Braedan Smith-Connor

Having participated in a student exchange program to Europe during university, Senior Accountant Braedan Smith-Connor from our Business Advisory and Assurance practice group had a taste for adventure and was excited by the secondment opportunity to London. Added bonus was the similar culture and lack of language barrier.

From January to May 2024, Braedan worked at Baker Tilly firm MHA, which is in the heart of the city. He was placed in the audit division where he got to broaden his expertise by working with clients from sectors he was unfamiliar with, such as oil and gas, and luxury travel.

Adjusting to life in London took some time for Braedan, especially since he arrived during the peak of winter which is very dark and grey. So, you can imagine how much he missed the Australian summer! He also arrived during MHA’s busy season which presented a learning curve working with new clients. Despite this, Braedan adapted quickly thanks to our global audit methodology.

One of the highlights of the secondment was his welcoming team, who made sure that Braedan was included in social activities such as after-work drinks, trivia and team crossword puzzles – what an interesting mix! It also helped that his manager had also done an overseas secondment and provided valuable tips and recommendations for getting around London.

Outside of work, Braedan made the most of having Europe on his doorstep by taking weekend trips to Dublin and Scotland, with extended travel to Paris, Belgium, and Iceland after the secondment. He also racked up a considerable step count while exploring!

Some specific highlights were:

• Watching epic rival football teams Chelsea and Tottenham Spurs, go head-to-head live in a packed stadium, while singing along with the fervent fans.
• In Paris, he wandered underground to the dark labyrinth of the city’s catacombs which serves as a tomb for the remains of over six million people, stretching over 1.7 kilometres.
• Travelling through stark arctic terrain of Iceland in the form of taking hikes along the glacial ice formations, kayaking in the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and snorkelling between tectonic plates at the world-famous Silfra fissure at Þingvellir National Park.

Looking back on his secondment, Braedan valued making connections with new people and gaining experience working in other sectors. Experiencing the secondment journey firsthand has equipped him to better understand the challenges and excitement faced by international secondees coming to our firm.

There wasn’t enough time to miss friends and family as he was too busy making the most of the adventure. Asked if he would do it all again — it is a resounding yes, but if the opportunity presented itself, he would choose a non-English speaking country to really challenge himself.