Three Years and One Leap Made a Big Four Future: Deniz’s Journey to KPMG
What does career success after university really look like? From Queen Mary University of London to the Big Four, Deniz Gunes turned his degree into a fast-moving audit career at KPMG.
When Deniz Gunes was weighing up his university options, he kept hearing glowing things about Queen Mary’s School of Business and Management, especially its solid reputation in London’s finance world. That buzz made his decision rather clear and straight-forward.
Read about how Queen Mary, and equally the School of Business Management, help Deniz' reached an inspiring outcome with Big 4 powerhouse KPMG.
Where is Deniz Now?
Fast forward post-graduation, and Deniz is firmly rooted in the finance sector. He now works as an Associate Auditor within KPMG’s Asset Management team. Eighteen months in, and he’s already built a strong auditing profile. He’s also completed 12 ACA exam exemptions, heading steadily towards full qualification. He explains:
"Since graduation I’ve been working as an Associate Auditor at KPMG, within the Asset Management department. My day‑to‑day involves audit test work, documentation, client liaison, and regular internal catch‑ups.”
Standing Out Early
Deniz reveals that KPMG quickly recognised his potential
"Within my year and a half at KPMG, I have been able to work on many different areas of audit test work/working papers on all stages of the audit. I have been trusted and enabled to work at a higher level than my job role would suggest.This includes responsibilities such as assigning/reassigning work and also coaching more junior members within the firm, [all] which has been made possible by the high challenge, high reward culture at KPMG."
It’s this kind of high‑challenge, high‑reward culture he was primed for at Queen Mary, and it’s certainly paying off.
How did Queen Mary help?
Deniz credits more than just lectures to his growth:
"There were a lot of motivated individuals that I had the pleasure of being friends with. It helped me to stay motivated during my degree when I was applying (and getting rejected) from graduate schemes. A good support system goes a long way, in every walk of life."
Deniz's recommendations for future students
Deniz is candid about what many students may overlook when it comes to studying and how to shift their mindset. He explains:
"Too many students think that they can do well by just memorising content. If students adopt a more holistic approach to studying, this will also help them once they start working within the industry. Although it may seem like hard work, your future self will thank you for it.”
Deniz also encourages students to see university life as something fuller and far more formative than what’s on a lecture screen:
"Do not think of university as PowerPoint slides and lectures. This will taint your current experience and future experiences. make sure your social life is a priority also. Even in my current role as an Auditor, there is a big emphasis on work-life balance. Although there will be periods where there may not be much of a balance, when you get the chance, make sure that you do things for yourself outside of your studies."
Deniz concludes by championing the value of a less prescriptive path:
"Do not feel like you need to have your whole life figured out at university, I most definitely didn’t and still do not. My advice will be to apply for roles that you like the sound of but apply to some that you may not like the sound of as much. You can always move service lines or departments. You just need your foot in the door in the first place.”
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