James Hipwood, 30
Launceston ➜ London ➜ Launceston
James Hipwood didn’t see the travel bug coming. He got a job at KPMG in Launceston straight out of university, before transitioning to a management accountant role at TasRail. There, he reported directly to the CEO on a $500-million CAPEX program to update the state’s tracks and trains, while studying the CPA Program. By 25, he was on the executive team. Then he packed it all in to try London. Now back in Tasmania, Hipwood explains how two years of contracting between travels completed his transition from accountant to go-to business professional.
I needed the challenge because I was doing well in Tasmania and success can make you comfortable. I call it a quarter-life crisis; I had this sense I needed to get out of Australia and challenge myself. So I sold everything but my golf clubs and moved to London without a job.
The biggest culture shock was that while my career had so far been about people I knew, London is all about recruiters. I registered with about 10 agencies. Being a CPA was definitely a point of difference; all the recruiters knew of the designation. Having it meant more opportunities and more attractive remuneration.
The first contract I landed was with Lendlease, as an analyst on significant residential developments in London that were worth £1.4 billion [$AUD2.5 billion] collectively. Budgets were also astounding on the Crossrail railway development, which I contracted on. I was sole accountant on the system-wide project, which sorted out tunnels and platforms. I was spending £20 million a week – what I’d spend in a year on TasRail.
Working with such big budgets can be intimidating but you have to back yourself. What the CPA Program taught me about solid leadership and strategic thinking really helped me have the confidence to take on substantial projects. Before I left, the general manager of CPA Australia in Tasmania put me in touch with the general manager of CPA Australia in London. He gave me a call and educated me on how Brits approach business, which is quite different to us.
Cultural exposure is an important learning opportunity. London is incredibly culturally diverse – I experienced how French, German and British companies work. I also travelled to 32 countries. Greece was a favourite – they do food, friends and lifestyle right.
I think work-life balance is made easier through travel. Some people focus on only work or only play in their 20s but I did both. I got to do meaningful work with freedom to travel and I took advantage of everything I could.
Now that I’m working in Australia again, everything I learnt during the CPA Program translates to my work in a mediumsized family business at Redline. I love knowing everyone’s names, seeing the impact I make up close – soft skills developed by working with all sorts of people are especially important. The experience I’ve had also means I can be a business leader, influencing compliance, risk or IT across the company and also the industry as a whole. That’s what I’m passionate about.
“I was sole accountant on the project... spending £20 million a week – what I’d spend in a year on TasRail.”