Katherine Kirkwood
I began my career at Pitcher Partners in 2001 after completing my Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting. I was drawn to the firms’ humble, personal approach to recruitment and appreciated that it wasn’t one of the ‘Big 5’ (now Big 4). I also resonated with the values of one of the founding partners, Ron Pitcher, who shared my Christian faith.
Despite uncharacteristically missing my scheduled interview, I was graciously offered another chance by Mark Harrison and eventually began work alongside a large intake of graduates and co-ops. This included the gregarious Nick Bull (who you always wanted in your group during grad training because he knew all the answers!), and the equally brilliant Rachel Wu (a quiet achiever and now long-term friend).
In my first year, as a member of Group 1, I worked on audit clients. However, in 2002, I was fortunate to join the newly formed Management Accounting group under Michael Langhammer’s leadership, where I discovered that I much preferred actively doing the work rather than checking the work of others – and so, I happily left auditing behind.
One of my most memorable moments at Pitcher Partners was solving a bank reconciliation that hadn’t been balanced in a long time. In the process, I uncovered a client’s staff member who had been stealing cash – and had a prior conviction for theft! Balancing books and fighting crime… all in a day’s work!
Despite enjoying my job, after progressing to Assistant Manager I realised I had achieved as much as I wanted from a career at that time and requested to reduce my hours to three days per week. Part-time work was fairly uncommon at that point, so I was grateful that my request was approved by the partnership. During this time, I also stepped into the role of Training Coordinator at the firm – and was lucky enough to be allocated an office with an impressive view! Following a fulfilling balance of work, I left Pitcher Partners in 2009 ahead of the birth of my first child, James.
From there, I worked part-time as a bookkeeper at a local winery for 15 years. I enjoyed this role, and being overqualified meant I could work efficiently and stress-free, incorporating the enjoyable features of higher-level accounting, while avoiding the bits that were not so enjoyable (stock valuations! ugh!).
In 2020, I was introduced to a local charity, Stable One, and was deeply impressed by their work through the Yarra Valley Winter Shelter. Inspired by their mission, I joined over 150 others who shared a heart to help and began volunteering. Motivated by my Christian faith and a desire to understand poverty and homelessness on a personal level, volunteering allowed me to get to know the guests in the shelter, their stories and their circumstances. In addition to helping at the shelter, I took on the role of volunteer bookkeeper one day per week, which then turned into a paid position.
My career took a dramatic turn last year when I was unexpectedly invited to apply for the role of CEO. Saying yes to that opportunity has been life changing. The work is incredibly fulfilling, and I’m proud of the impact Stable One is making in the lives of people experiencing homelessness – not only through our local Yarra Valley Shelter, but throughout our Winter Shelter Network which has now expanded across three states.
My current role draws heavily on skills developed throughout my career – including those learned at Pitcher Partners. The experience I gained in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership has proven invaluable. I’m thankful that my formative years at Pitcher Partners provided me with such an excellent foundation in working with different personalities, both clients and colleagues.
Though it feels like a lifetime ago, I have fond memories of many people at Pitcher Partners: the support and friendship of Alan Harman – an exceptional listener and constant source of encouragement; the larger-than-life Sid Catlin; and his almost polar opposite, the quietly funny Jeff Tulk. Not to pick favourites, but Michael Langhammer was a standout group Partner – I may still have some PP merch from a Langhammer-led raid on the ‘marketing cupboard’ after a Christmas party, but I’ll not confirm or deny any related allegations!
Since leaving Pitcher Partners, I’ve become a proud mum to James and Lucy. My husband Brett and I live in Montrose, in a hillside home he designed, and we are actively involved in our local church community. Looking ahead, I am excited about my future with Stable One and plan to continue investing deeply into my family, my friends, and my personal walk with Jesus.