Which areas of the organisation are you recruiting for?

We recruit for all areas, as graduates are employed as generalists and therefore do not work soley for one area.

What skill sets/characteristics are you looking for in a graduate?

We are seeking skills and characteristics such as:

§ eligibility for CA program;

§ strong academic achievements;

§ well rounded lifestyle;

§ interested in the work we do;

§ keen to work for a boutique (mid-sized) firm;

§ self confidence;

§ strong communication and interpersonal skills;

§ excellent writing skills;

§ team player;

§ good problem solving skills;

§ time management and organisation;

§ flexible and enthusiastic;

§ determination; and

§ enthusiasm for continuous learning.

What are your selection criteria?

The ideal candidate will have:

§ recently graduated or due to complete relevant  (Commerce / Accounting / Finance) tertiary qualifications;

§ strong communication and interpersonal skills;

§ superior time management and organisational skills;

§ excellent analytical capability and problem solving skills; and

§ ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

All criteria are essential, however communication and interpersonal skills are particularly important in our accounting discipline.

What is the selection process? How many steps does it involve?

Step 1 – application process

Apply online. The HR department and senior client service staff review the applications to decide if the applicants’ skills, experience and qualifications match our selection criteria.

Step 2 – first interview

Held on-campus or in the McGrathNicol office and lasts around 30-45 minutes.  Generally, there will be two interviewers, both at manager level or above.  The interviewers will ask general questions to get to know the candidate including their time at university, extra-curricular activities and any work experience they may have completed.

Step 3 – second interview

If successful at first interview, candidates are invited back for the final stage of our selection process. The interview panel will involve meeting at least one partner. This interview will last around 30-45 minutes.

Sometimes offices will choose to run group interview sessions as an alternative to first and second round interviews.

How do i apply for a graduate position? what is the closing date?

Students can register their interest or apply for a graduate position by clicking on Apply Now.  You will be required to complete a short application form, and upload your cover letter, CV and most recent academic transcript.

Closing dates differ between each office, and can be found on the Closing Dates page.

Do you have opportunities for international students?

No, unfortunately we are unable to offer graduate positions to people without Australian citizenship or permanent residency at the time of application.

What type of training do you have for graduates?

3 types: Technical (Insolvency etc), CA and Soft Skills.

Graduates receive a ‘Technical Induction Manual’ when they commence with McGrathNicol, which is an interactive guide to general restructuring and insolvency theory.

Within a few months of commencement with McGrathNicol all graduates from around Australia attend a 3 day training course held in either Melbourne or Sydney.  This course is run by the National Technical Manager and builds upon the corporate restructuring and insolvency skills they have developed during the first few months of working with us.  The course also helps graduates further understand the professional practice standards adopted by McGrathNicol as well as providing an opportunity from them to network with their fellow graduates from around the country.

In addition, employees have a number of external training courses they can attend throughout the year, such as business writing skills, IT training (including word, excel and powerpoint), time management, communication and presentation skills, and client interviewing skills.

How would you describe our culture?

Dynamic, professional, flexible, social and friendly.

Do you offer a work/life balance?

Yes, we aim to foster a healthy work/life balance in all of our staff.  Many employees are involved in various regular sporting competitions including corporate touch football and netball competitions, and McGrathNicol encourages staff to participate in annual sporting events such as the BRW Corporate Triathlon, JP Morgan Chase, the Sydney City-to-Surf and the Corporate Games. 

Many of our employees also choose to exercise during their lunch breaks.  Most of our offices are equipped with shower facilities for employee use.

We also have a number of key social/team building events throughout the year, as well as more informal activities such as team lunches and Friday afternoon drinks.

What else do we offer?

§ Opportunities to work interstate.

§ Opportunities to obtain overseas secondments for exception performers (would need to be employed for around 5 years to be considered for this). Secondments are typically for a 2 year period and occur in the UK.

§ Able to apply for a ‘Career Break’ for a period of up to 1 year. This is also an opportunity only available to high performers and is awarded at the discretion of the partners to people who have been employed for a significant period of time.

§ All employees participate in an annual performance based bonus scheme in July.

§ Able to apply for postgraduate support which enables employees to receive up to 50% funding for approved courses and 100% funding if awarded a scholarship.