot of interacting with various people, which I really enjoy.

What is your main goal in life?

I wouldn’t say I have a particular goal, but I always hope that when I look back, I’m happy with the decisions I’ve made, whatever they are. So far I feel I have achieved that, and although not everything always goes to plan, I can definitely say that I have lived a happy life.

What did you want to be when you were younger, did you see yourself in the role you’re in now?

I wanted to be a lollipop lady – because I thought they got lollipops! But as I grew older, I knew that I really enjoyed numbers and the joy of working on something and getting it right. Therefore, I hoped I would end up in some form of finance role as I grew up. I hope young me will be happy to hear I can now treat myself to all the lollipops I want.

What would be your advice to someone trying to get into your profession?

So many firms offer graduate and school leaver programmes, and my advice would be to just give it a go. Sometimes you don’t know if something is the right fit for you until you try it, and the more you put in, the more you get out of it. Working in audit provides so much diversity – it can mean being in different locations, working with different teams or clients, and there is always so much to learn and see.

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?

I don’t have one specific favourite – but I love to make the most of my free time. I use much of my annual leave to travel and visit new places with my partner, friends, or family. I will spend the weekends socialising, trying a new restaurant, or having a nice evening in with some popcorn and a film. I love films (hence my time at Warner Bros) and I’m always looking for new recommendations from people I meet.

If you had to pick one song to listen to for the rest of your life what would it be?

I think if I had to pick one song for the rest of my life it would eventually drive me crazy. But one song I love to put on for a pick me up is ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ by Monty Python, or Escape (the Pina Colada song) – just as I love the story in it.