Life at PKF

Benny’s story

Tell us about yourself

I’m Benny and I’m a Director in PKF’s Financial Services team in London, specialising in auditing private equity and investment funds. A large part of my role involves working closely with my audit teams to provide support, guidance and feedback. I also take the time to speak regularly with my clients, mostly at C-suite and Board level.

Outside of work, I train a lot with my badminton club. Whenever I’m in the Canary Wharf office, I enjoy going to a nearby gym for a good workout.

Briefly summarise your career journey to date

I qualified as an auditor at one of the Big Four, where I developed a specialism in the financial services sector. I then worked briefly at a rival challenger firm before joining PKF in early 2021.

Why did you join PKF?

I was struck by the scale of the opportunities here. PKF’s rapid growth means that I have the chance to make a real difference. For example, I’ve become more involved in business development activities, from having the initial discussion with a prospect through to working with our marketing team on proposals and pitches. I also help to expand and develop my team, which is not something that you often get the chance to do at other large firms.

When I first met the PKF team I was really struck by how welcoming everyone was. During the interview process the Partners I met were friendly and the London office space is great. I knew from a very early stage in the recruitment process that I wanted to work here!

What makes it more than just a job for you?

We’re continuing to expand, so it’s an exciting time to be here. I particularly enjoy meeting new colleagues and hearing about their experiences and ideas. It helps me to challenge myself and stay up to date with the latest thinking.

What makes the culture here so special?

It feels more like a family here than anywhere I’ve worked before – the atmosphere is relaxed and people at all levels are easily approachable. We work in Partner-led teams, so I have the opportunity to tap into a great deal of expertise and learn on the job. We’re also very diverse as an organisation – you only have to look around the office to see the mix of different cultures that work together here.

How do you find the work-life balance?

We’re given a lot of flexibility in terms of where and when we work, which helps a lot. It’s also reassuring to know that I have a team of trusted colleagues to work alongside.

How does PKF make people feel valued?

People here are quick to show their appreciation for a job well done – it means a lot to get a ‘good work’ message from one of your colleagues, and sharing that sort of feedback is part of the culture at the firm. On a related note, there are also plenty of opportunities for progression and a calendar full of training courses to help you with your personal development.

How does the firm live its Values on a day-to-day basis?

The Values set a level of expectation that everyone strives to meet. For me, the Value that most resonates is ‘Respect’ – it’s something that came across very clearly during my first interview and has been a prominent part of my experiences here since.