What's your job about?
I work in the Data Analytics team at McGrathNicol. Data Analytics (DA) sits within our Advisory service line, so far I have had a lot of involvement in a variety of jobs relating to investigations, disputes, fraud detection and wage remediation. As an Analyst, my main responsibilities lie in developing analytical models for our clients. Every project is different because every client has different needs and a unique set of data. The two largest jobs I have been a part of have been related to fraud risk. I’m often required to put on my detective hat and answer difficult questions that lie within the data. Some questions are more straightforward, like asking what data points within a measure are outliers, while some can be as broad and fuzzy as “what does normal and abnormal user behaviour look like in our dataset?”. Some projects require robust but simple mathematical models, such as in calculating a wage underpayment, while some require the use of unsupervised machine learning algorithms to identify risks for the client. Every day is different! Staying on my toes and learning on the job are two key components of my job.
What's your background?
I grew up in Melbourne however, I am the only Melbourne local in our team! The most important stage of my life started in year 12, moving through university and has run right into my graduate year, which has just finished. Over this time, I have focussed on developing a learning-oriented worldview full of challenges, plenty of studies, and meeting as many new and different people as I can. Learning is the number one thing I am grateful for, and although I am no longer in the classroom, I realise I am lucky to be in a position where every week poses new challenges. At university, I studied a double degree in Arts and Science, with majors in Politics and Applied Mathematics and minors in Chemistry and Literature. I have always loved trying new things and being open to new experiences, which is why I picked such a broad range of subjects. There were even some interests that took a back seat in university, including history, economics, music production, programming, and plenty of sports. Each of these different disciplines has taught me something new about how the world works, and I love pursuing every one of them. Travel has also been a great way to challenge myself and try to learn about how others who are very different to me see the world and is something I recommend to everyone.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Of course! Our Data Analytics team at McGrathNicol comes from all different backgrounds and skill sets, including bioinformatics, commerce, accounting, neuroscience, in mathematics, as well as more traditional data science backgrounds. The most important things in our work are bringing a sense of curiosity to each problem, and a willingness to learn and try new ideas. The last of those is the hardest to do but can happen in a variety of backgrounds. The main thing is being able to question and challenge what you know and how you know it!
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is having the freedom to investigate complex problems. These problems can be broad and difficult to answer, and often start with how we can know or detect something abstract in the data. Projects surrounding fraud and investigations are what I love the most at McGrathNicol.
What are the limitations of your job?
People often say consulting is a fast-paced environment, and I didn’t really come to understand what that means until getting into the thick of it. Every project must carefully balance timelines and the scope and budget of the work, without sacrificing quality. I need to plan my time, communicate clearly and balance my responsibilities carefully, which is a challenge I love taking on every week. This can also mean that we don’t take certain problems all the way to their logical end because of these constraints, no matter how intellectually interesting they are.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
Get out there and try new things! I think I slowly came to work this out towards the middle and end of university. I would encourage everyone at university to explore their interests as widely as possible, whether that means reading a challenging book, picking up a new sport, starting a new hobby or language, joining a club or youth organisation, or taking out that friend you haven’t seen in ages for a coffee. The freedom of being in your teens doesn’t last forever, and you’ll be surprised just how full a life you can lead when you start pursuing new opportunities!