Discover Jacob's full story
I’ve found myself in many situations where, when someone asks what I do and I respond with “I’m an auditor,” the reaction is often, “Oh, I hate auditors.” Not exactly the warmest welcome, especially for someone who considers themselves a people-pleaser. That reaction used to sting and honestly, sometimes it still does, but my journey in audit has taught me that making a difference doesn’t always come with applause. And that’s okay.
The foundation I didn't know I was building
At 17, I set my sights on becoming a Chartered Accountant. My goal? To build a strong foundation for a career in business. I saw audit as the pathway to that foundation. But I’ll admit, those first three years in audit were tough. I didn’t enjoy them. In fact, I hated them. Never in my wildest dreams did I think audit would become my career - let alone something I’d be proud to call my legacy.
But it was those very years, the ones I struggled through, that laid the foundation I was after. What I didn’t realise at the time was that the skills I was building - structure, process, discipline - would become the bedrock of a much more meaningful journey. Over time, the foundation I thought would lead me to a business career evolved into something uniquely audit-focused. And unexpectedly, I fell in love with it.
People over processes - the unexpected perks
Why? Because audit gave me opportunities to grow beyond the numbers. It gave me the chance to train and mentor future accountants and auditors, to build lasting client relationships, to contribute to good governance and process improvement, and to connect people in ways that created real value. It became a platform not just for technical excellence, but for people-focused impact.
There’s a lot of stigma and stereotyping around accountants - especially auditors. Even non-auditor accountants like to poke fun at us! But in all my years, I’ve yet to meet the stereotypical grey-suit, no-personality, “put me to sleep” auditor. Instead, I’ve worked alongside sports fanatics, gym junkies, musicians, creatives - you name it.
What unites us isn’t dullness. It’s dedication. It’s a shared commitment to quality, high standards, and efficient processes. The very traits that often get mischaracterised are actually what help us deliver real, lasting value.
So yes, I’m an auditor. And while not everyone loves auditors, I’ve learned to love what I do and to find meaning in the difference I can make.
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