Video transcript: Matthew Geddes
Note: When we filmed Matt for this video, he was a Supervising Senior. In 2022, he's an Associate Director.
[Exterior of New Zealand Rugby House, the location of Audit New Zealand’s national office in Wellington]
Matthew Geddes
I come from Manchester. I am the supervisor on our audit of Education New Zealand. Education New Zealand is an organisation that encourages students from overseas to come and study in New Zealand, and they have several offices around the world in order to have people on the grounds in the countries they’re targeting.
So I got the opportunity to go over to their office in Jakarta, back in April this year. They co-locate with MFAT, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and also New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in an office that they have in Jakarta, so myself and the Audit Director went over and had a look at the systems and controls that they have in place there over the various expenditure systems, payroll systems and service performance systems that they have there, and gain an understanding of what they’re doing on site and make sure that they have robust controls there.
I think the best thing about Audit New Zealand is the culture. Everyone is very caring and supportive of each other. It’s very much an attitude of caring for each other’s development. I think I’ve had a lot of support and a lot of training since I’ve come here, in how to develop better as an auditor and as an accountant, and I’ve learned a lot of useful skills that I will take on with me for the rest of my career.
There’s lots of worries of course in coming over, but there’s lots of opportunities, and unless you actually try and see what it’s like, you’re never going to – you’ll always have that in the back of your mind, wondering whether – what it would be. I think the benefits definitely outweigh those concerns. And it is a long way, but in the modern world where communication is very up to date, it’s very quick, you know, you can still talk to family and friends quite often. I’ve been back to the UK to see family and friends quite recently, and you can still have those connections and catch up with people but still have a life here and experience what New Zealand’s got to offer.
Title: Great Job Better Future. For more information, please visit our website: www.auditnz.govt.nz