Most people have a very boring image in their head when they hear the word “accountant.” But Vish completely flips all stereotypes!
He’s currently a PhD candidate at UNSW Sydney, but he’s not stuck behind a desk all day. He’s working on climate reporting and auditing, basically holding companies accountable when they say they’re reducing their carbon footprint.
Because let’s be real… “greenwashing” is everywhere.
Vish is using his accounting skills to cut through the noise and make sure businesses are really doing what they set out to do. Real impact, not just good PR.
Not your typical path
Vish didn’t start in academia either. He kicked things off in the Big Four (PwC in New Zealand and Deloitte in Sydney), working in audit before moving into commercial real estate as a senior accountant.
Now? His career is anything but one-dimensional. Alongside his PhD, he:
- Chairs the NSW Young Chartered Accountants Panel
- Sits on the board of Accessible Arts (a non-profit focused on disability inclusion in the arts)
Safe to say… accounting didn’t box him in. It opened doors!
As Vish puts it:
“Accounting has been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals, especially when it comes to making a positive impact.”
Why audit is a power move
If you’re just starting out, Vish’s advice is simple: start in audit.
Why? Because it’s basically a crash course in how the business world really works.
One week you could be working with a tech startup, the next with a massive retail company. You get exposure to different industries, different ways of operating, and a better idea of what you’re into. Think of it as a backstage pass to business before you pick your lane!
Your first year? Yeah, it’s a lot
Starting your first real job can feel… intense.
Vish gets it.
“The learning curve is steep, but you’ll be surprised how quickly things start to click,” he says.
By your second year, you’ll be the one helping the newbies and wondering how you learned so fast! You might feel out of your depth at the start, but you won’t stay there long.
A career that travels with you
One of the most underrated accounting perks? It’s global. Your skills don’t just work in one city, they work almost anywhere.
“I could be working in Sydney one day and London the next,” Vish says.
So, if you’ve got the travel bug, this is one of those careers that makes it possible, without starting from scratch every time you move.
The best advice he’s ever got
Out of everything Vish has done, the roles, the PhD, the board positions, the advice that stuck with him is simple:
“Be patient. Things take time. Careers don’t happen overnight. Things will fall into place just don’t stress too much. You only have one life.”
So… what could your path look like?
Climate, business, arts, travel, whatever you’re into accounting can take you there. It’s not one path. It’s a foundation you can build pretty much anything on.
Explore accounting careers, study pathways, and opportunities with Chartered Accountants ANZ.
