In anticipation of our first event ‘Mapping out Accountancy’, we caught up with Kudzai Malunga, our speaker from PwC. Kudzai is a Senior Associate of Assurance and is a 26 year old Zimbabwean living and working in Manchester. Kudzai has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa, which just also happens to be her favourite city in the world. She also has a Master’s degree in Investment and Finance from Strathclyde University in Glasgow and is currently working on her ACA qualification. Her hobbies include playing sports and reading, with her current indulgence being “You got anything stronger?” by Gabrielle Union. 

Could you briefly describe your career journey? 

My career journey started with various internships within big for, after my IGCSEs I started to seriously think about what I’d like to do once I got to university, fortunately or unfortunately I’m a person who likes to make informed decisions. As such I managed to get an shadowing position within an audit firm, but as a 16 year old there’s only so much assistance you can give on a job but I appreciate the opportunity as I managed to get my feet wet and started thinking that perhaps financial/professional services was where I’d be happy. Throughout university I then took on more internships more in audit, investment banking and advisory, eventually landing in audit and as it stands I still believe I made the best decision for me and it’s been a great journey thus far. 

What has surprised you most about working in your industry? 

The variety of the job! When you hear about the assumptions and general understanding of audit you hear that it’s monotonous and boring. Truthfully this could be further from the truth. In my 2 years with PwC I’ve has the privilege to work in various industries, from Tech Media and Telecomms (TMT), Utilities and Consumer and Industrial products. These different types of clients all come with new opportunities to learn and challenges that help you grow in your profession. While doing these rotations you also work with different team members, this also builds on you, not just professionally but personally as well as you have an opportunity to learn about different cultures, personalities and beliefs which if you go into it with the right mindset? You’ll be a better person because of it. 

What career advice would you give 20 year old you?

For context when I was 20, I was doing my undergrad in Cape Town. I’d tell myself to enjoy the moment, the stress of uni and assignments, enjoy the environment that I’m in. Nurture those friendships.  Embrace the challenges that come up. All the exposure and experiences will undoubtedly shape you and become the foundation of who you are. The friendships will get you through it all. The stress and challenges with build you to be a better professional and enjoying the moment will teach you that there’s always life to be lived and enjoyed. Most importantly I’d tell myself to trust the process and run the race at my pace and mine alone, oh and take SPF more seriously!