Current Projects

On Celia’s first project she had to document an applications security system that was already implemented and ready to be handed over to the users. She created a design guide and a user guide, which described how all its different applications authenticated and authorized the users, and arranged handover sessions for the appropriate client team member, sitting with them and running them through some test scripts she had created. It was quite high level, but she was working with two or three other Global Technology Consulting people who gave her lots of help, feedback and guidance. Celia’s second project was for a UK utility company, doing a risk assessment. Her role was to see whether it was complying with its own information systems security policy. She had to talk to a lot of people to gather the necessary information—the most difficult part, in fact, was often finding out who was the right person to talk to. Her third project was with Financial Services operating group, in a testing role. Many analysts do some testing in their first project, but as she had not done so she was keen to get some experience. She was also really curious to see what it was like working with a bank. Her role was focused on an application that ran reports and which had been migrated from Sybase to Oracle. She had to make sure the data had been migrated correctly, and she wrote the testing manual for that phase of the project.

Working on Global Teams

When Celia joined she did not know many people in London, so the first few weeks were great because she made so many friends—there were about 60 people in her start group. She found that there was a lot to get her head around, and she was one of about 10 who did their Java certification, but it was good fun. One of the best things Celia found about being in Global Technology Consulting is that one can work with a range of clients across different industries. It helps you develop a real feel for each industry. She has also traveled—as well as the training in Chicago, she has been to conferences in Paris and Prague. And she says you never get bored because the work is so varied.

Putting Skills to Work

Celia joined Accenture in 2004 with a Masters in Telecommunications from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. After studying in Norway, she spent about one-and-a-half years in Sydney and then moved to Dublin. She thought there would be lots of IT jobs there, but she could not find anything suitable, so she came to London and applied to Accenture.

Personal Satisfaction

Celia knows that Accenture has a reputation for a long-hours culture, but says it is not as if one works long hours all the time. Her first role was pretty much nine to six. “And even when you do work late,” Celia explains, “at least you feel you’re adding value to the project. And although all my projects have been London-based, I don’t think working outside London is the strain people assume it to be. Talking to people who have been posted to other cities, it sounds like really good fun. I know some who’ve been up in Newcastle who didn’t want to come back to London.” The other thing about Accenture is the people, Celia says. “There are some really talented people, and they’re all very approachable. And they’re very motivated, efficient and career-oriented. Coming here from lying on the beach in Sydney was quite a big difference, but it has really made me think about where I want my career with Accenture to go.”