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Graduate quick to advance with leading firm
University of the Sunshine Coast graduate Douglas Francis is moving quickly up the ranks in his first year of employment with professional services company Ernst and Young.
The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) graduate was recently promoted from an entry-level position to a higher-grade auditing role, responsible for major national and international clients.
Douglas, 25, started in a graduate position with the Brisbane-based company at the beginning of this year, while still completing his Commerce degree.
He said he was pleased to be elevated from the accounting role in Ernst and Young’s assurance department to auditing for the company’s much larger firms.
“I now work with some large resource companies including Peabody Energy Corp and Xstrata, while some of my other clients are the Brisbane Broncos, Oaks Hotels and Credit Union Australia,” he said.
“I have had to learn very quickly about the clients’ business operations and how they do things, but I also get to have a lot of experience across different industries.”
The Byron Bay High School graduate said he chose to study at USC after attending the University’s Open Day.
“I had been coming to the Sunshine Coast for family holidays for a long time and because I already lived near the beach, I really wanted to have that lifestyle,” he said.
Douglas said his Commerce degree from USC had given him a good foundation for accounting standards and the confidence to liaise with a wide range of clients.
His career ambitions include working as a chief financial officer of a large company.
— Michelle Widdicombe