Globetrotters: Alex Takes On Australia

This fall Weaver had two of our own and two visiting staff members participate in the Weaver Secondment Program. See what Alex Khmelev of Weaver had to say about his experience at Pitcher Firms and Australia.

Name: Alex Khmelev              
Position: Senior Associate II, Assurance Services
Dates: July – October 2016
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Host Firm: Pitcher Partners

What were the objectives of the secondment?

To gain exposure to accounting treatment under IFRS and AU GAAP.

Briefly, detail your secondment experience.

For the first couple of months, we were swamped with work as deadlines for publically listed companies were looming. Our workload slowly subsided, giving plenty of time for roaming the countryside. It was a very enlightening experience both professionally and personally.  

What have you learned as a result of the secondment experience?

I learned that public accounting dynamics and testing approaches are remarkably similar in both the United States and Australia. The presentation of financial statements, on the other hand, is completely different.     

What was something that surprised you about the local culture?

I was surprised at how attuned many Australians are with American entertainment. In general, there aren’t many noticeable differences between the cultures. 

What was a challenge you had to overcome while being in Australia?

Living without personal transportation was the biggest challenge. Public transportation was available, but it wasn’t convenient for out of town excursions.  

Did you pick up a local phrase or habit while there? 

I often caught myself saying “no worries”. 

Name a favorite experience from the trip. 

There were so many and they were very different in quality and nature. But, if I had to pick one it would have to be a weekend trip to Queenstown, New Zealand. It’s a ski resort town filled with a wide range of outdoorsy adventure-oriented activities. I had a full itinerary and the views were out of this world!